US-based software company Microsoft has launched its newly merged startup unit, Microsoft Ventures, in China.
David Lin, director of Microsoft Ventures Greater China, said: “Here in China, Microsoft Ventures will adhere to our global strategy to foster innovation by building up local entrepreneur ecosystem. We will bring together BizSpark program, Accelerator, and a seed fund in collaboration with the investment community, mentors, government, and technology partners to provide full circle of support to the startups so that they can create successful businesses.”
Microsoft’s Accelerator programme, which now forms part of Microsoft Ventures, has already been established in China for a year and its second class of 20 startups has just graduated. They include iRock Technologies (a shale gas data analysis company) and TalentCloud (agricultural IT), now a partner with Microsoft.
There are 17 startups in Microsoft Ventures Accelerator China’s third class, held for six months from July to December, covering sectors and solutions including keyless electronic signature, big data mining and services, big data solutions for business intelligence and decision support in the financial sector, and wearable health management devices.
