Ena
Startup Schools sponsored by Microsoft
Startup Schools sponsored by Microsoft
Startup Schools are among our finest examples of Community Building. Here is how we created a valuable community of startups around Microsoft in Greece.
The Challenge
Microsoft partnered with Startup Pathways to create a community of startups in Greece around the program Microsoft for Startups. This is a program that Microsoft had already launched, aiming to provide support to selected tech startups for a specific time period of 2 years.
Through this program, startups gain multiple benefits, such as Azure credits and free licenses to various Microsoft products, access to the international network of Microsoft’s clients and partners, as well as 1:1 access to experienced cloud architects to design the transition to Microsoft technologies.
The challenge for Microsoft was to get established in Greece as a premium startup supporter. Therefore the need was to craft a community of startups that could eventually join the program Microsoft for Startups.
The Solution
In order to facilitate the direct access of Microsoft to startups, we organized the first Startup School, sponsored by Microsoft. In fact, this was the first time that Microsoft sponsored a branded community event for startup founders.
The first Startup School was organized in December 2021 and included:
Intensive 3-day educational program on Entrepreneurship with business workshops
1:1 coaching sessions
Expert panels with top startuppers in Greece and capital investors.
The Startup School had 12 participants, which were startups in idea phase, MVP, or early stage. Training modules were about:
Day 1
Leadership &
Team Management
Day 2
Fundraising
& Pitching
Day 3
Risk Management
All topics applied to the needs of the startup ecosystem.
This first Startup School was so successful that two more Startup Schools followed, the second in March 2022 and the third in May 2022.
The Results
1.
Direct access for Microsoft to 36 startups with innovative tech concepts, which constituted an ideal pool for the company to promote its tools and products.
2.
Vast Publicity in Greece as a premium innovation supporter, driving many startup founders directly to their products. This way, Microsoft in Greece crafted an extremely loyal community of startup founders, C-level executives, and other innovative professionals around the brand.
