Microsoft Launches AI Tech Accelerator
Microsoft has announced the re-launch of its AI Tech Accelerator Community, following a successful pilot last year. This initiative is especially designed for Swiss startups that are either developing innovative AI solutions or looking to enhance their current offerings through the implementation of AI technologies. The program places a strong emphasis on fostering community and collaboration, providing a conducive environment for shared learning and growth among participating startups.
Applications are now open for Swiss startups, with a deadline set for January 10th, 2025, at 20:00 CET. The program will kick off on February 4th, 2025, and provide participants with a range of resources aimed at accelerating AI development, including a coworking space and access to Microsoft’s technical and expert support. Notably, this year’s program features a partnership with NVIDIA, enabling startups to benefit from the NVIDIA Inception program, which encompasses invaluable training sessions from NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute. This collaboration aims to enhance the performance of AI solution development by leveraging NVIDIA’s advanced computing platform.
The AI Tech Accelerator Community is built around three pivotal components: community coworking, technical and business training sessions, and personalized 1:1 expert consultations. The approach is tailored to meet the specific needs of startups, as feedback is actively solicited from participants regarding the most pertinent topics for discussion. This not only ensures that the content remains relevant and beneficial but also encourages startups to engage meaningfully in the program. In addition to the structured sessions, startups facing unique challenges will have the option to schedule individual sessions with Microsoft experts and recognized MVPs (Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals), providing them with customized guidance and support.
Only about 25 startups will be selected to join this complimentary program, where they will receive technical and business mentorship from Microsoft. Participants can utilize Azure OpenAI and other Microsoft AI services to speed up their product development processes. Furthermore, they will have access to the latest generative AI models available on Microsoft Azure, alongside potential benefits from the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, which offers up to USD 150,000 in Azure credits to support their journey.