Microsoft Corp. has launched a new
fund to cultivate companies with solutions that bring affordable Internet
access to underserved markets.
The fund is part of Microsoft’s
Affordable Access Initiative, which invests in new last-mile access
technologies, cloud-based services and applications, and business models that
can reduce the cost of Internet access and help more people affordably get
online.
Started on Monday, eligible
companies can submit their application online at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/affordable-access-initiative/home.
“Today there are approximately 4
billion people globally without Internet access,” said Peggy Johnson, executive
vice president of business development at Microsoft. “The ability to close that
gap is more achievable than ever with technology that is readily available and
affordable in many parts of the world. Through this fund, we hope to kick-start
the entrepreneurial process by identifying promising ideas that we can help
nurture, grow and scale.”
Under its Affordable Access
Initiative, Microsoft partners with Internet access providers and other public
and private sector entities on innovative and practical connectivity and
services solutions designed to deliver the greatest socio-economic impact to
the greatest number of people. Examples of other efforts underway include
these:
Microsoft’s deployment of TV white
spaces technology, which repurposes TV frequencies not being used locally to
provide affordable, robust Internet access to entire communities. With its
partners, Microsoft is currently deploying the technology in 17 countries and
five continents.
Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, a
multiyear initiative through which Microsoft is actively engaging in Africa’s
economic development to improve its global competitiveness through locally
relevant innovation, affordable access and skills development.
Applicants must be commercial
organizations with two or more full-time employees and have a prototype of a
working solution and preferably paying customers.
Such products and business models
might combine new cloud services and applications, low-cost forms of Internet
connectivity, and new payment mechanisms designed for consumers and smaller
businesses in underserved markets.
A list of criteria, and the
application, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/affordable-access-initiative/home.
Applications will be accepted until midnight PST on Jan. 15, 2016.
In addition to receiving on average
approximately $75,000 in funding and free software and services, recipients
will also have the opportunity to participate in a program offered by Microsoft
to connect with other grant recipients and potential funders.
How To Apply
Applicants must be commercial organizations with two or more full-time
employees and have a prototype of a working solution and preferably paying
customers.
Such products and business models
might combine new cloud services and applications, low-cost forms of Internet
connectivity, and new payment mechanisms designed for consumers and smaller
businesses in underserved markets.
A list of criteria, and the
application, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/affordable-access-initiative/home.
Applications will be accepted until midnight PST on Jan. 15, 2016.
In addition to receiving on average
approximately $75,000 in funding and free software and services, recipients
will also have the opportunity to participate in a program offered by Microsoft
to connect with other grant recipients and potential funders.
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