Microsoft and Danang join hands to empower start-ups

The signing ceremony is an essential part of the city’s “Accelerating Capacity for Start-up Businesses” programme.

“Today’s agreement marks the beginning of the long-term cooperation between Microsoft and Danang Startup Network Coordinating Council. Our mission with partners in Vietnam is empowering organisations and businesses, helping them to be more productive and creative. This agreement also represents a strong commitment from Microsoft to support Danang youth with additional skills, startup opportunities, especially helping to address the problem by applying IT to optimise the potential of Vietnamese youth,” said Vu Minh Tri, Microsoft Vietnam’s general director.

Developing the powerful business community based on international cooperation has been one of the important goals in Vietnam as well as Danang’s socio-economic development plant.

“Danang Startup Network Coordinating Council highly appreciates the results and efforts which Microsoft has been providing for youth as well as individuals and businesses in Vietnam and especially in Danang,” said Vo Duy Khuong, chairman of Danang Startup Network Coordinating Council. “This partnership will be a further step to help young people and startups in central Vietnam to connect and network better, having more knowledge to accelerate their competitiveness in IT, then help them develop sustainable and stable businesses, and creates better momentum for the local software economy.”

Microsoft Vietnam provide startups the opportunity to use Microsoft technologies, BizSpark and BizSpark Plus packages, totaling up to $147,000 in three years. Microsoft and qualified startups work together to develop go-to-market strategies. Moreover, Microsoft may support in selling products and services of these startups. In addition, the project will be run by CLAS Expara and Danang Entrepreneurship Support Co, Ltd (DNES).

CLAS Expara will provide entrepreneurship workshops, strategy planning and business operation framework, and train directly the recruited startups. DNES will provide the facility, as well as IT and communication infrastructure. Based on their experiences, all partners will be responsible for advising, training, supporting, investing and finding markets to support startups developing successful products on Microsoft platform.

“CLAS Expara Accelerator programme is meaningful with Danang startups community. It contributes to build and complete the startup ecosystem of Danang in the future. It also provides the supporting environment for startups or potential projects; fostering research and innovative activities, connecting academics to industries,” Ho Ky Minh, Deputy Chairman of the Danang People’s Committee strengthened.

Being a trusted advisor for the best IT solution worldwide, Microsoft will stand side by side with many flexible ways to support Vietnamese youth for addressing the challenges to be successful.

“Having been in Vietnam over 20 years, Microsoft is always ready to share IT knowledge, advising and supporting individuals and businesses to formulate and develop startups in Vietnam. Microsoft particularly wants to support the youth and startups in local market. With the solid IT experiences combining with our supports in Vietnam, we hope we can empower Vietnamese businesses to transform the future and continue to develop the country's economy through technology collaboration programmes,” said Tri.