Microsoft and TiE enter into a global strategic partnership

Microsoft and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) have entered into a global strategic partnership with an objective to promote and support local software economies across the world. Led by the India subsidiary of Microsoft, this ground breaking partnership will facilitate global programs for startups and entrepreneurs.

The partnership compliments the common goal of both organizations to foster entrepreneurship and innovation globally by educating, mentoring and networking. Microsoft, on its part, will provide access to software, services, technical guidance and markets; while TiE will facilitate access to nearly 15,000 entrepreneurs, Venture Capitalists, Private Equity firms, law firms, and technology and management professionals. 

Expressing his views on this partnership, Paul Murphy, Director, Innovation, Microsoft India said, "This investment is in line with our strategic goal to develop knowledge economies across the world. In
India, for instance, the partnership with TiE will enable Indian entrepreneurs across all sectors to move up the global value chain by building intellectual property and applying IT to their business for a
competitive edge."

"To help foster an environment of continuous innovation, Microsoft provides a broad range of policies, programs, and products that are focused on a commitment to responsible and ethical business practices
that promote user choice, industry opportunity, interoperability, and transparency.  Our partnership with TiE provides Microsoft the ability to further this commitment", Paul added.

Speaking on behalf of TiE, Suren Dutia, CEO, TiE Global, said, "Partnership with an industry leader like Microsoft will enable us to achieve the goal of building a healthy environment of entrepreneurship -
the single most powerful instrument towards growth."

A vibrant local software economy will help India reap the benefits of innovation and technology. Significant opportunity exists for innovation in India with 8 million small and mid-sized enterprises, 40 million tiny
businesses, and multi-billion dollar retail, media, eGovernance, and education markets.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft Corporation India Private Ltd is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation USA. It has had a presence in India since 1990 and currently has offices in thirteen cities - Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Pune and Coimbatore. 
 

About TiE

TiE, a not-for-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals, was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley, California, USA.  Although its birth name, The Indus entrepreneurs, signifies the ethnic South Asian or Indus roots of the founders, TiE stands for Talent, Ideas and Enterprise.  It is an open and inclusive organization that has rapidly grown to forty-eight chapters in eleven countries.  TiE endeavours to
cultivate and nurture the ecosystems of entrepreneurship and free-market economics everywhere as it sees this to be the single most powerful instrument of prosperity.