Meet The 12 Startups Selected for 12th Cohort of Microsoft ScaleUp Accelerator

Microsoft on Thursday announced that it has selected 12 startups in its ScaleUp program (formerly known as Microsoft Accelerator). It is a part of Microsoft for Startups initiative which was initiated this year in February.

'Microsoft for Startups' is a new program that delivers access to technology, go-to-market and community benefits that helps startups grow their customer and revenue base. The initiative plans to invest over $500 million in the next 2 years to help startups with go-to market strategies, technology and community building. ScaleUp focuses on late stage B2B startups and helps them accelerate their business with mentorship and business development.

The selected startups in the 12^th cohort are focused on areas of Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, Big Data analytics, among others to build solutions for the market. Microsoft ScaleUp focuses on late stage B2B start-ups and helps them accelerate their business growth through mentorship, streamlined go-to-market (GTM) activities and most importantly access to world-class technology.

The selected startups for the 12th cohort are:

1. AppICE has built a proprietary platform that can take soft and hard sensor data from connected devices like smartphones and use machine learning to generate actionable insights.


2. Appiyo Technologies’ Twixor is the first of its kind ‘customer engagement platform’ which brings together the power of ‘bi-directional actionable messaging’ and Business Process Management (BPM). Twixor delivers actionable customer engagement in a PWA (Progressive Web App) capsule powered by their versatile BPM engine.


3. Avanseus Technologies delivers AI based enterprise solutions for Mobile, Fixed, Transmission and IP Backbone Networks, Industrial Analytics, Security, Railways and the Internet of Things, transforming massive amounts of data into useful business insights and actions.


4. eGovernments Foundation aims to build and drive government transformations across India using open source technology.


5. Gaia Smart Cities Solution is a Data Automation and Analytics Company focused on bringing together multiple IoT and digital data streams into a single platform to enable the clients to measure, monitor and manage performance and service delivery.


6. GrowthEnabler has created an AI and Algorithm based global intelligence platform that provides global enterprises the fastest way to leverage disruptive technologies, business models, and digital product innovations born out of the global startup economy.


7. Karo Sambhav is a tech-enabled, environmentally beneficial and socially responsible Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that is setting up a robust India-wide transformative solution on e-waste management.


8. Kogence brings flexibility, agility and productivity in the High Performance Computing (HPC) based workflows.


9. MachineSense has developed a patented Industrial IoT system for Predictive, Preventative and Electrical Maintenance of Industrial Machines. The company aims to build an IIoT platform for factory and building utilities that includes electricity, compressed air, water, HVAC, vacuum, etc.


10. SmartVizX is developing VArch Suite, a virtual reality product that improves interior design collaboration in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry by offering immersive visualization, spatial awareness, interactivity with design elements, data management and communication features.


11. Sprinkle Data provides Search based Insight discovery and adaptive data management software-as service.


12. Xurmo Technologies is a self-service data ingestion, preparation and analysis platform built with the vision to simplify and automate data-driven decisions. By simplifying the analytics process, Xurmo enables faster adoption of data-driven decision making in enterprises.

During the six-month program, these startups will work closely with Microsoft leaders, industry experts and leverage the Microsoft Partner Network to scale their business models and serve enterprise clients. These startups will get access to Microsoft’s rich technology expertise, infrastructure and Azure cloud platform to build a strong technology backbone for their business. As part of the program, these startups will also have access to a vibrant global alumni network of over 730 startup graduates, which will foster peer support and networking as well as access to Microsoft industry and customer events.

Microsoft currently caters to over 5,000 tech start-ups and more than 200,000 large and small-and-medium businesses in India.

Last year, Microsoft had selected 14 startups in its the 11th cohort of its Microsoft Accelerator program. All the 14 selected startups were in their late stage, have had an average age of 3.5 years and a team size of no more than 80 employees. Microsoft had recently decided to shift the focus of its accelerator program to later-stage startups.

Speaking about go-to-market (GTM) opportunities for startups in India, in 2016 Microsoft Accelerator and Wipro Limited had entered into a partnership that will provide startups with greater opportunities to innovate and grow their business.

The word 'ScaleUp' remind us a previous news in February wherein Oracle has launched a virtual startup accelerator programme called Oracle Scaleup Ecosystem for growth-stage startup, which is essentially a global non-residential startup programme, that will focus on cities outside the purview of its exiting residential Startup Cloud Accelerator programme

Meet The 12 Startups Selected for 12th Cohort of Microsoft ScaleUp Accelerator

Microsoft on Thursday announced that it has selected 12 startups in its ScaleUp program (formerly known as Microsoft Accelerator). It is a part of Microsoft for Startups initiative which was initiated this year in February.

'Microsoft for Startups' is a new program that delivers access to technology, go-to-market and community benefits that helps startups grow their customer and revenue base. The initiative plans to invest over $500 million in the next 2 years to help startups with go-to market strategies, technology and community building. ScaleUp focuses on late stage B2B startups and helps them accelerate their business with mentorship and business development.

The selected startups in the 12^th cohort are focused on areas of Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, Big Data analytics, among others to build solutions for the market. Microsoft ScaleUp focuses on late stage B2B start-ups and helps them accelerate their business growth through mentorship, streamlined go-to-market (GTM) activities and most importantly access to world-class technology.

The selected startups for the 12th cohort are:

1. AppICE has built a proprietary platform that can take soft and hard sensor data from connected devices like smartphones and use machine learning to generate actionable insights.


2. Appiyo Technologies’ Twixor is the first of its kind ‘customer engagement platform’ which brings together the power of ‘bi-directional actionable messaging’ and Business Process Management (BPM). Twixor delivers actionable customer engagement in a PWA (Progressive Web App) capsule powered by their versatile BPM engine.


3. Avanseus Technologies delivers AI based enterprise solutions for Mobile, Fixed, Transmission and IP Backbone Networks, Industrial Analytics, Security, Railways and the Internet of Things, transforming massive amounts of data into useful business insights and actions.


4. eGovernments Foundation aims to build and drive government transformations across India using open source technology.


5. Gaia Smart Cities Solution is a Data Automation and Analytics Company focused on bringing together multiple IoT and digital data streams into a single platform to enable the clients to measure, monitor and manage performance and service delivery.


6. GrowthEnabler has created an AI and Algorithm based global intelligence platform that provides global enterprises the fastest way to leverage disruptive technologies, business models, and digital product innovations born out of the global startup economy.


7. Karo Sambhav is a tech-enabled, environmentally beneficial and socially responsible Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that is setting up a robust India-wide transformative solution on e-waste management.


8. Kogence brings flexibility, agility and productivity in the High Performance Computing (HPC) based workflows.


9. MachineSense has developed a patented Industrial IoT system for Predictive, Preventative and Electrical Maintenance of Industrial Machines. The company aims to build an IIoT platform for factory and building utilities that includes electricity, compressed air, water, HVAC, vacuum, etc.


10. SmartVizX is developing VArch Suite, a virtual reality product that improves interior design collaboration in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry by offering immersive visualization, spatial awareness, interactivity with design elements, data management and communication features.


11. Sprinkle Data provides Search based Insight discovery and adaptive data management software-as service.


12. Xurmo Technologies is a self-service data ingestion, preparation and analysis platform built with the vision to simplify and automate data-driven decisions. By simplifying the analytics process, Xurmo enables faster adoption of data-driven decision making in enterprises.

During the six-month program, these startups will work closely with Microsoft leaders, industry experts and leverage the Microsoft Partner Network to scale their business models and serve enterprise clients. These startups will get access to Microsoft’s rich technology expertise, infrastructure and Azure cloud platform to build a strong technology backbone for their business. As part of the program, these startups will also have access to a vibrant global alumni network of over 730 startup graduates, which will foster peer support and networking as well as access to Microsoft industry and customer events.

Microsoft currently caters to over 5,000 tech start-ups and more than 200,000 large and small-and-medium businesses in India.

Last year, Microsoft had selected 14 startups in its the 11th cohort of its Microsoft Accelerator program. All the 14 selected startups were in their late stage, have had an average age of 3.5 years and a team size of no more than 80 employees. Microsoft had recently decided to shift the focus of its accelerator program to later-stage startups.

Speaking about go-to-market (GTM) opportunities for startups in India, in 2016 Microsoft Accelerator and Wipro Limited had entered into a partnership that will provide startups with greater opportunities to innovate and grow their business.

The word 'ScaleUp' remind us a previous news in February wherein Oracle has launched a virtual startup accelerator programme called Oracle Scaleup Ecosystem for growth-stage startup, which is essentially a global non-residential startup programme, that will focus on cities outside the purview of its exiting residential Startup Cloud Accelerator programme

Microsoft To Now Bet Big On Late-Stage Indian Startups

Software giant Microsoft has decided to go for a change in its course when it comes to the Indian Startup Ecosystem. After observing the ecosystem up and close, the tech biggie has decided to focus all its attention on promising later-stage startups in the country through its Bengaluru-based accelerator program.

Initially launched with a motive of providing a helping hand to early-stage firms, Microsoft has now decided to advance to only later-stage startups in its fifth year of operation in the Indian subcontinent. The accelerator helps selected startups by making things easier, approachable and achievable for them. The accelerator mainly helps Indian startups scale up and go global if this is what they want.

Since the big shift in its strategy, the Microsoft Accelerator program has had enterprise companies like customer experience management Customer XP, video assessment platform Talview, CRM platform Cloud Cherry and several others use their partner and customer network to climb the success ladder and take their operations to next level.

The software giant recently revealed the name of the 14 startups it had selected based on its new strategy for the 11th cohort of its Microsoft Accelerator program. All the 14 selected startups are currently in their late stage, have an average age of 3.5 years and a team size of no more than 80 employees. Together the 14 startups have raised close to $64 million in funding till date.

Read: Meet 14 Startups Selected For Microsoft Accelerator’s 11th Cohort

The 14 selected startups of Microsoft Accelerator's 11th cohort will be getting easy access to Microsoft's tech stack and Azure technologies and make use of the software giant's advanced cloud services in areas such as - Big Data, Cognitive Services, Advanced Analytics and IoT to scale their products and serve enterprise clients.

According to a statement given by Bala Girisaballa, CEO-in-Residence, Microsoft Accelerator, India to The Hindu, the company decided to go for a change in direction in its strategy for the Indian Startup Ecosystem as it felt it could bring more of a difference in the trajectory of later-stage startups in the country than others. He said, “We realised that our strength was there. We needed to change the strategy."

He further added, “We have the ability to open them up to Fortune 1000 companies. But when you put them in front of a customer (like a large bank), they can’t be early stage. Slowly, we started moving to late-stage companies."

Microsoft To Now Bet Big On Late-Stage Indian Startups

Software giant Microsoft has decided to go for a change in its course when it comes to the Indian Startup Ecosystem. After observing the ecosystem up and close, the tech biggie has decided to focus all its attention on promising later-stage startups in the country through its Bengaluru-based accelerator program.

Initially launched with a motive of providing a helping hand to early-stage firms, Microsoft has now decided to advance to only later-stage startups in its fifth year of operation in the Indian subcontinent. The accelerator helps selected startups by making things easier, approachable and achievable for them. The accelerator mainly helps Indian startups scale up and go global if this is what they want.

Since the big shift in its strategy, the Microsoft Accelerator program has had enterprise companies like customer experience management Customer XP, video assessment platform Talview, CRM platform Cloud Cherry and several others use their partner and customer network to climb the success ladder and take their operations to next level.

The software giant recently revealed the name of the 14 startups it had selected based on its new strategy for the 11th cohort of its Microsoft Accelerator program. All the 14 selected startups are currently in their late stage, have an average age of 3.5 years and a team size of no more than 80 employees. Together the 14 startups have raised close to $64 million in funding till date.

Read: Meet 14 Startups Selected For Microsoft Accelerator’s 11th Cohort

The 14 selected startups of Microsoft Accelerator's 11th cohort will be getting easy access to Microsoft's tech stack and Azure technologies and make use of the software giant's advanced cloud services in areas such as - Big Data, Cognitive Services, Advanced Analytics and IoT to scale their products and serve enterprise clients.

According to a statement given by Bala Girisaballa, CEO-in-Residence, Microsoft Accelerator, India to The Hindu, the company decided to go for a change in direction in its strategy for the Indian Startup Ecosystem as it felt it could bring more of a difference in the trajectory of later-stage startups in the country than others. He said, “We realised that our strength was there. We needed to change the strategy."

He further added, “We have the ability to open them up to Fortune 1000 companies. But when you put them in front of a customer (like a large bank), they can’t be early stage. Slowly, we started moving to late-stage companies."

Meet 14 Startups Selected for Microsoft Accelerator 10th Batch

Microsoft has just announced the names of the 14 startups it has selected for its tenth accelerator batch, and by the looks of it, the year 2017 is going to belong to Artificial intelligence (AI), business-to-business (B2B) and machine learning businesses as all the selected startups have at least one of these elements as a core part of their product offerings.

According to Microsoft, it chose its final fourteen on the basis of three main parameters: how deep the technology associated with their products is; the level of traction; and if the startups were founded by successful professionals and serial entrepreneurs with domain expertise.

The startups were narrowed down from the portfolios of several top venture capital firms in the world, including Pi Ventures, Ideaspring Capital, Accel Partners, IDG Ventures and Inventus Capital Partners.

Of the 14 shortlisted startups, 7 are series-stage mature businesses, currently doing an average annual revenue rate (ARR) of a whopping $1.5 million (Rs 10 crore) and an average funding of $3.2 million (over Rs 21 crore). As for the seed-stage companies selected, they have an average ARR of $200,000 (Rs 1.33 crore), and an average funding of $1.5 million (Rs 10 crore).

All the selected startups will be adopting Microsoft’s cloud offering Azure and make use of its technologies like big data, internet of things (IoT) and advanced analytics, among others to better their products. They will also be getting help from Microsoft’s experienced sales and marketing teams, and the tech giant's partners all across the globe.

The selected startups will be undergoing an intensive programme at Bengaluru-based Microsoft Accelerator that will increase the preparedness of their enterprises for a long haul in the industry.

The shortlisted startups are:

1) Active.ai: Bengaluru-based Active.ai is a full-stack, enterprise AI platform that allows banks, financial services companies to offer its customers with conversational banking experience. The startup came into existence in 2016.

2) FirstHive: Mumbai-based First Hive is helping brands create unique marketing identities from customer interactions across marketing channels, driving customer conversations and marketing return on their website investment. The startup was founded eight years ago in 2007.

3) Tricog: Bengaluru-based Tricog is an Artificial Intelligence startup that makes use of technology to help connect heart patients with doctors. The startup started its journey two years ago in 2015.

4) QuestionPro : Seattle-based QuestionPro provides web-based survey software to analyse customer satisfaction, market research, employee satisfaction survey by making use of tools that allow creation, distribution, and analysis of surveys. The company was founded in the year 2002.

5) Witty Parrot: It is a smart knowledge automation, collaboration and communication platform for sales, marketing, support and HR. The startup was founded in 2012.

6) Lavelle Networks: Bengaluru-based Lavelle Networks builds enterprise data networking platforms that makes way for high-speed and safe consumption of cloud applications. The startup is hopeful that their acceptance into Microsoft accelerator will help them in making their platform reach a wider audience. The startup was founded in 2015.

7) Zenatix: The Gurugram-based is a data-driven energy efficiency company that is helping retail chains and banks cut their electricity consumption by almost 30% by making use of IoT and machine learning-based intelligent controls. It was founded in 2013.

8) Heckyl: Mumbai-based Heckyl is a big data-based analytical platform for investors, traders and researchers in the financial industry. It provides real-time news and data analytics to investors, fund managers, brokerage firms and short-term traders. The startup was founded in 2010.

9) LetsTransport: The Bengaluru-based startup is a logistics tech startup that is into building enterprise data networking platforms, which enables high-speed and safe consumption of cloud applications. The startup came to existence in 2015.

10) Karomi: The Chennai-based company manages compliance and speedy approval of packaging artworks for FMCG and pharmaceutical companies. It also help their products reach the market faster. The company started its journey way back in 1999.

11) Syscloud: The New York-based company is a cloud security platform that helps detect and at the same time stop financial, customer, sales and IP data from insider theft, breaches and outside attacks. The startup was founded in 2010.

12) Sigtuple: The Bengaluru-based startup provides machine-learning based solutions for detection of anomalies in medical testing. It aims to improve accuracy in disease diagnosis. The startup took birth two years ago in 2015.

13) vPhrase: The Mumbai-based startup is an Artificial Intelligence-based platform that makes complex data reports more readable by summarizing data and analysis in words. The startup was founded in 2015.

14) Acebot.ai: The San Jose-based startup is an enterprise chatbot solution that makes use of conversational user interface to enable collaboration, team productivity and data collation within any enterprise. The startup came into existence in 2015.

Bala Girisaballa Appointed As CEO of Microsoft Accelerator India

Microsoft Tuesday said Bala Girisaballa will be leading Microsoft Accelerator in India as CEO-in-Residence.

Prior to this, Bala was with Globalisation and market expansion advisory Zinnov as Partner and Practice Head helping MNC R&D companies. He took charge of the Accelerator’s India operations, with effect from August 1. Microsoft also announced that Ravi Narayan, Director, will now assume the role of Global Director at Microsoft Accelerator.

Notably, Girisaballa is also the founder of PurpleFront, a Bengaluru-based technology startup helping small businesses leverage social media effectively to grow and retain customers.

Post his new appointment, Girisaballa will lead the Microsoft India Accelerator’s efforts to help market-ready startups and entrepreneurs to scale up and become successful businesses through the technology enablement, global go-to-market efforts and deep business advisory in the form of Hi-Po and Scale-Up programs, Microsoft said in a statement in Mumbai.

Ravi Narayan, in his new role as Global Director, will help Microsoft Accelerator in eight locations around the world to become market-ready, focused and accelerate these startups that have or will raise institutional funding from venture capitalists.He will also focus on scaling the startup acceleration model through global partners, it said.

Early last year, Microsoft Accelerator in India redesigned their programs to cater to market-ready startups. Since then, it has graduated three cohorts which include startups like iBot, CustomerXPs, Altizon, CloudCherry and Reverie Technologies.

It has also formed partnerships with Temasek, TCS, Citi, Reliance Industries and other multinational corporations under its corporate engagement program #CoInnovate, to help the startups in their go-to-market efforts and global expansion.

[Top Image - Denis Linine / Shutterstock.com]