Microsoft Ties Up With TCS To Launch A Co-Innovation Network For Startups

Microsoft Accelerator and TCS has launched a Co-Innovation Network (COIN), to create a platform to spur the Indian startup ecosystem. The joint initiative aims at creating a value proposition for the startups in the enterprise marketplace.

The announcement was made yesterday at the Think Next Summer 2016 – a Microsoft Accelerator flagship forum in Bangalore.

Under this initiative, the startups will get access to both Microsoft and TCS networks and their relationships across customers, investors, academia, and industry.

“The partnership highlights our efforts to engage with startups and underlines our commitment to provide innovative solutions to our diverse customer base. As we enter a new phase of innovation and computing, companies must co-innovate and create strategic partnerships to solve challenging problems for customers,” said TCS global head for Hi-Tech Industry Solutions Unit, Nagaraj Ijari.

The selected startups will gain:

• Opportunity to connect with corporates,
• Access to innovative solutions for their business needs
• Greater market access
• Access to the expertise and client-base of both the software majors
• Create opportunities to innovate and transform the business landscape.

Microsoft Accelerator global director Ravi Narayan, also released an ebook on the “History of Indian Startup Ecosystem” on the occasion. “The progress India has made in IT and entrepreneurship over the years changed the landscape offering new entrepreneurs unmatched opportunities. As one of the contributors to the startup ecosystem in this country, we felt it was a story worth telling,” he added.

The event also marked graduation of 12 startups viz. Altizon, Tarnea, Aureus Analytics, BabyChakra, Reverie, Strides, Locus, Admission Table, Distiman, Calm.io, Yellow Messenger, and Report Bee.

Apart from Microsoft Accelerator, Microsoft announced their VC arm called Microsoft Ventures earlier this month. Till date, Microsoft Ventures has announced its investments in 5 startups in the US.