Microsoft's ScaleUp program arrives in Sydney

Microsoft’s start-up program is coming to Sydney, providing opportunities for tech start-up organisations in the city.

The ScaleUp program will take up residence in the new Sydney Startup Hub, which has been officially opened by the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

The program helps fast-track each stage of the journey for a start-up business and is a proven method for getting a start-up off the ground. For entrepreneurs who are often trying to solve a problem in an unproven way, having access to expert guidance can help expedite processes from years to just weeks. It typically runs for four months and focuses on both business and technical development.

“Our aim is to be the ‘glue’ that connects the start-up ecosystem in Australia. Being part of the Sydney Startup Hub enables us to realise that ambition. For any business to succeed it needs strong local and global connections, and we believe Microsoft can help a start-up be global from the outset,” said Microsoft Australia Managing Director Steven Worrall.

Microsoft also recently announced that Sydney-based Annie Parker (formerly the CEO of Fishburners and co-founder of muru-D) has been appointed to lead Microsoft’s start-up programs globally, including Microsoft ScaleUp.

In the five years the Microsoft ScaleUp programs have been running, close to 730 companies have graduated from the program and raised almost US$3 billion in venture capital with 48 exits — where the company is bought out or acquired by another company.

Last year, Microsoft ScaleUp (formerly known as Microsoft Accelerator) ranked as one of the top 10 global start-up accelerator programs according to the 2016 Global Accelerator Report, while local venture capital communities in China, India and Israel awarded Microsoft accelerators with the title of number one accelerator in their respective countries.

Start-ups that are accepted into the Microsoft ScaleUp program gain unparalleled access to expert advice, technology tools like Azure and Office 365, and Microsoft’s global network of customers. Microsoft does not take any equity in the start-ups it supports.

In addition to running the ScaleUp program, Microsoft will be an active tenant of the Sydney Startup Hub, bringing its global expertise to sparking and supporting local NSW start-up ecosystems. It will do this by running events, hackathons, investor pitch opportunities, CEO sessions and a range of activities that will be open to the start-up community through the Sydney Startup Hub.

Successful Sydney-born entrepreneur Tania Yuki — the founder and CEO of social media indexing company Shareablee — previously took part in Microsoft’s program.

Her New York-based business now has around 60 employees, a data dictionary detailing around half a million global companies and platforms that deliver rich insights about the way that consumers interact with brands on social platforms.

“What really struck me about the Microsoft ScaleUp program is that it’s designed for companies that are already in the market but need support to supercharge their business to the next level of growth. It provided us with a great opportunity to step back from the business with the full support of Microsoft to help us do things we couldn’t do by ourselves,” Yuki said.

“Critically, it provided Shareablee with an entree to Microsoft channel sales, providing connections to Microsoft business partners worldwide. It really accelerated our ability to get in front of those companies and start creating opportunities.”

Microsoft Corporation made the decision to locate its latest ScaleUp program in Sydney, where it also has its Australian headquarters, following extensive research and meetings with the Sydney start-up ecosystem.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/fotogestoeber

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