POA Educational Foundation is delighted to be a network partner for Microsoft® BizSpark™ global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage start-ups by providing key resources (software, support, and visibility) when they need it the most. This partnership will enable the foundation to fullfill the mandate of supporting and accelerating the success of First Nation lead Startups. The foundation will promote and facilitate this program primarily to the members of Canadian First Nations but also to the wider Canadian community. Canadian start-ups are welcome to contact us to get sponsorship for the BizSpark program.

Before you get started, have a look at the BizSpark FAQ and Portal to see if you/your company qualify.

More details about the program:

Microsoft® has an exciting program specifically designed to provide early stage Startups with software, support, and visibility to help ignite your success. The program, called BizSpark™, provides access to: 

• Software. Join BizSpark and you’re just clicks away from having access to current, full-featured development tools, including Visual Studio Team System, plus production licensing to develop and bring your solution to market.
• Support. BizSpark provides you with professional technical support from Microsoft and connects you to a global community of business experts who can help guide you through the hurdles of growing your business.
• Visibility. Through BizSpark, you’ll have the opportunity to achieve global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients and partners.  
  

Eligibility requirements are minimal:
If you're a privately held company building a software-based product or service (even using open source code), in business for fewer than three years, and with less than USD$1M in annual revenue, you're in!

To join BizSpark, you must be sponsored by a BizSpark Network Partner, such as our POA Educational Foundation. When you’re ready to sign up, contact us <Ashutosh Jha, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it > about sponsorship and get your enrollment code.

Once you have your enrollment code, joining BizSpark is fast and  easy. No payment or credit card information is required, and there are no upfront costs. (Microsoft will assess a USD$100 program offering fee at the end of participation in the program, or the end of three years, whichever comes first.)

Get your Startup fired up! Visit the Microsoft Startup Zone link: http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/> to learn more!

Once you have your enrollment code, joining BizSpark is fast and  easy. No payment or credit card information is required, and there are no upfront costs. (Microsoft will assess a USD$100 program offering fee at the end of participation in the program, or the end of three years, whichever comes first.)

Get your Startup fired up! Visit the Microsoft Startup Zone <link: http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com/to learn more! to learn more!