Bangkok--11 Nov--Hill & Knowlton
Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd is stepping up its efforts to support the local Thai software industry with the launch of the Microsoft ‘BizSpark’ program, which has been designed specifically with the needs of young startup software companies in mind. By teaming up with Software Park and ATSI, the program will support the three parties’ shared goal of helping startups overcome the challenges of the current economic turndown and to reach success within both the local and global software industry. Startups who register with the 3-year program will be granted software development tools and become eligible to receive support as well as take advantage of unique business opportunities that can give them a leading edge over their competitors.
Speaking on the new initiative, Ms. Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd said, “With a local software industry worth 60,000 million baht, Thailand has a promising future with a potential growth rate of 20% year on year. Microsoft recognizes the key role that local software developers will play not only in this industry growth, but in Thailand’s future and we are therefore determined to help local companies compete on the global stage by providing comprehensive support to both local software developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).”
Mr. Somkiat Ungaree, Director of ATSI commented, “ATSI’s role is to encourage ISVs and software developers to heighten their potential and create software that can be competitive within the global market. In the past ATSI has arranged many activities to try and boost the initial development phase of Thai ISVs, but the support they receive is often not sufficient in terms of the innovative tools and money required. Indeed we can see from recent statistics that only 7% of software developers are granted money and only 12.6% become professional software developers. As such, we hope that this Microsoft initiative will bring greater success to more software developers in Thailand.”
“From previous collaborations within various sectors, we can still see many challenges and obstacles that Thai software developers must overcome,” agreed Ms. Patama Chantaruck. “This is especially true for startups that lack basic support, such as funds, technical support and marketing plans. So it is with this in mind that Microsoft has established the BizSpark program in order to address these needs and help give local software developers the key support that they have up until now been missing.”
Microsoft BizSpark has been designed to help accelerate the success of early-stage startups by delivering useful resources that can drive their business towards success and consequently create a sustainable software ecosystem. Registered startups will be offered three main resources, comprising of (1) the latest Microsoft development tools, platform technologies and production licenses, (2) support from network partners around the world, including incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters and (3) venture capital.
Ms. Suwipa Wanasathop, Director of Software Park added, “Software Park plays an important role in helping ISVs and startups make a success of their business and we are always striving to promote the local IT industry within the international arena. One such example of this is our Incubation Center which helps Thai software developers test their ideas and take them beyond the initial development phase. We often see their skills greatly improve once they have received software and business training from us but they will always need additional support — so it is exciting to be a part of the Microsoft BizSpark program which will fill in these gaps and make sure that they receive all the support they need in order to keep the Thai software industry going from strength to strength.”
“Microsoft recognizes the long-term value of government and private sector partnerships in order to jointly boost the Thai software industry and the launch of Microsoft BizSpark Program is just one part of an ongoing plan that Microsoft will continue to expand in the future. We are believe that the program will compliment existing talents within the industry as well as help to lay the foundations for strong future growth in Thailand. Ultimately the collaboration between Software Park, ATSI and Microsoft represents a bridge that will connect Thai software startups with the success that they deserve,” concluded Ms. Patama Chantaruck.
The Microsoft BizSpark Program falls under Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential program, which aims to foster local innovation by providing key software development tools to students, established developers and Microsoft partners. The program meets the needs of the local software industry, by helping developers create software that will be beneficial for both education and business sectors and that in turn will put Thailand on track for a sustainable software ecosystem that can enable more jobs and opportunities.
Microsoft expects 100 startup software companies to join the program in the first year, with the full Microsoft support for each startup standing at 4 million baht per year. In addition to this, participating startups will be able to take advantage of mutually beneficial partnerships and receive ongoing and specialized support from Microsoft, Software Park and ATSI.
Program Enrollment
To enroll, Startups simply find a BizSpark Network Partner at http://www.microsoft.com/thailand//bizspark
Enrollment Procedure
1. Contact ATSI for program application
2. ATSI will shortlist and select the qualified startups. Qualified startups will receive an email from Microsoft BizSpark program
3. Click on the link from the email. Then, startups can access to the system and receive many privileges.
Contact MS. Kamolpat Muangpan, ATSI, at 0-2962-1348 or 0-2962-2900 ext. 1501, or email Atsi9930@hotmail.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited provides world-class software that is easy to use and localized to suit the local market’s needs. It also has a compelling and consistent platform to build powerful business solutions that can scale from a notebook computer to a mainframe — class multiprocessor systems using Microsoft technology. For further information, information, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand.
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Suphada Chaiwong
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