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 BizSparkCamp for Windows Azure is a technicaly-focused day designed to offer the following assistance to entrepreneurs, in particular the CTOs and developers/architects within technology startups.

• Learn to build 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
• Get insights and guidance from other startups who have built their applications on Azure
• Potential Nomination for BizSpark One (an invitation only program) for high potential startups
• Generate marketing buzz for your brand

We are inviting registrations from startups interested in the Windows Azure Platform that target or are interested in learning more about Windows Azure, Microsoft AppFabric or Microsoft SQL Azure.

The Microsoft BizSparkCamp for Windows Azure will be held at Vinopolis located near London Bridge.  

 
This event consists of a morning of keynotes and presentations from companies who have already built out applications on Azure.  The afternoon consists of a series of Deep Technical and Business-focused breakout tracks, so you can gain a good insight into the Azure as a platform.

We are ending the day with a pitch contest, where the Top 8 Applicants are able to pitch their business/application to a panel of experts for a top prize.  The prize will be quality time in our Microsoft Technology Centre labs, with the support of our Azure Engineers and Experts, to help you design and build your Azure App.

Bindi Karia is the VC/Emerging Business lead for Microsoft UK and is the UK-based member of the Emerging Business Team. She is responsible for managing the UK Startup Accelerator Programme where she focuses on how Microsoft can drive success for leading edge and early-stage technology companies. She is also responsible for managing the relationships with the UK Investor Community, including Venture Capitalist, Angels and other Investor Organisations. Her previous role at Microsoft was as a Business Productivity Advisor, where she was responsible for managing relationships with the most influential business decision-makers in the UK Financial Services Sector. She worked closely with this audience to ignite enthusiasm and to deliver on the benefits and business value of investing in the latest Information Worker related technologies by highlighting the importance of ‘worker productivity’, from the CEO to the call centre, as critical to ongoing business success. Prior to Microsoft, Bindi worked as an Associate Director in Interregnum, a UK-based Technology Merchant Bank; as Business Development Manager at Trayport Ltd, a highly successful commodities trading technology start-up; as a Strategy Management Consultant at PwC Consulting; and as a Senior Business Analyst at Datamonitor. Having grown up in Western Canada, Bindi now lives in London, and her hobbies include competing in Adventure Races such as the Microsoft UK Challenge, running marathons/duathlons, and skiing. She also enjoys the vibrant life of a Londoner, and can be seen checking out the latest restaurants or live gigs which make this city a great place to live.

 Meet a few of our BizSpark One Startups: