AustinStartup has been selected to join the Microsoft BizSpark program as a Network Partner. The BizSpark program is a new global program designed to accelerate the success of early stage startup companies. As a Network Partner, AustinStartup will be a conduit for this incredible new program.

Microsoft has always been interested in working with developers, and with BizSpark that committment gathers even more strength, especially among the startup community. BizSpark will give startups software, support, and visibility at a time when they need it most — the early stage. And they will do it with no upfront costs and minimal requirements.

As a startup, if you sign up for BizSpark, what do you get? For one, you will receive access to Microsoft’s entire current development tools, platform technologies, and production licensing. That includes Microsoft Visual Studio, Expression Studio, an MSDN subscription, BizTalk, SQL Server, Sharepoint, and more.

To qualify you need to be a startup software company (open source qualifies too) less than three years old with revenues less than $1M. For complete requirements, see more details at www.microsoft.com/bizspark.

In order to apply, you must do so through a Network Partner (that’s us!) so send an email to BizSpark at our austinstartup.com domain and we will help you out. We’re very excited to be able to bring this program to Austin’s emerging technology community. We’ll have more information about this program on a permanent place on our website soon.