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Has anyone here been a member of Microsoft's BizSpark[^] program?
Do you know anyone who has been a member?
Do you think they would consider a one-man show to join the program?
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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I don't know about biz spark. But they approved me for the now defunct web spark program.
David
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Did they ask you things about your financing and your office arrangements?
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Richard Andrew x64 wrote: Did they ask you things about your financing and your office arrangements?
No to both. Good thing because My office is a spare bedroom. 
David
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One of my friends has it, and he's really just a single-person company.
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Well that's encouraging. Thanks.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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We're a two-man company, and we got turned down without explanation. We ended up having to buy an Action Pack instead. 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Sorry to hear that. Do you think perhaps your product is not what they are looking for? They seem to be looking for stuff that is oriented around online services.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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As I say, we didn't get an explanation, just a rejection. As far as I can see, we ticked all the right boxes, but we obviously missed something.
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Richard Deeming wrote: we got turned down without explanation.
Oh! that's odd. They should give you a reason.
Have you considered trying again?
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Rutvik Dave wrote: Have you considered trying again?
We did - we reapplied twice, and were rejected each time without an explanation.
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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That is really frustrating.
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Yes, I am a member of the Microsoft BizSpark program since last 8 months.
And we are just a two person team[^]. So number of person on the team doesn't matter.
Following are the main conditions to enter in the program.
- You need a officially registered company in your country.
- Your team size should be less than 10 people. (counting everyone - non tech people - full time accountant, everyone)
- Your company must be less than 3 years old.
- Your company must be earning less than a million dollar a year.
- You should have a decent product / concept.
You could find a BizSpark network partner in your area. or let me know if you need an introduction / reference. I would be happy to introduce you to the BizSpark team. And after that you can submit your application for a review.
Here are[^] some of the benefits, which I find most valuable.
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Very impressive! I just read your interview.
Thanks for your offer to introduce me to the team. I will consider applying once I have crystalized my ideas more formally.
Great stuff!
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Thank You!
Yes, that's a good idea. Because this is not an automated process (which I was hoping), you will have to interact with a real person back and forth. So you need your idea / concept materialized in a presentable form. (They also do not care about your funding status or office space. In-fact if you are looking for funding they also have Microsoft Ventures, and if you are looking for an office space they also have BizSpark Incubation Centers.)
In our case I had the product ready using the 'express editions' of Visual Studio and SQL Server, and a 6 months trial of Windows Server (Crazy!). I was just looking for the 1500 Hrs. of Windows Azure Free Hosting per Month (it's even better now, they give us $150.00 monthly credit). So instead of submitting a business plan, executive summary and other documents, I just gave them 'demo account' login info, and we get selected within few hours.
But I remember, they asked me why I am not approaching them using any network partner (which I had no idea at that time, that there are incubator programs and BizSpark evangelists in my area). so I just told them I didn't know anyone who can reference me.
Good luck.
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I used to be on the defunct Web-Spark and have now applied for the BizSpark program - let's watch this space. I should be contacted within 5 business days they say.
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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Good luck! I'll be interested to hear of your experience.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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I'm a member and a one-person "team". I remember the process was not that difficult and was approved surprisingly quickly.
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Thank you.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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To quote the website;
"Microsoft may permit individual developers or others and/or separate technology entities who may not meet the standard eligibility requirements to join BizSpark from time to time."
At the end of the day, apply, if they say no, then nothing lost!
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DaveAuld wrote: At the end of the day, apply, if they say no, then nothing lost!
That's good advice. I will apply, then.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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I joined BizSpark a few years back and I'm a one-man-shop and they didn't have a problem with it!
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Thank you.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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im just coming to the end of my bizspark membership, and the company is just me, so yes, yes and yea.
MVVM # - I did it My Way
___________________________________________
Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011
.\\axxx
(That's an 'M')
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I attempted to get in but was totally unprepared and rightly rejected, you are doing the right thing getting as much preparation as possible. Make it easy for them to approve you, have all your info ready before starting.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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