Microsoft Accelerator, TCS Co-Innovation Network Launch Joint Initiative

Microsoft Accelerator in India and TCS Co-Innovation Network (Coin) have announced a joint initiative to create a platform that they claim will provide a boost to the Indian startup ecosystem.

Under the collaboration, an open innovation framework will be created to mentor and engage with startups to bring their innovative solutions to market, the companies in a joint statement said.

Stating that access to markets and customers remains one of the biggest challenges for startups in India, it said the partnership will provide startups the access to the depth of Microsoft and TCS' networks and relationships across customers, investors, academia and industry, creating a strong value proposition in the enterprise marketplace.

Microsoft Accelerator's #CoInnovate program and Coin by TCS aim to connect startups with corporates - who get access to innovative solutions for their business needs while providing greater market access for the startups, it added.

Microsoft on Wednesday separately showcased Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions for the Indian enterprises and organisations which are developed by startups that understand the possibilities and benefits of the public Cloud and build their SaaS solutions on the Cloud.

The Redmond giant said it aims to provide right tools, resources, connections, knowledge and expertise that startups need to leverage the full potential of the Cloud and create innovative, SaaS solutions built on the Cloud, the company said in a statement.

"Our strategy is to build best-in-class platforms and productivity services for a mobile-first, cloud-first world. We realise the pivotal role that startups, with their ideas and enthusiasm, can play in leveraging those platforms to create newer solutions," said Harish Vaidyanathan, Director, Independent Software Vendor Programmes at Microsoft, in a statement.