Software company Microsoft has joined forces with Customer Loyalty and Acquisition Services Company (Clas), created in Microsoft’s Innovation Center, and consultancy firm Expara to establish an accelerator programme, Tech in Asia reported today.
Microsoft set up the initiative through its local subsidiary Microsoft Vietnam.
Named Clas-Expara Vietnam accelerator, the programme will assist startups for four months. Microsoft will offer participating businesses access to BizSpark, which gives startups three years of free access to its software, services, tech support and cloud resources.
Microsoft will also assist the companies with their go-to-market strategies. Meanwhile Clas will provide the facilities and will be in charge of day-to-day management of the programme.
Expara is set to offer workshops on entrepreneurship, business, finances, competitive strategy, funding and pitching. The firm will invest $10,000 in promising companies after two months and will provide up to $500,000 in successful graduating startups.
The money will be made available through Expara’s Ventures 3 fund, which aims to make lead investments in seed and series A rounds. Expara will take a seat on the board of directors as part of the investment.
Startups can apply until November 23, 2015.