US-based technology company Microsoft reportedly plans to invest about $10m into 100 Russian start-ups having awarded its first two grants to anti-piracy start-up Pirate Pay and software development company Ajatix in April, according to news provider East-West Digital News.
Microsoft Russia’s president Nikolya Pryanishnikov said in the interview he would invest an average of $100,000 in each start-up as a social initiative to develop entrepreneurship in Russia.
The seed investment programme was announced by Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer last year. According to East-West Digital News, Microsoft has selected 14 targets from 150 proposals.