By Claire Lee

DEMO Asia Begins Tomorrow

In January we kicked off a competition in the APAC region for startups to win a place to pitch at DEMO Asia. In just a few hours, these ten lucky startups will be at Microsoft Singapore preparing for their pitch on 1^st March and receiving mentoring and coaching from Microsoft and Partners. As you can see, DEMO companies come from all over: and the Alpha Pitch companies that receive BizSpark scholarships come from nine countries. We’re really pleased to see such participation and representation and we’re excited to see the companies on stage pitching. Let’s send them good vibes and best wishes for their 90 seconds of fame!  

Guest blog by Seaton Gras

SURF will be opening over 15,000 square feet of class A office space to over 100 entrepreneurs this March.

SURF Incubator is dedicated to providing the resources that startup entrepreneurs need in order to build their businesses. The community wants entrepreneurs to be successful and will offer the following support:

• Subsidized office space, mentoring and advice from successful entrepreneurs
• Local attorneys to advise on corporate and intellectual property law
• Bankers and former CFOs to help with financial issues
• Access to VC’s and angel investors
• Consultants to help with product development, marketing, business planning, and fundraising
• Access to a network of business leaders, government and academic thought leaders eager to support local entrepreneurs

Applications for residency welcome!   

Guest blog by Seaton Gras

We wanted to highlight sponsorship opportunities for Founding Members at the brand new SURF Incubator in Seattle, open to grab before March 2^nd.

For a limited time, those of you in the local startup ecosystem are invited to be part of the launch SURF Incubator. We are calling on business leaders, investors, attorneys, financial professionals, consultants, and others to contribute $300 or more.

Benefits include FREE ADMISSION to all events for the next six months and special founder benefits; and knowing you helped support the entrepreneurial community in the Seattle area, right at the outset.

Benefits for each Founding Member include:

• Free admission to the Launch Party Gala Event (date TBA)
• Free admission to all events for the next six months including all seminars, lectures, and social events
• Listing of your name on the SURF Incubator website and in the entry way of the incubator office
• A distinctive Founding Member name tag to wear at events
• A commemorative Founding Member certificate

Sign up now for this valuable program and join us on this exciting journey.

By Brett Laffel

Microsoft will be adding Arizona State University (ASU) Venture Catalyst and ASU Edson Student Entrepreneur Accelerator into the BizSpark Network Partner program. BizSpark Network Partners share Microsoft’s passion for driving the success of software startups through mentoring, networking, business advice, financial assistance, and peer connections. Network Partners know the startup environment and understand what it takes to succeed. As Network Partners, Venture Catalyst and the Edson Accelerator will be able to nominate startups into the Bizspark Plus Program. The BizSpark Plus program is an extension of the BizSpark Program, designed to provide high potential startups with additional offers, products and services from Microsoft. Through this offer, startups will get up to $60,000 of value over two years*, which will include all the Windows Azure a startup needs to run their business for the first year and 50% off Windows Azure retail for the second year.

ASU Venture Catalyst equips high potential startups for success.  The Catalyst assists university students, faculty and staff, as well as local and global companies, with launching startups or accelerating existing ventures.  Based at ASU SkySong, The Catalyst offers investor connections, technology road maps, go-to-market strategy consulting, mentoring opportunities, and several other programs and services, all designed to identify and develop investment-grade companies.

The Edson Accelerator provides funding, office space, and guidance to teams of students within all university disciplines. This accelerator gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their innovative ideas and launch viable businesses.  As an integral program of ASU Venture Catalyst, students in the Edson accelerator have access to seasoned entrepreneurs, industry mentors, and other Catalyst programs that enable them to advance enterprise.

ASU SkySong impacts local, state and international economies by engaging the University with businesses and governments to drive economic development and global enterprise. ASU SkySong helps grow the economy through launching and accelerating new companies and promoting use inspired research.  ASU SkySong, and the dozens of emerging innovation driven companies located there, are dedicated to positively impacting the economies of the state and country for years to come.

You can also find more information out about these two programs by visiting:

Edson.asu.edu

http://www.asuventurecatalyst.org/

By Brett Laffel

Microsoft will be adding Arizona State University (ASU) Venture Catalyst and ASU Edson Student Entrepreneur Accelerator into the BizSpark Network Partner program. BizSpark Network Partners share Microsoft’s passion for driving the success of software startups through mentoring, networking, business advice, financial assistance, and peer connections. Network Partners know the startup environment and understand what it takes to succeed. As Network Partners, Venture Catalyst and the Edson Accelerator will be able to nominate startups into the Bizspark Plus Program. The BizSpark Plus program is an extension of the BizSpark Program, designed to provide high potential startups with additional offers, products and services from Microsoft. Through this offer, startups will get up to $60,000 of value over two years*, which will include all the Windows Azure a startup needs to run their business for the first year and 50% off Windows Azure retail for the second year.

ASU Venture Catalyst equips high potential startups for success.  The Catalyst assists university students, faculty and staff, as well as local and global companies, with launching startups or accelerating existing ventures.  Based at ASU SkySong, The Catalyst offers investor connections, technology road maps, go-to-market strategy consulting, mentoring opportunities, and several other programs and services, all designed to identify and develop investment-grade companies.

The Edson Accelerator provides funding, office space, and guidance to teams of students within all university disciplines. This accelerator gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their innovative ideas and launch viable businesses.  As an integral program of ASU Venture Catalyst, students in the Edson accelerator have access to seasoned entrepreneurs, industry mentors, and other Catalyst programs that enable them to advance enterprise.

ASU SkySong impacts local, state and international economies by engaging the University with businesses and governments to drive economic development and global enterprise. ASU SkySong helps grow the economy through launching and accelerating new companies and promoting use inspired research.  ASU SkySong, and the dozens of emerging innovation driven companies located there, are dedicated to positively impacting the economies of the state and country for years to come.

You can also find more information out about these two programs by visiting:

Edson.asu.edu

http://www.asuventurecatalyst.org/