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Microsoft New Zealand technology bazaar
One of my more enjoyable writing jobs is working on the The New Zealand Herald's annual Innovation report. It's a subject that's close to my heart and it means I get to talk to interesting people about fascinating ideas.
In one
story, Microsoft
cloud seeds next start up wave, I look at the Bizspark
programme which helps technology start-ups by giving them
free software, free cloud computing and advice. The results
speak for themselves:
To date some 655 New Zealand companies have joined BizSpark and 212 have graduated. The graduate roll call includes some of the brightest young stars in our tech sector, among them are: Pingar, GreenButton, Find.ly, TranscribeMe and Timely.
If New Zealand can spawn a handful of start-ups of that calibre every year, we're on track to becoming a technology superpower.
Microsoft's Bizspark offer is generous. In effect it means start-ups don't need to pay for technology infrastructure or software until they have money coming in. There were times in the past when I've involved with tech start-ups and could have done with similar help.
It's also clever, getting the next generation of successful technology firms hooked on Microsoft's software and service infrastructure from day one. That's going to be a hard habit to break.
And there's something else. Publicly Microsoft talks about moving from being a software giant to becoming a software, services and devices company. It's not a bad plan. But the reality is that, for now at least, Microsoft's greatest strength lies behind the scenes. It supplies a lot of important plumbing and stands behind a vast array of other people's innovation and success.
That's every bit as worthy and possibly more lucrative than being centre stage. Standing behind the next wave of innovators is a great way for an elder statesman like Microsoft to stay relevant and in touch.
[digitl 2014]
Bill Bennett
Freelance journalist.
Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.
Bennett's The Download Weekly newsletter is published every Friday. You can sign up for it here.
If you want to support his work, you can make a donation to his PressPatron account.
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