Microsoft for Startups launched the Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative in Asia Pacific recently to strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem.
This follows the initiative’s success in India, where 56 startups were selected for the EmergeX program from six states, which have over 15,000 startups. The EmergeX winners have greatly benefited with global market access support, a three-day founder bootcamp with world class mentors, access to funding, ongoing mentorship, and guidance on Azure, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Microsoft will work closely with governments and industry partners to discover and nurture technology startups with a high potential to become truly global enterprises in the future.
Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Hasitha Abeywardena said, “Startups play a vital role in our economy as innovators, disruptors and first-movers. Sri Lanka needs more entrepreneurial development to fuel economic growth.
Through Highway to a 100 Unicorns, we will enable startups in Sri Lankato drive digital innovation in the region. We look forward to walking with founders along their growth journey and supporting them to scale and achieve more,” he said.
Innovators and entrepreneurs of 16 countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) have been invited to be a part of the Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative.
All Emerge X startups will be awarded free GitHub and Azure credits and focused business and technology workshops. Three finalists per country will be announced soon.