Microsoft Ventures to support Lightning Lab again in 2015

Microsoft Ventures to support Lightning Lab again in 2015

Auckland, 16 December 2014 – Microsoft Ventures is once again partnering with New Zealand’s leading startup accelerator, Lightning Lab, to provide local entrepreneurs with mentorship, support and access to top technical and business talent in 2015.

Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative to help entrepreneurs build great companies by working with startups at every stage of maturity, the initiative provides the tools, resources, and expertise startups need to succeed.

Microsoft Ventures first partnered with Lightning Lab for the 2014 programme. This year, Microsoft Ventures’ support arrangement will cover the next 20 months.

Lightning Lab Auckland Programme Director Mark MacLeod-Smith says having Microsoft Ventures as a national partner is a huge endorsement and offered significant benefits for the participating companies.

“We have been working hard to build on the success of Lightning Lab since its inception two years ago, and while there is still hard work ahead, this partnership is extremely encouraging for the participating startups and the investors who are backing Lightning Lab.”

Previously Wellington-based, Lightning Lab is now a national organisation, and will run programmes in Wellington, Christchurch and two in Auckland before 2017. Lightning Lab was founded by Creative HQ. The Wellington-based incubator will continue to deliver the programme locally but has joined forces with Canterbury Development in Christchurch and The Icehouse in Auckland who will deliver the programme in their respective regions.

The next programme, Lightning Lab Auckland, will start in March 2015 and provide the ten most promising startups in New Zealand with an immersive 12-week programme to accelerate their ideas and bring new ventures to market. The ten teams will be announced in mid-February.

Nigel Parker, Director for Developer Experience at Microsoft New Zealand says the participating startups will gain access to the latest tools and resources provided through the Microsoft BizSpark programme, including free tablets and smartphones. Founders will also benefit from direct access to technology experts, support and mentorship from Microsoft’s international network.

“We support entrepreneurial communities all over the world and Lightning Lab is a leading engine in the New Zealand startup scene,” said Parker.

“This partnership is an ideal way to help foster local innovation across the country by working with the next generation of entrepreneurs who have an opportunity to change the world.”

Thiago Almeida, technical evangelist at Microsoft New Zealand, will lead the engagement between Microsoft Ventures and Lightning Lab.

Applications are now open for teams wanting to take part in Lightning Lab – apply here. The application window closes on 17 December.

About Lightning Lab
Lightning Lab is the first digital accelerator programme in New Zealand and will supercharge 10 digital startups within a network of more than 100 mentors and an intensive 12-week pathway to prove, build and launch their businesses into market. The programme puts $18,000 of seed investment into ten teams of startup entrepreneurs. It then runs an intensive programme to make their business idea fly within three months, with support from a set of dedicated technical and business interns, and mentorship from leading entrepreneurs and executives from around New Zealand. It culminates in Demo Day, where the ten teams will pitch to a room packed with investors for further funding to grow their company. Lightning Lab is open to teams of startup founders across New Zealand and internationally. Lightning Lab 2015 is the third programme in New Zealand and the first to be held in Auckland. Lightning Lab is the exclusive New Zealand member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN), which includes the majority of the top accelerators globally. For more information, visit www.LightningLab.co.nz

About Microsoft Ventures
Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative to help entrepreneurs build great companies by working with startups at every stage of maturity, the initiative provides the tools, resources, and expertise startups need to succeed. Visit Microsoft Ventures at www.microsoftventures.com to learn more about how Microsoft is helping the next generation of smart companies take flight.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

ENDS

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