BizSpark is a new business development program from Microsoft targeted at startup web software developers. BizSpark allows young tech companies to get free use of Microsoft’s development tools and platforms for three years. According to Anand Iyer, developer evangelist at Microsoft, who I heard speak at last night’s New York Tech Meetup, the concept is driven by the belief that many entrepreneurs would like to work with Microsoft tools, but they are too expensive.
Eliminating expense as a factor for startups that have excellent free alternatives is a smart thing to do. The problem is that they have made the sign up process so cumbersome sounding that I think it *greatly* limits their potential for success, while creating a truly offensive dynamic.
It appears the lawyers are afraid that too many people will get free software from Microsoft if they are not careful, and so they did what lawyers always do: they introduced stupid barriers. Basically the requirement seems to be that you need a “Network Partner” to sponsor your company. Network Partners appear to be firms and entities that allow Microsoft to feel comfortable that we wily young software companies will not take advantage of them.
But the problem is, at my company, we use Linux and I think most startup software companies do. And I have no interest spending time seeking out a network partner to whom I must explain what I am doing and why I should be approved.
In fact, the situation is entirely reversed. Microsoft needs to convince *me* why I should use their stuff. They need to *sell ME* not get me to beg for access. They are playing this like access to their software is akin to some kind of seed investment from Microsoft. In fact, many if not most of these network partners are in fact VCs, a particularly odious linkage.
The bottom line is I was fine yesterday without Microsoft, and I will be fine tomorrow without Microsoft. I don’t want to apply to their f’ing program for the “privilege” of using their tools, and in truth even if they paid me it might be an uphill battle. In any case, I would certainly need serious convincing. And call me silly, but I doubt I am alone here.
It sounds to me like this BizSpark thing was a great idea until, I presume, the lawyers got to it. Then it just became a big steaming pile.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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7 comments:
Hi Hank,
Thanks for your post. Network Partners (like academic institutions, entrepreneurial organizations, incubators or investors) can offer more than just software. Most of these network partners (and there's more than just investors on the list) are chartered with helping entrepreneurs succeed. For example, the NY Tech Meetup organizers could be a Network Partner. The idea was not to create an additional barrier at all. And most network partners will not care about what your idea is or how you will be using the software. Some (like incubators for example) will care. When this project idea first came about, our goal was around "friction-free" access to software for early stage startups.
That said (and I ran out of time last night before I could emphasize this), if a startup really wants the software and they have exhausted their Network Partner options, they are welcome to email me and I'll hook them up with a code.
Best,
Anand Iyer
BizSpark team
Anand,
Thanks for your comment.
You said:
"When this project idea first came about, our goal was around "friction-free" access to software for early stage startups. "
I am sure it was. It is a very good idea. But it is not, in implementation, friction free any more. You should ditch the network partners thing and it will excellent not just in concept but in execution.
Have been free from Microsoft development and database tools for webapps probably for ten years now, and haven't looked back.
Use it for free for 3 years, get locked in really well, then MS will start charging full price for everything...lovely..
I am coming out of a 2-year experiment w/ MS Dev tools, and have decided I don't want or need them. Linux and free software it is.
I wanted to take advantage of the BizSpark program since I'm so bootstrapped that I'm running XP Pro on a webserver... I must agree with Hank that the Network Partner process seems irritating at best, and it's a hurdle that I don't quite understand.
I've reached out to one of those partners and they said they'd hook me up - so far I haven't heard back two weeks later. I have one other partner to try, if that doesn't work out then I'll probably give up. I can't really invest any more time in this type of long windedness. It's not even clear how a startup should pick its right network partner - the whole process just confuses me.
the first hits are always free
banks here in the UK do this too - first year of business banking is free or nearly so. many startups end their first year in a panic as they try and find a more suitable bank.
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