Our client was the only British company participating this time and the overall number of star-ups was half what it had been in previous years.

But still, the place was packed out with venture capitalists and reporters all looking to discover the next big thing.

Many of the participants will have been born as labours of love in the basements, garages and apartments of keen code writers, all now looking for a leg up to the next stage of their development but finding finance and credit a bit hard to pin down.

These are exactly the kind of folks for whom Microsoft created its BizSpark programme late last autumn.

It targets early-stage software start-ups and gives them resources including access to Microsoft platform software and development tools with no upfront costs.

The programme also provides access to technical support and marketing visibility from Microsoft, as well as support through a select group of network partners – industry associations, government agencies, university incubators and investors.

Microsoft launched BizSpark in Silicon Valley, but it's now available here in the Isle of Man through the Business & Innovation Centre (IoM BIC), a joint initiative of the DTI and Coventry University Enterprises.

It was started last year as a business incubation service for pre-start and initial start-up facilities for entrepreneurs.

The BIC already has 20 members.

There is workspace for eight and the rest work from other premises.

Kate Lord, project officer for the Business & Innovation Centre said: 'It's exciting news that the Island's business incubator is able to offer its members access to Microsoft BizSpark. It's a valuable resource that can make a huge difference to early stage software development businesses, breaking down barriers, reducing costs and ultimately helping them grow.

'The companies we're helping have snapped up the opportunity.'
Microsoft's Corporate Vice President For Strategic And Emerging Business Development Dan Lewin says start-ups need solid technology platforms, technical support and visibility to develop and grow their businesses.

'We believe that BizSpark addresses these three needs and brings value to software entrepreneurs, especially through the guidance and mentorship that our network partners provide,' he said.

As part of the initiative Microsoft also created the BizSpark DB at www.MicrosoftStartupZone.com/bizsparkdb, where start-ups developing innovative software applications will be promoted to global markets.

This lets start-ups to get visibility with an audience of potential investors, clients, partners and peers.

Through Microsoft's global presence and ecosystem of partners, the company can help generate a huge amount of attention for participants.

Already two companies in the Isle of Man are involved and three more are planning on doing it.

The first one in the queue was Andrew Jervis the man behind a new online car parts firm, Ur-car.com, part of Jervard Limited.

'He found the software on offer to be an incredibly compelling offer,' said Kate Lord.

Participants get easy access to Microsoft's current full-featured development tools, platform technologies as well as the necessary production licenses to bring solutions to market.

The cost of software is a significant investment even for a well-established company.

For a technology business starting from someone's front room, saving thousands on software is really a make or break proposition. Start-ups don't have the money to license high-end software or hire consultants to come in and set up databases.

So to have a programme like this, which provides access to the highest level of products such as SQL Server Enterprise or Windows Server 2008, really is a fantastic benefit.

It erases the biggest barrier between a true enterprise software suite like Microsoft offers, versus an open source or other technology.
BizSpark participants are allowed to run their businesses on the latest Microsoft technologies, for three years, at no cost. What could be better?

The idea is that after three years, successful participants will grow to be much larger companies, and will be in a better position to invest in Microsoft software.

Dan Lewin explained: 'After exiting the programme, start-ups keep the perpetual licenses for all the development and design tools.

'To continue to receive updates to the tools and the development platform, the startup can renew its MSDN subscription.

'They may also choose to take advantage of a licensing programme such as Microsoft's Services Provider License Agreement (or other Microsoft licensing programs that may be available at the time), but are in no way obliged to do so.

'With three years to get their business going without worrying about software costs, we hope these young companies can concentrate on what we all want – building successful and sustainable businesses.

'It's pretty exciting that Isle of Man innovators are getting access to such world-class support and it bodes well for the thriving ebusiness and egaming industries here.

'And this is just one of the many services and programme available at the IoM BIC including the Soft Landing Zone and the Get Going programme.'


>>Sherrilynne Starkie is the managing partner of Strive Public Relations, a strategic communications consultancy serving the Isle of Man. She blogs at strivepr.com/notes and tweets at twitter.com/sherrilynne.