Microsoft to Support GenerationS Accelerator Startups and Join GenerationS SmartCity Track
Young entrepreneurs will get help by Microsoft business experts and access to the company's state-of-art technology
Microsoft Russia in partnership with GVA LaunchGurus will support participants in GenerationS federal accelerator organized by RVC. Twelve young companies will get the information and expert support, and will also receive Microsoft Azure cloud grants of more than RUB 4 mn each. As part of Microsoft CityNext program, the company will support the SmartCity industry track of GenerationS - the acceleration track for smart city and life science projects.
The twelve grantees of Microsoft will be selected among participants of the first stage of GenerationS (the pre-acceleration program) together with GVA LaunchGurus as the operator of the Pre-Accelerator. There will be selected seven grant winners – a winner from each track of GenerationS. There will also be five teams of mixed projects, who will be invited to take part in the autumn GVAccelerator program. They will also be candidates for cloud grants to be awarded in the final Pre-Accelerator of GenerationS in August 2015.
A cloud grant is an opportunity to use resources of Microsoft Azure worth more than RUB 4 mn. Azure enables a startup to efficiently implement various technological solutions such as web hosting, administration of mobile applications, remote workplaces for developers, data analysis, technical support, etc.
"We are pleased to say that all the participants of the GenerationS accelerator, who won the cloud grant, are invited to a series of training sessions, after which they are eligible for a program of assistance in entering the market – Go to Market accelerator by Microsoft," said Natalya Radosteva, Head of Tech Entrepreneurship Development, Microsoft Russia.
As part of the CityNext (City of the Future) program by Microsoft, the company will also join the SmartCity branch track by the GenerationS accelerator, which is focused on start-ups working in the field of creation of "smart-city" technologies and development of a modern urban environment. The CityNext initiative by Microsoft provides market participants with software, devices, social programs, and opportunity of working with a global partner network that covers most of the major cities in the world. Moreover, Alexandr Danilin, Head of Strategic Projects and CityNext program by Microsoft, will be a member of the SmartCity Expert Council at GenerationS.
"In addition to providing comprehensive mentoring support to participants in the GenerationS accelerator, Microsoft will actively help them to collaborate with potential partners and customers," says Alexandr Danilin. "The SmartCity winner will also be able to take part in the largest world congress – SmartCity Expo – in Barcelona on November 17 to 19."
In collaboration with the corporate partner of SmartCity - MORTON Group - Microsoft is going to actively promote development of promising projects for urban infrastructure and housing. "Microsoft will provide its platform solutions, while the construction holding company will give the site for the pilot testing of new solutions. Thus, Russian innovators and entrepreneurs will be able to promptly implement the solutions of the best projects in the cities of the Russian Federation and internationally," commented Yuriy Vasilyev, Executive Director of Russian Technical Society RPO, the R&D partner of MORTON Group.
Microsoft CityNext technologies, solutions by young entrepreneurs, and support of major Russian corporations (such as MORTON GC) will ensure the social-oriented approach to implementing innovation and localization of developments in Russia, and will enable city administrations, business community, and citizens to actively influence the future of their cities. It is expected to extend cooperation, as all the partners of GenerationS SmartCity are interested in supporting and developing promising teams in this area.
"When planning GenerationS this year, we were focused on the needs of big business as an innovation customer, so the growing number of partners is an indication for us that the new accelerator model has caught the interested of the market. The partnership with Microsoft was made possible by the teamwork of RVC, the corporate partner of MORTON GC in SmartCity, LOGA Group as the track operator, and GVA LaunchGurus, the operator of the first stage of the GenerationS educational program. We are sure that the synergy of the number of stakeholders will result in emergence of many success stories of technology startups and formation of Russia's largest pool of projects forming a safe and comfortable living environment," summarised Gulnara Bikkulova, Director of Innovation Market Department and Member of the Board of RVC.
In 2015, the GenerationS accelerator has been joined by more than hundred partners, including leading Russian and international corporations, executive agencies, development institutions, universities, and representatives of the venture infrastructure.
