Comments on: Microsoft BizSpark Embraces Startups With Free Software, Services http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:51:41 -0800 hourly 1 By: Javier Alcivar http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2972588 Javier Alcivar Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:19:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2972588 Bizspark checklist: Pros: - Over USD$ 10,000 in software, you recieve the VSTS Visual Studio Team System Team Suite with MSDN Premium (All visual, all windows, all office, expression engine, Dinamics CRM, MSDN support subscription) http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/subscriptionschart.aspx -If you dont need all of that software after 3 years, you pay $100 leave Biszpark and then buy according to your needs. Cons -You ll be working in a pro Microsoft, Pro licensing, Pro Intellectual property environment, which after been so generous to you will try to change your scope of open technologies. So dont enroll if you are still a kid. -Having the best of the best almost free will make you stop searching for open tech with similar advantages. Conclusion Enroll, enjoy, but keep the open thinking, use them raise your brand recognition and dont forget to have a gobal, open and social motto while developing. Bizspark checklist:

Pros:

- Over USD$ 10,000 in software, you recieve the VSTS Visual Studio Team System Team Suite with MSDN Premium (All visual, all windows, all office, expression engine, Dinamics CRM, MSDN support subscription) http://msdn.mic...tionschart.aspx

-If you dont need all of that software after 3 years, you pay $100 leave Biszpark and then buy according to your needs.

Cons

-You ll be working in a pro Microsoft, Pro licensing, Pro Intellectual property environment, which after been so generous to you will try to change your scope of open technologies. So dont enroll if you are still a kid.

-Having the best of the best almost free will make you stop searching for open tech with similar advantages.

Conclusion

Enroll, enjoy, but keep the open thinking, use them raise your brand recognition and dont forget to have a gobal, open and social motto while developing.

]]> By: Danny Lieberman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2713946 Danny Lieberman Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:33:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2713946 Excellence is driven by by open competition and sharing and from where I'm sitting - BizSpark is a good idea for entrepreneurs - as a serial entrepreneur (I'm on my 4th startup) and Open Source advocate - let's try and stay objective: a) The entire top 10 on SF.net supports WIndows - even KDE is cross-platform for Windows and OS/X b) Never take a technical decision on a religious assumption c) Before taking a platform decision - clear your mind and your desk. What was true about PHP 1 year ago is no longer valid - if you consider CakePHP and what was true about ASP 2 years is no longer valid if you look at the latest in .Net and Visual Studio. d) Microsoft is above all a company driven by software developers and the competition with the OSS world has only been good for everyone Good luck to all of us Danny Lieberman Excellence is driven by by open competition and sharing and from where I’m sitting – BizSpark is a good idea for entrepreneurs – as a serial entrepreneur (I’m on my 4th startup) and Open Source advocate – let’s try and stay objective:
a) The entire top 10 on SF.net supports WIndows – even KDE is cross-platform for Windows and OS/X
b) Never take a technical decision on a religious assumption
c) Before taking a platform decision – clear your mind and your desk. What was true about PHP 1 year ago is no longer valid – if you consider CakePHP and what was true about ASP 2 years is no longer valid if you look at the latest in .Net and Visual Studio.
d) Microsoft is above all a company driven by software developers and the competition with the OSS world has only been good for everyone

Good luck to all of us
Danny Lieberman

]]> By: Danny Lieberman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2713911 Danny Lieberman Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:47:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2713911 I'll answer you - and this will apply to all the other people who had mistaken notions regarding the VC referral and thought it was a scam. A. I am a member of thefounded.com - which is an entrepeneur-centric community and was referred to BizSpark free of charge and pre investment - which we are seeking B. Microsoft has extremely good software development tools and it would be a mistake to ignore the opportunity if you're starting a software development project from scratch. I say this as a professional programmer with over 25 years experience and a lot of mileage in the Open Source space. I think tools like CakePHP and Rails hold their own and are extremely cost-effective but BizSpark lowers the energy barrier and that my friends is a good thing Danny Lieberman I’ll answer you – and this will apply to all the other people who had mistaken notions regarding the VC referral and thought it was a scam.
A. I am a member of thefounded.com – which is an entrepeneur-centric community and was referred to BizSpark free of charge and pre investment – which we are seeking
B. Microsoft has extremely good software development tools and it would be a mistake to ignore the opportunity if you’re starting a software development project from scratch. I say this as a professional programmer with over 25 years experience and a lot of mileage in the Open Source space. I think tools like CakePHP and Rails hold their own and are extremely cost-effective but BizSpark lowers the energy barrier and that my friends is a good thing

Danny Lieberman

]]> By: Vlad Hrybok http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2558366 Vlad Hrybok Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:53:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2558366 I see lots of speculation here, so I am posting about my experience with BizSpark. I got my company qualified for BizSpark even though I didn't have any existing relationship with a VC - I just picked some "Network Partner" from the list. Some folks here think that the startup has to have VC backing, but that's not the case. Also, you don't have to have 1 Megabuck of revenue to qualify - the opposite it true: you have to have <$1M. As for the value of the program, for my company it has an incredible benefit. We're already committed to MS technologies, so having to postpone the bill for production licenses until (hopefully) steady revenue stream is available three years from now is a huge windfall for us. We are about to start shopping around for the growth capital (VCs, talk to us: http://ultidev.com/contact/), and I am very happy that production software licenses are already taken care of, because controlling upfront costs while having reputable technology provider are likely to translate into more attractive term sheets. Regarding the existential discussion about how crazy is to choose MS over open source, religious allegiances aside, MS tangible costs are not that high, and as a developer, their entire stack is very good overall, with some components like .NET Framework and Visual Studio are simply excellent. Our development cost are fairly low, but what's more important is that with MS stack our RISKS are low and very well known. Tangible costs of MS platform is a reasonable price to pay for the good visibility of the scope of issues we are going to deal with in the near-to-midterm future: our workload scope and costs are very easy to predict and budget for. Overall, we are very happy we got access to BizSpark. I see lots of speculation here, so I am posting about my experience with BizSpark. I got my company qualified for BizSpark even though I didn’t have any existing relationship with a VC – I just picked some “Network Partner” from the list. Some folks here think that the startup has to have VC backing, but that’s not the case. Also, you don’t have to have 1 Megabuck of revenue to qualify – the opposite it true: you have to have <$1M.

As for the value of the program, for my company it has an incredible benefit. We’re already committed to MS technologies, so having to postpone the bill for production licenses until (hopefully) steady revenue stream is available three years from now is a huge windfall for us. We are about to start shopping around for the growth capital (VCs, talk to us: http://ultidev.com/contact/), and I am very happy that production software licenses are already taken care of, because controlling upfront costs while having reputable technology provider are likely to translate into more attractive term sheets.

Regarding the existential discussion about how crazy is to choose MS over open source, religious allegiances aside, MS tangible costs are not that high, and as a developer, their entire stack is very good overall, with some components like .NET Framework and Visual Studio are simply excellent. Our development cost are fairly low, but what’s more important is that with MS stack our RISKS are low and very well known. Tangible costs of MS platform is a reasonable price to pay for the good visibility of the scope of issues we are going to deal with in the near-to-midterm future: our workload scope and costs are very easy to predict and budget for.

Overall, we are very happy we got access to BizSpark.

]]> By: Emanuel Krassenstein http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2539212 Emanuel Krassenstein Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:39:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2539212 We would be very interested in the success of this concept. I will definitely make an effort to learn more about this offer. http://www.creagency.com.au We would be very interested in the success of this concept. I will definitely make an effort to learn more about this offer.

http://www.creagency.com.au

]]> By: Enterprise Alley mobile edition http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2527172 Enterprise Alley mobile edition Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:42:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2527172 [...] over the Internet but it sure as heck matters internally. Especially if that means support. Mike Arrington declares Microsoft's BizSpark initiative as 'brilliant' and when you look at it, that's easy to [...] [...] over the Internet but it sure as heck matters internally. Especially if that means support. Mike Arrington declares Microsoft’s BizSpark initiative as ‘brilliant’ and when you look at it, that’s easy to [...]

]]> By: Microsoft BizSpark for Startups « ‘Cross The Breeze http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2526777 Microsoft BizSpark for Startups « ‘Cross The Breeze Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:18:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2526777 [...] and that kind of stuff but I did want to highlight this new program for startups we just launched. Here’s how it was described on Techcrunch: “Virtually everything a startup needs to build a web service (many of the tools and software [...] [...] and that kind of stuff but I did want to highlight this new program for startups we just launched. Here’s how it was described on Techcrunch: “Virtually everything a startup needs to build a web service (many of the tools and software [...]

]]> By: Free Microsoft software & services for startups « Phil Derksen http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2526213 Free Microsoft software & services for startups « Phil Derksen Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:54:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2526213 [...] coverage: TechCrunch, [...] [...] coverage: TechCrunch, [...]

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525915 Jason Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:16:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525915 I guess we could use Ruby to develop our platform, then when we need to scale have to scrap everything and start from scratch. I guess we could use Ruby to develop our platform, then when we need to scale have to scrap everything and start from scratch.

]]> By: Daniel Botelho http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525785 Daniel Botelho Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:21:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525785 M$... This is a kind of a loan for three years... MS will get it's profit since startups will be investing in skills to learn their tools and after those 3 years they will have to pay for the investment they made. I thing that is to expensive to learn M$ tools and to use them. Try investing in OpenSource tools for 3 years and you'll get more profit. M$… This is a kind of a loan for three years… MS will get it’s profit since startups will be investing in skills to learn their tools and after those 3 years they will have to pay for the investment they made.
I thing that is to expensive to learn M$ tools and to use them.
Try investing in OpenSource tools for 3 years and you’ll get more profit.

]]> By: Brooke http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525518 Brooke Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:38:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525518 I don't know why too, probably there are too many kids out there and only you are smart enough to buy anything M$ offers I don’t know why too, probably there are too many kids out there and only you are smart enough to buy anything M$ offers

]]> By: ? http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525393 ? Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:01:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525393 good point good point

]]> By: Neyma Jahansooz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525331 Neyma Jahansooz Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:06:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525331 Lauren Why make it so that you need 1mil in VC and to be referred. by an accredited partner. By the time anybody gets to this stage they are most likely already going to be locked into a platform and difficult to change even if they wanted. Also the ones with 1m in VC funding don't need free web services. If MSFT was smart they would reach out to the lower rungs. Lauren

Why make it so that you need 1mil in VC and to be referred. by an accredited partner. By the time anybody gets to this stage they are most likely already going to be locked into a platform and difficult to change even if they wanted.

Also the ones with 1m in VC funding don’t need free web services.

If MSFT was smart they would reach out to the lower rungs.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525272 Jason Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:50:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525272 I'm down, I'd rather use C# than some script kiddy language like PHP. MySQL is fine, but I never understood why people think PHP is so great. I’m down, I’d rather use C# than some script kiddy language like PHP. MySQL is fine, but I never understood why people think PHP is so great.

]]> By: "www.ShawnDrewry.com" http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525244 "www.ShawnDrewry.com" Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:23:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525244 FREE is the way to go FREE is the way to go

]]> By: phenom http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525196 phenom Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:34:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525196 Sounds linke Sun's essential program. http://vidsonly.blogspot.com Sounds linke Sun’s essential program.

http://vidsonly.blogspot.com

]]> By: James http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525180 James Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:24:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525180 This is great news in my view. This is great news in my view.

]]> By: anon http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525170 anon Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:15:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525170 @ Offbeatmammal...counterpoint: http://gigaom.com/2008/11/05/with-eye-on-future-microsoft-offer-startups-freebies/ MSFT is not doing this because LAMP has issues :-0 Unless a startup's business plan embraces targets in MSFT ecosystem, they are crazy not to go open source. Crazy. @ Offbeatmammal…counterpoint:

http://gigaom.c...rtups-freebies/

MSFT is not doing this because LAMP has issues :-0

Unless a startup’s business plan embraces targets in MSFT ecosystem, they are crazy not to go open source. Crazy.

]]> By: Acme Search http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525138 Acme Search Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:52:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525138 Sounds like a scam to me! Sounds like a scam to me!

]]> By: PowerLocator.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525112 PowerLocator.com Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:34:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525112 @jkant -im good for business all the way around or i would be here, its called community. my system is unique and anybody with half a wit can see it. the power of my properties for strategic multichannel natural language location based tagging the net is bottomless. what you are experiencing is only a test. you have seen nothing my friend. share a website or a blog and maybe we can take you seriously. dont hate......integrate. i will put the "potential" of my niche offering 1300 Channel Natural Language Location Engine against anybodies Startup Search Engine anyday. NetworkLocator.com- search is over. location rules. find yourself. @jkant
-im good for business all the way around or i would be here, its called community. my system is unique and anybody with half a wit can see it. the power of my properties for strategic multichannel natural language location based tagging the net is bottomless. what you are experiencing is only a test. you have seen nothing my friend. share a website or a blog and maybe we can take you seriously. dont hate……integrate. i will put the “potential” of my niche offering 1300 Channel Natural Language Location Engine against anybodies Startup Search Engine anyday.

NetworkLocator.com- search is over. location rules. find yourself.

]]> By: Brady Brim-DeForest http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525105 Brady Brim-DeForest Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:27:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525105 Sounds a lot like Sun's Start Up Essentials program. Sounds a lot like Sun’s Start Up Essentials program.

]]> By: Jason Nazar’s Blog » Blog Archive » Microsoft BizSpark Program Guide for Startups http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525075 Jason Nazar’s Blog » Blog Archive » Microsoft BizSpark Program Guide for Startups Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:42:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525075 [...] Microsoft launched a new program today for startups called BizSpark. Apparently they are giving away lots of software and other services/products for upcoming technology startups that meet certain criteria, for more information check the Techcrunch Post. [...] [...] Microsoft launched a new program today for startups called BizSpark. Apparently they are giving away lots of software and other services/products for upcoming technology startups that meet certain criteria, for more information check the Techcrunch Post. [...]

]]> By: Alex http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525068 Alex Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:28:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525068 @ Lauren Cooney Thank for the points. If MSFT wants to attract great opportunities they need to be much more proactive. In other words they need to reach out to the entreprenuer long before a VC refers them. By the time an entreprenuer speaks to the VC they are already committed to a platform (at least first phase) My recommendation is that you take some of the cash off your balance sheet and create incentives for these companies that align with future growth areas of MSFT. @ Lauren Cooney

Thank for the points.

If MSFT wants to attract great opportunities they need to be much more proactive. In other words they need to reach out to the entreprenuer long before a VC refers them. By the time an entreprenuer speaks to the VC they are already committed to a platform (at least first phase)
My recommendation is that you take some of the cash off your balance sheet and create incentives for these companies that align with future growth areas of MSFT.

]]> By: George http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525059 George Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:15:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525059 This program sounds great but I find the whole network partner aspect of it somewhat confusing as in their current list of network partners I'm not sure which, if any, are a good match for a small (1 FTE) company making downloadable (not-web-based) videogames that isn't interested in any VC at the moment and there doesn't seem to be any kind of consistent rules for signing up with a network partner. Are they going to charge me? Are they going to upsell me some service I don't need to get an enrollment code? etc. This program sounds great but I find the whole network partner aspect of it somewhat confusing as in their current list of network partners I’m not sure which, if any, are a good match for a small (1 FTE) company making downloadable (not-web-based) videogames that isn’t interested in any VC at the moment and there doesn’t seem to be any kind of consistent rules for signing up with a network partner. Are they going to charge me? Are they going to upsell me some service I don’t need to get an enrollment code? etc.

]]> By: jk http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/05/microsoft-bizspark-embraces-startups-with-free-software-services/comment-page-1/#comment-2525053 jk Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:08:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=26378#comment-2525053 stop spamming - you locator jackass with a free ning.com account and 1 member in your *network* - moron stop spamming – you locator jackass with a free ning.com account and 1 member in your *network*

- moron

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