Microsoft India announced two new programmes that would support business owners and their organisations as they develop and grow as part of its commitment to empowering startups’ ambitions in the nation from idea to unicorn. A hackathon for startups will offer tools and support to developers for building digital solutions that enable commercial innovation, social entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Microsoft AI Innovate, which is curated for AI companies, will be launching its second cohort.
Microsoft AI Innovate Season Two: The second season of Microsoft AI Innovate is accepting proposals from SaaS startups whose primary apps or services were created utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The program’s goal is to support and grow the nation’s startup ecosystem. The effort, which is backed by SaaS Insider, is made to assist startups in growing their businesses, stimulating more innovation, and developing industry knowledge. Startups get the opportunity to work closely with Microsoft’s engineering and product teams throughout the course of the program’s ten weeks as they develop their fundamental AI models. Additionally, there are chances to collaborate with Microsoft’s industry, research, and engineering specialists on pertinent problems, receive mentoring, and prepare entire teams for the future by learning about cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Selected startups receive credits for OpenAI, preview access, industry and technological deep-dives, expert-led AI masterclasses, mentorship from the startup founders and well-known business figures, as well as possibilities for skill-building and certification. The programme combines engineering knowledge, global GTM partnerships, and IT know-how to serve both technical and corporate audiences. The first cohorts of 16 entrepreneurs from the manufacturing, logistics, and fintech industries graduated last month following weeks of intensive interaction with executives, subject matter experts, and industry experts (see appendix for graduated startup details).
Code Titans Hackathon: Hosted in collaboration with Techgig, this startup hackathon invites teams to develop prototypes of their ideas using Microsoft Azure. The solutions can take advantage of the best-in-class tools, languages, and open-source frameworks that enable flexibility, collaboration, and security of the dependable cloud platform in order to address issues with business innovation, social entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
Startups can learn from Azure masterclasses and practical training sessions on important technologies including Serverless, Kubernetes, Data Fundamentals, Java &.NET, Github, and Azure AI & ML by taking part in the hackathon. As part of the hackathon, the top 100 nominated startups will each get $300 worth of Azure credits to use toward the creation of their prototypes. While the top 25 firms are eligible to join the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub programme, the top three teams will receive cash rewards.
“The innovative ideas of startups are igniting the innovation engine in our nation, and we are thrilled to accompany each business on this journey as a partner. We are combining the finest of Microsoft’s AI capabilities to create the magic with the power of data and AI in the second season of Microsoft AI Innovate, which has a deeper focus on core AI startups. Some of the most creative concepts get the chance to materialise during the hackathon on the dependable Microsoft Azure platform. According to Sangeeta Bavi, Director of Startup Ecosystem at Microsoft India, we are hoping that both initiatives will assist entrepreneurs in building safely and scaling more quickly through the Microsoft ecosystem.
The Microsoft for Companies Founders Hub is a brand-new, digital platform for startup founders that is truly inclusive and offers over $300,000 in perks and credits. It gives startups free access to the technology, tools, and resources they require to launch and manage their company. Beyond providing access to technology, the platform enables business owners to grow and innovate by linking them with mentors who can offer them technical, business, and industry help as they navigate their next business milestones.
Microsoft also collaborates with businesses like OpenAI, a pioneer in AI research and development that created the GPT-3 and Codex AI systems, to provide entrepreneurs exclusive advantages and savings. Additionally, Microsoft Learn offers a number of startup and unicorn programmes that can assist startups connect with clients or industry veterans and accelerate their growth. These programmes are geared to the needs of startups.
