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Exciting times at Innovate4Good seminar!

Putting technology in the hands of individuals who make a difference, is always inspiring. Alfred Nobel, himself would have been impressed to hear the... More

European APPCUP 2013: And the winners are…

Following a tough process the jury of the European AppCup 2013 has chosen the winners of our competition. More

Mobile innovation coming out of European APPCUP 2013

One of the greatest opportunities in ICT right now is developing apps. Mobile innovation is no longer tied to things like hardware design but to app... More

Czech SME develops technology that helps save lives everyday

The SME receiving recognition this week is GINA, a Czech Republic company founded in 2010 by one of the finalist teams of Imagine Cup 2010, a... More

An Investment in the Future: Empowering Bulgarian Youth

Like many young people across Europe, Bulgarian youth are also struggling to find their best opportunities. A survey last year by the National... More

Swedish SME makes mobile publishing across platforms effortless

The SME receiving recognition this month is BizSpark start-up, OpenRatio from Sweden. This company was founded in 2011 by Rabih Kanaan and Agustinus... More

Italian company makes digital publishing fast and easy through the cloud

Publishers are keen to take advantage of the mobile revolution and get their content available on smartphones and tablets, but this can be a... More

French company with an edge in innovative design develops business analytics app for Windows 8

In celebration of the Windows 8 launch, this month our featured SME is Captain Dash, a French company that has developed an app for Windows 8 devices... More

Autitouch solution on the cloud makes autism diagnosis faster and more accurate

Worldwide, diagnosis of autism is traditionally a very manual process, one that is labour intensive, expensive, prone to error and without any room... More

Irish SME creates solution that allows anyone to build their own app

The SME receiving recognition for the month of August is JamPot Technologies, a company of 12 employees from Northern Ireland. JamPot invented an... More

Start-ups use cloud to create online communities of Olympics fans

It is Olympics time again and how fast the world of technology has accelerated in four years since the last Games. In 2008, social media still felt... More

Italian company building online efficiencies with cloud computing

In this case study, you can read about Desmoweb and their cloud-based solution jotURL that helps manage web content such as html, text, video &... More

2012 BizSpark Winner Provides eCommerce Solution on a Global Scale

Commerce Guys, a young company based in France, was also the winner of the Microsoft BizSpark European Summit. This innovative eCommerce specialist... More

Start-ups showcase impressive innovations

With over 16,000 innovative start-ups part of BizSpark in Europe, you’d expect the calibre of the top 15 chosen to pitch in the annual BizSpark... More

Microsoft European BizSpark Summit, 7 June - London

Take your place among the leaders of Europe’s innovation community! More

2012’s Olympic host is on a winning streak for start-ups

Holding this year’s European BizSpark Summit in London gives me a good chance to put the spotlight on why the UK’s capital city has... More

The story continues for Italian BizSpark start-up winners

A year is a long time in the start-up world: in this fast-paced environment, a lot can change quickly. So, I was delighted to catch up with... More

BizSpark: realising the full potential of start-ups in Europe

According to the European Commission, the 23 million SMEs in the EU represent 99% of businesses, and are a key driver for economic growth, innovation,... More

Irish cloud-based solution helps make the internet a safer place

In this case study, you can read about Global Business Register (GBR) and their cloud-based solution that aims to make the internet a safer... More

Doctors on a call

A start-up created by two British medics combines social networks and cloud computing to make hospital staffing more efficient. More

Cloud computing brings job-hunting into the 21st century

In this case study, you can read about Zartis, a company bringing job-hunting into the 21st century with cloud computing. More

SkillPages: Enabling a more efficient labour market with cloud computing

In this case study, you can read about SkillPages, an Irish business that developed a platform to transform the way people with skills connect to... More

Getting the mice out of the operating theatres

If doctors could use natural user interfaces, like gestures, surgery could be quicker and safer. More

The new world of 3D chat

Online messaging hasn’t changed much since it was introduced more than a decade ago. But German start-up Cooee, based in Kaiserlautern, is... More

Europe’s brightest start-ups pitch and impress on Wall Street Journal’s Europe tour

Wall Street Journal Tech Europe has become established as one of THE go-to places to find about the challenges and trends facing Europe’s ICT... More

Building a European cloud by and for SMEs

SMEs form the fabric of the European economy; are they also the fabric of the European cloud? This week, as a contribution to SME Week in... More

Tech on Tour: Wall Street Journal to meet Europe’s start-up community

10 capitals in just 20 days: this is the plan of Ben Rooney, editor of the Wall Street Journal’s Tech Europe, with the aim “to take the... More

Into the cloud, a new way of doing business

It’s nearly impossible for companies to stay on top of the explosion of useful information about markets, competitors and customers that crops... More

What a difference a year makes for the 2010 BizSpark Summit entrepreneurs

With this year’s edition of the European BizSpark Summit just behind us, we wanted to see what winning the competition meant for last... More

From fifteen to one, the champion of the European BizSpark Summit

To paraphrase Fidelity Growth Partners Europe’s Simon Clark, one of the judges at this year's BizSpark European Summit: it’s pretty tough... More

Current trends in European funding for smart and sustainable growth

I’m glad to see that alongside the topic of sustainable cloud computing, a central theme at this year’s BizSpark Summit will be on funding... More

Event: Microsoft European BizSpark Summit, 14 June - Brussels

Now in its 7th year, the BizSpark European Summit brought together thought-leaders in the entrepreneurial community across Europe - investors,... More

The final 15: the start-ups chosen to present at this year’s BizSpark European Summit

What a great market Europe is for tech entrepreneurship and innovation. Hundreds of start-ups from across Europe were entered into this... More

Partnership and innovation in action: this year’s BizSpark European Summit

The IT industry’s constant evolution is what makes it so exciting. Our annual BizSpark European Summit is a great demonstration of... More

Helping the next generation of start-ups in Portugal

Portugal has appeared in the news a lot in recent months due to its severe economic problems, but what is perhaps less well-known that Portugal has a... More

Leading Irish start-ups to success

As mentioned in an earlier post, Ireland is one of Europe’s key hubs for innovation where entrepreneurial initiatives, crucial to the growth of... More

Video interview: Get the money flowing to the new ideas in Europe

It’s a humbling experience talking with CEOs of European start-ups, particularly in the ICT sector. More

Simplifying sales intelligence in the UK with cloud computing

In this case study, you can read about the new way a UK based company is engaging with its customers and building its software business due to the... More

The EBAN Winter University, opportunities for business angels and start-ups

See what Microsoft’s Blaise Vignon and Brigitte Baumann, President of EBAN, had to say on the event which provided opportunities for growth and... More

Germany launches its HealthVault platform for all

I am proud to announce the launch in Germany of Assignio, a health platform powered by Microsoft HealthVault. The platform, which will be operated and... More

Postcard from Paris: Windows Phone 7 driving innovation with tech start-ups & developers

When Steve Ballmer visited Microsoft’s French HQ in Paris a few weeks ago, he seemed pretty impressed with the entrepreneurial community here... More

Reporting from EVCA Innovation Exchange – Investing in start-ups in Europe

Joe Wilson, new Western European lead, speaks from the heart about what Microsoft is trying to do for start-ups in Europe. As a veteran... More

Igniting the spark of innovation for start-ups in Finland

Economic Challenges: Last week the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) reported healthy signs in the Nordic... More

Video interview: fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe

In our second video from this year's Microsoft BizSpark European Summit series, we hear from some of the region’s most promising start-ups. More

Views on cloud computing and the impact on business models

Irish company InishTech Software specializes in helping Europe’s technology entrepreneurs adopt flexible licensing terms that help them be more... More

Why cloud computing is good for European business

The BizSpark European Summit in Paris proved to be a great platform to exchange ideas and best practices for start-ups in Europe. In fact, we... More

CNBC interview with Microsoft on the opportunities for startups to grow in Europe

During the BizSpark Investor Summit in Paris last month our Chairman for Microsoft Europe, Jan Muehlfeit, was interviewed by CNBC to give his views on... More

Video series: How do you connect entrepreneurs to the right grants in Europe?

As part of the Emerging Business team at Microsoft, I have been working closely with start-ups and entrepreneurs across the world for quite a few... More

Enabling EU funding for Irish businesses

In the first of our 3 videos on the EUGA Irish launch in Dublin we hear from Nicky Martin, Managing Director - Affect Network, who explains the... More

6th Microsoft BizSpark European Summit on growth and entrepreneurship

What? A one-day event in Paris on May 25th hosted by Microsoft and broadcast LIVE online. Bringing together key entrepreneurs in Europe for a... More

The Art of Innovation with Guy Kawasaki

Have a look again at the first session of the BizSpark Summit that took place on May 25th in Paris and was hosted by Guy Kawasaki. More

The winners of Microsoft’s 2010 pitch slam competition for European entrepreneurs

The 6th BizSpark Summit was a great success, with some dynamic speakers including Sillicon Valley entrepreneur and host of the summit, Guy Kawasaki.... More

Cloud Computing and the entrepreneurs

You may have caught one of my earlier post in this video series in which I discussed why Microsoft is so involved with start-ups and entrepreneurs and... More

Irish perspective: key programmes for business start-ups

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, Ireland is one of Europe’s key hubs for innovation, offering an environment for tech entrepreneurs.It... More

6th Microsoft BizSpark European Summit on growth and entrepreneurship

Hosted by Guy Kawasaki, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Follow the highlights of the event on Microsoft.eu More

Microsoft on entrepreneurship and start-ups: video series

As part of the Emerging Business team at Microsoft, I have been working closely with start-ups and entrepreneurs right across the world for quite a... More

Italian start-up and Microsoft partner recognized as “start-up of the day”!

The Italian company, Threeplicate, is the latest European start-up to be named Startup of the day in the Startup Zone, the online space for all things... More

New programme launched in Ireland to help start-ups succeed

I recently read this article on BizSpark in Ireland on siliconrepublic.com (check out their website, there’s some great tech articles) and it... More

Made in Finland: Cloud enables secure solutions to contract management

Our guest blogger today is Riitta Raesmaa, partner and co-founder of Sopima, a Finnish SME and part of the Microsoft BizSpark programme! More

Microsoft programme to help start-ups access funding comes to Ireland

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: Ireland is one of the most exciting countries for tech entrepreneurs and one of the strongest... More

Two European start-ups named "startup of the day" on Microsoft's website for entrepreneurs

As we’ve been doing for a few months now, we once again bring you European companies that have been selected as start-up of the day on... More

Video interviews with founders of European start-ups filmed at Le Web tech event in Paris

Le Web is the biggest web event in Europe, and the organisers have increasingly looked to make start-ups the stars of the show, giving great companies... More

Microsoft partner named as one of top 5 start-ups to look out for

I was pleased to read that Shout’em, a Croatian start-up that’s part of our BizSpark programme for start-ups (read more about the... More

A start-up's recipe for success

We love to see start-ups grow and it’s especially encouraging to see the next generation of entrepreneurs make a flying start. More

HSBC & Microsoft partnering to help today’s European Startups

What do HSBC and the BizSpark program have in common? They are both focused on supporting innovative SMEs across the world. More

Introducing EUGA: a terrific resource for European SMEs

It has been brought to our attention that we have not yet featured European Grants Advisor (EUGA) in our Growth & SMEs blog, which is a crying... More

Denmark: Latest European winner of "startup of the day"

We’ve regularly been reporting on European start-ups featured in the Microsoft StartupZone, a site which showcases and brings together Bizspark... More

Competing isn’t just about winning

While competitions are great to win, they are also a great way for start-ups to network with investors and possible partners, hone their presentation... More

Nordics lead the way in Growth & SMEs momentum

Recently, we were reminded that the Nordic region is a vibrant community for technology innovation and entrepreneurs. We took part in two events in... More

The best of LeWeb

As you’ll have gathered from my recent posts, LeWeb – the biggest web event in Europe - took place last week. I didn’t go myself but... More

What’s happening at Le Web?

As you’ll know if you read my last post, this week is Le Web week, and we’re quite excited about it. Besides the fact that we’re a... More

European web event extraordinaire: Le Web

What is Le Web? More

New featured European start-ups on BizSpark, in Italy and Romania

Last month, I posted an entry leading you to the MicrosoftStartupZone’s latest featured European start-up and promised that I’d keep you... More

That special spark: A helping hand for innovative start-ups

Who would start a business development for start-ups in a slump? That’s precisely when it has to be done, says Microsoft. More

Microsoft’s BizSpark fires up startups, ignites a community

Almost exactly a year ago, Microsoft launched BizSpark, a global program designed to catalyze the success of entrepreneurs by making Microsoft’s... More

Microsoft helps exciting French startup to aim for global success

To develop its world-leading 3D simulation technology, French startup SimplySim turned to Microsoft for advice and practical support. SimplySim gained... More

Portuguese Businesses Receive Grants in Just 15 Days Rather Than Months

Portugal’s national employment agency offers grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to train their new employees. The European... More

Hospital district connects systems and improves communications

Developed economies are already finding it hard to maintain standards of healthcare within existing budgets. Now payers are facing a huge dose of... More