Evangelism for Microsoft ISVs, BizSpark Startups & Network Partners

Are you ready to find X Factor of your LOB Application?

Sanjay Jain — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:12:00 GMT

XRM is built upon Microsoft Dynamics CRM’s business application development platform – a platform that can be transformed to support relational business applications. Whether you’re looking to manage real estate properties, recruit employees, or manage franchises, XRM is a platform to solve your basic business needs no matter what they are.

xRM is in air; pick your choice from following learning opportunities:

xRM All-Star Roundtable

Join “Ask the Expert” hosted by XRM Virtual User Group

11/3/09 noon ET

xRM Web Casts by CRM Team

From Microsoft CRM to XRM: Introduction

10/30/09 11am ET

From Microsoft CRM to XRM: Building Business Applications

11/05/09 11:30am ET

From Microsoft CRM to XRM: XRM Demonstration

11/11/09 11:30am ET

Microsoft Dynamics® xRM Sales & Marketing Workshop

Duration	1 Day
Cost	Free for Microsoft Dynamics Partners
Agenda	· Microsoft Dynamics xRM Introduction & Demo · Microsoft Dynamics xRM Capabilities · Microsoft Dynamics xRM Marketing · Selling Microsoft Dynamics xRM
Schedule	See up-to-date schedule here (Need PartnerSource access)

Microsoft Dynamics® xRM Technical Sales Workshop

Duration	2 Days
Cost	Free for Microsoft Dynamics Partners
Agenda	· Microsoft Dynamics xRM Introduction & Demo · Microsoft Dynamics xRM Architecture · Selling to the Technical Decision Makers · Selling to the Technical Influencers · Giving a Demo with the Microsoft Dynamics xRM VPC Environment · Rapidly Building the Customer Prototype · Extending & Integrating the Customer Prototype · Technical Q&A
Schedule	See up-to-date schedule here (Need PartnerSource access)

Microsoft Dynamics® xRM Partner Academy

Duration	3 Days
Cost	$1000 for Microsoft Dynamics Partners
Agenda	· Understand out-of-the-box features and functionality · Customize Microsoft Dynamics CRM entities, relationships, security, forms, views, workflows, and scripts for different business sectors. · Discuss dashboards, custom reports, views, and use Excel as a reporting tool including Pivot Tables. · Learn how to extend the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform with plug-ins, custom workflows, IFrames and integration with other internal and external applications (e.g. SharePoint and ISV products) to create solutions specific to common industries. · Understand Microsoft Dynamics CRM Security and System Administration. · Acquire a high-level understanding of Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment architecture considerations including topology, relationship with Active Directory and Exchange Server, scalability, and failover.
Schedule	· Washington DC; 11/17/09 – 11/19/09 Note: Public Sector Focused; register here · Atlanta, GA; 1/12/10 – 1/14/10 · Chicago, IL; 2/9/10 – 2/11/10 · Irvine, CA; 2/23/10 – 2/25/10 See up-to-date schedule here (Need PartnerSource access)

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Last Call: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows Azure @ Atlanta

Sanjay Jain — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:31:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone who submitted their nomination for Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Azure in Atlanta, GA during 11/09/2009 – 11/13/2009.

We are getting very cool application nominations utilizing Windows Azure Platform that target one or more of the following:

You are welcome to send your nomination, if you haven’t done so. See the nomination details here and don’t forget to check the award winners of the last Incubation Week in Boston.

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day5: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 09Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:16:00 GMT

Wow! What an exciting week. Don't miss the prior coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Boston (Day4, Day3, Day2, Day1, Announcement, Twitter-Feed #MBIWk).

Larry Gregory started the day with Panel Judges briefing. We were fortunate to have following panel judges, who shared their deep insight with startups:

1. Dug Levin, Black Duck Software

2. Ham Lord, Launchpad Venture Group

3. Larry Gregory, Microsoft

4. Mike Werner, Microsoft

5. Stephen McCormack, Commonwealth Venture Capital

6. Wan Li Zhu, Fairhaven Capital

Startup teams worked very hard with their on-site advisors (Bob Familiar, Curt Devlin, Jason De Lorme, Jim O'Neil, John Pelak, Rich Crane, Venkat Hari) and off-shore development team in Bangalore, India (Proteans). Each startup team presented their pitch and a brief solution demo to the panel judges.

BizSpark Startup	Solution	Target
AnswerPoint Medical Systems	Medical Office Automation Systems	Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Baydin	Serendipity Through Email	Information Worker
BumpTop	3-D Desktop	Consumer
Panopto	Presentation Capture and Playback	Knowledge Management
SocialGrow	Grow Your Personal and Professional Social Network	Social Network

I know you can’t wait to hear the winners. Every team is winner. The fact that each team got invited to this event is itself a big recognition and in addition each team got a colorful Graduation Certificate, presented by one of the judges. Two teams won the following award trophies.

Award

BizSpark Startup

Most Viable Business

Panopto

Technical Innovation

BumpTop

Enjoy today’s pics..

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day5-1: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 08Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:04:00 GMT

We are planning to live stream the closing/award session on Friday 9^th October 2009 around 1:15pm ET. You may want to check out the winners.

Click Here

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day4: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 08Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:42:00 GMT

Day4 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Boston. Check out the live tweeter-coverage (#MBIWk) here.

Today morning we recorded video interviews with all startup teams. We would be editing and publishing them soon on Channel9.

Larry Gregory, presented on Microsoft’s Vision and resources for BizSpark Startups. He answered several questions and received several suggestions.

In afternoon, we completed dry-run pitch round with each team. Each team is busy finishing up their solution demo and presentation for panel judges tomorrow.

Enjoy today’s pics..

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day3: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 07Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:14:00 GMT

Day3 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Boston. Check out the live tweeter-coverage (#MBIWk) here.

All teams are making good progress on their solution. Off-shore team is wrapping up their assignments. Tomorrow, we would record video interviews and dry-run pitches.

Ben Grossman, today’s guest speaker, did an awesome job sharing his insight on “How to Build Your Brand”. It was a highly interactive session, and you can see the slide-deck here. Very informative!

Enjoy today’s pics..

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows Azure @ Atlanta 09Nov09

Sanjay Jain — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:21:00 GMT

With several successful Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Weeks (Win7 Boston, Win7 Reston, CRM Reston, CRM Boston, Win 7 Irvine, Mobility Mountain View,), we are pleased to announce Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows Azure at Atlanta, GA during week of 9^th Nov’09.

The current economic downturn is putting many entrepreneurs under increasing pressure, making it critical to find new resources and ways to reduce costs and inefficiencies. Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows Azure is designed to offer following assistance to entrepreneurs.

· Learning and building new applications in the cloud or use interoperable services that run on Microsoft infrastructure to extend and enhance your existing applications with help of on-site advisors and off-shore development team

· Getting entrepreneurs coaching from guest speakers and a panel of industry experts

· Generating marketing buzz for your brand

· Creating opportunity to be highlighted at upcoming launch

We are inviting nominations from BizSpark Startups interested in Windows Azure Platform that target one or more of the following:

The Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows Azure will be held at Microsoft Technology Center, Atlanta, GA from Mon 11/09/2009 to Fri 11/13/2009. This event consists of ½ day of training, 3 ½ days of active prototype/development time, and a final day for packaging/finishing and reporting out to a panel of judges for various prizes.

This event is a no-fee event (plan your own travel expenses) and each team can bring 3 participants (1 business and 1-2 technical). To nominate your team, please submit the following details to Sanjay Jain (preferably via your BizSpark Sponsor). Nominations will be judged according to the strength of the founding team, originality and creativity of the idea, and ability to leverage Windows Azure Scenarios.

BizSpark Startup Organization Details
Name
Web Site URL
Mailing Address
Solution Overview
Key Windows Azure Scenarios
Target Industry
Company Size and Year Founded
How did you hear about this event?

BizSpark Sponsor Details
BizSpark Network Partner or Microsoft Champion Name
Web Site URL

Team Details
Participant 1:
Name
Brief BIO
Email
Phone
Twitter
Blog
Participant 2:
Name
Brief BIO
Email
Phone
Twitter
Blog
Participant 3:
Name
Brief BIO
Email
Phone
Twitter
Blog

You may want to enroll into Microsoft BizSpark, an exciting new offering that enables software startups to leverage Microsoft development and platform technologies to deliver next generation web and Software + Services applications. For details see here.

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day2: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 06Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:01:00 GMT

Day2 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Boston. Check out the live tweeter-coverage (#MBIWk) here.

All teams are in high gear in developing their solution with the help of on-site advisors and off-shore development team. We are witnessing a new level of innovation as the week is progressing, underscoring the key features of Windows 7.

Doug Levin, today’s guest speaker, did an awesome job sharing his insight on “How to Pitch to Investors”. It was a highly interactive session, without any slide-deck. Folks loved it.

Marsh Sutherland from SocialGrow started a Meetup for Boston BizSpark Startups. As of this blog-post, 14 BOSSparkers have already signed up in few hours.

Enjoy today’s pics..

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day1: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week @ Boston 05Oct09

Sanjay Jain — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:09:00 GMT

Day1 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Boston. Check out the live tweeter-coverage (#MBIWk) here.

Today we kicked-off the event with 5 high-energy BizSpark Startups. I started with event overview, goals, logistics, and BizSpark offerings, immediately followed by a four-hours training covering various new and unique features of Windows 7. During break we had a fun tour of Microsoft Surface.

BizSpark Startups are:

1. AnswerPoint Medical Systems

2. Baydin

3. BumpTop

4. Panopto

5. SocialGrow

The on-site advisors are:

1. John Pelak

2. Jason De Lorme

3. Rich Crane

4. Bob Familiar

5. Jim O'Neil

6. Chris Bowen

Enjoy today’s pics..

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

5 Startups, 6 Advisors with Windows 7

Sanjay Jain — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:57:00 GMT

Thank you for wonderful nominations in response to Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 @ Boston 05Oct09.

We have invited 5 BizSpark Startup Teams, ready to build their solutions leveraging new and unique features of Windows 7. 6 Microsoft Advisors have committed their full week to join these startup teams. Proteans has volunteered to provide off-shore development services to make the development round-the-clock. Panopto has volunteered to record/live-cast certain sessions.

As the event unfolds, look for a daily coverage here as well as at tweeter feed (#MBIWk).

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Last Call for Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 @ Boston during week of 5th Oct 2009

Sanjay Jain — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:56:00 GMT

Thanks to everyone who submitted their nomination for Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 in Boston during 10/05/2009 – 10/09/2009.

We are getting very cool application nominations using new and unique features of Windows 7, and looking forward to announce the accepted companies soon. You are welcome to send your nomination, if you haven’t done so. See the nomination details here.

Don’t forget to check the award winners of the last Incubation Week in Washington DC.

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day5: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

Sanjay Jain — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:27:00 GMT

Day5 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

We started the day with Panel Judges briefing. We were lucky to have a very strong panel including following:

1. Asher Epstein, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, U of Maryland

2. Errol Arkilic, National Science Foundation

3. Jennifer Odaniel, CIT GAP Funds

4. Loren Burnett, NVTC Board of Directors

5. Frank Grubber, BizSpark Network Partner

6. Larry Gregory, Sr Director – Microsoft

Every team worked very hard the whole week and did very best to impress the judges. We saw very impressive presentations and solution demos utilizing new and unique features of Windows7, from following startup teams:

1. Freeltor.com : Developed an application to provide Artificial Intelligence to Real Estate agents for getting tasks done quickly and cost effectively via virtual assistants across the world.

2. GMU-Student Team : Created a Personal Health Record application for individuals who concern the privacy of their medical data and want to actively participate in their own care.

3. Intertouch : Developed a next-generation, Multi-Touch signage platform, which puts the power of multi-touch, geospatial mapping, and advanced multi-media display frameworks in the hands of the out-of-home, hospitality, and other markets for way-finding, virtual concierge, and interactive advertising.

4. Take Comics : Developed an immersive online marketplace (iTunes for Comics) for digital comics, pixel perfect for any device, and merged social networking interface to promote and sell digital comics and merchandise, utilizing multi-touch capabilities of Windows7.

5. Vidizmo : Developed SCORM-compliant Interactive Video based learning solution that mashes up various content and applies search to the contents of the video and associated media assets. Very powerful and unique approach.

6. Xe-Xi : Developed an online Intelligent Advertising Platform for Retailers (MULTIFUNCTIONAL Ad'Modules®), which merges geo-social environment.

Right after lunch, Larry Gregory facilitated the panel judges deliberation to pick the winning teams. And the winners are:

Most Viable Business Award: Take Comics

Most Technical Innovation Award: InterTouch Media Technologies

Enjoy today’s pics..and watch the tweeter coverage here (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=IWk)

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day4: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

Sanjay Jain — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:48:00 GMT

Day4 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

Offshore team (Spadeworx) is coming on speed to expedite solution development. Some of the UI design work they did is amazing. I got several positive notes from many teams. Now the focus is shifting from solution development to business presentation.

Today our guest speaker, Larry Gregory, presented on Microsoft’s Vision for Startups ecosystem, including BizSpark programs and resources available. Later afternoon, Larry Gregory and Dave Drach helped each team in dry-run and giving feedback to improve their pitch for panel presentation.

We recorded a short video interview with each team. Watch for the updates as we edit and publish these interviews.

Tonight Dave Drach hosted a fine dinner at Italian Restaurant, Paolos. It was our 1^st meal outside the facility in last 4 days.

Enjoy today’s pics..and watch the tweeter coverage here (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=IWk)

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day3: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 @ Reston

Sanjay Jain — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:37:00 GMT

Day3 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

Time pressure is building…productivity and the competition is on rise..all teams are making solid progress towards tomorrow’s solution demo, pitch dry-run and video-interviews.

Our guest speaker, Jeremy Epstein presented on “Marketing Navigator for the Attention Economy”. Very impressive!!! Everyone was up and attentive. See the positive feedback by attendees here.

Enjoy today’s pics..and watch the tweeter coverage here (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=IWk)

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369

Day2: Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 @ Reston

Sanjay Jain — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:35:00 GMT

Day2 coverage from Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 at Reston

The enterpreneuric eneregy is growing in the air!! All teams are working hard with their advisor to define and prioritize the business scenarios and developing their solution use-cases with the help of off-shore team.

Loren Burnett, NVTC Board Director (and President and CEO, StackSafe) presented on “How to pitch to Investors”. Very interactive session with several insightful questions.

Enjoy today’s pics..and watch the tweeter coverage here (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=IWk)

Sanjay Jain

ISV Architect Evangelist

Microsoft Corporation

Blog: http://Blogs.msdn.com/SanjayJain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SanjayJain369