Microsoft and Accenture have announced the extension of a joint initiative announced earlier this year to support startups that are focused on solving critical business challenges related to sustainability and skilling. The immersive, hands-on program provides technology support to help startups build scalable solutions and business models that can lead to more tangible and lasting benefits for people around the world.
Initially focused on engaging startups with solutions in the areas of agriculture, education and healthcare, Microsoft and Accenture are now extending the program to include startups with innovative solutions that focus on sustainability and skilling.
Through the 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, Accenture said in its press release.
Commenting on the development, Lathika Pai, Country Head – Microsoft for Startups, MENA & SAARC, said, “Startups that are working towards social challenges are creating sustainable positive transformation through their innovative tech solutions. 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.”
Sanjay Podder, managing director and Technology Innovation lead for ASIAM, Greater China and Japan at Accenture, added, “Accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals and addressing the skills gap are areas of critical importance for enterprises across industries. By expanding the focus of our joint initiative to encompass startups that have innovative and disruptive solutions in these areas, we can help scale the impact to improve how people live and work.”
Startups applying for the program are required to have deployed their solutions and have early signs of impact. 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.
Startups 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.
Introduced in February 2020, Microsoft’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Program helps deepen the reach of entrepreneurs and startups that are focused on social impact and sustainability. The program supports startups with access to breakthrough technology in Microsoft AI, cloud expertise, go-to-market services, grants (in sustainability, accessibility, as well as skills and employability) and access to customers that facilitate connections on local and global levels.
Microsoft and Accenture’s collaboration is part of their shared vision to amplify the societal impact of emerging technology with the long-term goal of reaching a million lives globally.
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