Microsoft Innovation Acceleration Award

Applications are now closed. 

Eligibility:
Johns Hopkins University faculty, students, and affiliated startups.

Award Details:

At least three awardees will receive:

• An award of up to $50,000 to advance technology or support startups focused on using Digital Solutions, Computer Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to use modern solutions to address societal problems and create markets.
• Engagement with a Microsoft technical team of cloud solution architects and developers
• Free co-working desk at FastForward for one year
• Admission to Microsoft for Startups, an exclusive program which includes:
  • Up to $120,000 in Microsoft Azure Cloud credits for up to 24 months
  • Licenses for 25 instances of Microsoft Office365
  • Licenses for up to 10 instances of Microsoft Visual Studio Enterprise Edition
  • Technical support
  • Commercialization / business support, Go to Market and Co-selling readiness consultation from a Microsoft Partner Development Manager

Application Components:

• Problem/Opportunity being addressed: Describe the specific problem you are trying to solve or opportunity you are trying to address with an emphasis on how digital solutions can play a key role. Additional information should describe any studies or data generated as well as any intellectual property secured for the technology.
• Solution and Value Proposition: Describe the potential product/service as well as target customers, and why they are likely users/purchasers.
• Competing Products and Companies
• Potential Addressable Market: Describe the size of the potential addressable market in terms of number of users/customers, the average revenue per user/customer (which can be used to compute the total market size), and an estimated five-year annual growth rate of these numbers.
• 12 Month Action Plan, Impact of Award and Risk Factors: Describe the general development plan, specific milestones you are looking to accomplish over the next 12 months, why these milestones are significant/impactful, and the primary risk factors involved.
  • Funding raised to date (include specific amount and sources)
  • Proposed Budget (specifically, how the grant will be spent)
  • Team description (individuals, affiliations and roles)
  • Anything else you believe is important to consider