One of the most valuable yet challenging things for first-time founders can be finding the knowledgeable guidance and advice they need. That’s why Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub works to bring together a variety of resources to support the founders in our network.
As someone with a great idea, it’s critical to validate your idea and get advice on how to develop your company as quickly as possible. Yet it can be difficult to find time to engage with individuals who can help. Microsoft for Startups streamlines the process by helping founders quickly find experts who can guide you in the right direction.
Microsoft for Startups provides founders like you with access to a diverse community of hundreds of business and technical experts working for Microsoft—ensuring you get the guidance you need. The individuals within our network, many of whom were startup founders themselves, are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to provide the types of guidance that Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub members need.
The Microsoft for Startups Expert Network provides valuable support to help you:
- Access guidance that improves your acumen
- Validate your idea
- Accelerate development
- Address critical areas of your business
Access guidance that improves your acumen
From learning how to get the most out of meeting with experts and mentors to understanding the basics of building your startup’s first prototype, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is designed to ensure that founders like you always have access to the guidance you need when you need it.
“I recommend all my team leaders to look for peers outside of the company,” said Harley Blakeman, founder and CEO of Honest Jobs. “It’s easy to get tunnel vision and fall into set ways of thinking about problems. Our CTO was able to take advantage of the network through the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub platform. It’s been extremely valuable to have access to mentors and experts to bounce ideas off.”
Validate your idea
Find a Microsoft employee with industry experience who can discuss your ideas, challenge your assumptions and dispel your doubts.
As founder and CEO Mindaugas Bruzas of Oxus.AI shared: “Our solution targets telcos, and we quickly clicked with an expert who had more than 20 years of experience in the field. He reinforced we were on the right path, which was supremely validating and kept us on the right path.”
Accelerate development
Our startup founder guidance democratizes access to resources, enabling startups to develop strategically and avoid missteps.
Sebastian Kaul, cofounder of WYZEWORX,shared that his connecting to Microsoft employees helped him navigate partnering with Microsoft: “The guidance was incredibly helpful. It took a single call to get clarity of how we can achieve distribution and credibility using channels like AppSource and Azure Marketplace.”
Address critical areas of your business
Never underestimate the importance of networking. Having the right people in your corner can open doors by raising your profile and credibility with trustworthy people who care.
Rado Kotorov, founder and CEO of Trendalyze was able to recruit a Microsoft employee to serve on their board. “Through Microsoft we were introduced to a subject matter expert who knew our space incredibly well,” Kotorov said. “After a few meetings, we invited him to join the board of our company.”
With Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, we’re working to help startup founders like you find the guidance that you need regardless of your stage of development. To get started, sign up at microsoft.com/startups.
