Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Microsoft Gulf Sign Agreement to Foster Innovation and Encourage Entrepreneurship in Arab World 

Foundation Selected to Join Microsoft ‘BizSpark Program’ as Network Partner 

Dubai-UAE: 5 April, 2009 – The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Gulf to become a network partner for the software giant’s BizSpark program. 

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Adel Rashid Al Shared, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, and Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager, Microsoft Gulf, in Dubai. The MoU, which will have a far-reaching impact on the region’s entrepreneurs, takes forward the earlier agreements between the Foundation and Microsoft Gulf.  

In addition to helping accelerate the success of early stage start-ups with BizSpark, the Foundation and Microsoft Gulf will use the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Learning Curriculum to build essential technology skills within the local community for creating jobs and advance career opportunities. The Foundation will also facilitate an internship programme to host young Arabs at Microsoft Gulf.

His Excellency Adel Rashid Al Shared said: “The Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation is committed to empowering Arab entrepreneurs to innovate and facilitate job creation in the region. Our partnership with Microsoft will ensure that startups gain access to current, full-featured tools and technologies that help translate their ideas into thriving businesses.

“The Foundation will work closely with Microsoft to help these businesses use technology to achieve success through providing educational programmes, business mentoring and peer networking. We are excited to be part of this new effort that will encourage the future generation of successful entrepreneurs and help create a vibrant business landscape in the Arab world.”

BizSpark is available to privately held startups building a software-based product or service that have been in business for less than three years and generate less than US$1 million in revenue. Regional startups may enroll in the programme by obtaining sponsorship from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager, Microsoft Gulf, said: “Building the economy is an important part of Microsoft’s broader mission and entrepreneurship is a critical component of that growth. During times of economic stress, it is even more important that startups have the technology and market resource support they need to succeed.

“With BizSpark, Microsoft is providing world class tools, technologies and market resources to students and entrepreneurs in the region to help bring new ideas, new companies and new software innovations to life. We look forward to working with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to help regional companies stay competitive by leveraging technology investments for facing any challenges that may be brought on by today’s uncertain economic climate.”         

The BizSpark program is uniquely designed to help startups that are engaged in software development by:

§  Providing them with ‘express access’ to Microsoft tools and technologies, for their immediate use in design, development, testing, demonstration and hosted application production and deployment

§  Connecting them with Network Partners such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and a global community of support resources

§  Offering them global visibility on the MicrosoftStartupZone website