The “Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub” program has been launched at the Azerbaijan Innovation Center through the partnership of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), Microsoft, and Strategeast.
The event was attended by Microsoft representatives, Azerbaijani technology companies, local startups, AIM Technopark residents, and ICT experts. This inaugural program aims to provide startups, as well as small and medium-sized ICT companies, with resources and tools critical for their development.
Salar Imamaliyev, Advisor to the Chair of IDDA, opened the event with a welcoming speech. He highlighted the significance of Microsoft’s startup support program in advancing the local ecosystem. According to him, IDDA, in collaboration with Microsoft, plans to implement initiatives such as specialized training programs, joint seminars, and skill development activities within startup teams to foster innovation and enable rapid growth in competitive markets.
Adrian Georg, Advisor for Partnership Development in Central Europe and Central Asia at Microsoft, elaborated on the program’s essence. He emphasized that the collaboration between IDDA and Microsoft lays a strong foundation for realizing the transformative potential of advanced technologies and fostering sustainable innovation in Azerbaijan soon.
Adrian Georg stated:
“This is my first visit to Baku, and it is evident that Azerbaijan is determined to purposefully develop technological innovations and ensure their sustainability. I am honored to actively contribute to this approach, and I am confident that we will achieve great goals together in the coming year.”
Continuing the event, Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Head of the Innovation Ecosystem Department at IDDA, spoke about building a robust innovation ecosystem in the country. She expressed confidence that the partnership with Microsoft would significantly contribute to the ecosystem’s growth.
The event also included a detailed presentation of the “Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub” program. It was noted that the program is designed to support startup founders with technology, expertise, and resources. Startups in the idea stage, with a minimum viable product, or in a rapid scaling phase, can apply to the program. Selected startups will gain access to the Azure platform, allowing them to test their ideas using artificial intelligence and other tools available on the platform.