Microsoft, Accenture partner to support startups in India

Microsoft Research India and Accenture Labs will help social enterprise startups test and validate proof-of-concepts, conduct design thinking sessions to help entrepreneurs re-envision the impact of their solutions, and provide support in exploring and using Microsoft technologies.

Startups that apply for the program are required to have deployed their solutions and have early signs of impact. (REUTERS)

Microsoft and Accenture, back in March this year, had announced a partnership as a part of which the two companies had decided to support startups that develop solutions in the areas of agriculture, education and healthcare. Today, the two companies announced that they were expanding this partnership to support startups that focus on sustainability and skilling.

Microsoft today said that through their initiative, Microsoft Research India and Accenture Labs will help social enterprise startups test and validate proof-of-concepts, conduct design thinking sessions to help entrepreneurs re-envision the impact of their solutions, and provide support in exploring and using Microsoft technologies.

Startups that apply for the program are required to have deployed their solutions and have early signs of impact. The startups that are selected for the program will have the opportunity to be part of Microsoft's Global Social Entrepreneurship Program, which is designed to empower tech-enabled startups that are focused on social and environmental challenges. The program supports startups with access to breakthrough technology in Microsoft AI, cloud expertise, go-to-market services, grants and access to customers that facilitate connections on local and global levels.

The company said that the first cohort of startups in the program focused on overcoming challenges in areas of food safety, livelihood, and education, and were extensively supported by Microsoft and Accenture with technology resources and mentoring to scale their solutions. The list includes Centre for Aquatic Livelihood Jaljeevika, which is an IoT-based aquaculture advisory framework, and Akshaya Patra Foundation, which is the world's largest NGO-run school mid-day meal program. Tech startups Syook and Wobot collaborated for a health and safety monitoring system for Akshaya Patra.

“Accelerated by the pandemic, social enterprises are reimagining how they can widen the reach and deepen that impact through technology. Our collaboration with Accenture will help startups scale their solutions quickly and drive meaningful and measurable impact,” Lathika Pai, Country Head – Microsoft for Startups, MENA & SAARC, said on the occasion.