{"id":43204,"date":"2023-10-20T15:26:52","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/microsoft-and-techstars-unveil-20k-kinect-accelerator-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:26:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:26:52","slug":"microsoft-and-techstars-unveil-20k-kinect-accelerator-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/microsoft-and-techstars-unveil-20k-kinect-accelerator-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft and TechStars unveil $20k Kinect Accelerator – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Microsoft has teamed up with US seed fund TechStars to create the Kinect Accelerator, a scheme where<\/a> start-ups receive $20,000 to develop technologies for Microsoft\u2019s Kinect motion-sensing system. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The partnership will see 10 start-ups chosen to participate in a three-month incubation program at Microsoft, in addition to $20,000 in seed funding. It will run from March to May in 2012.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In exchange, TechStars will take a 6% stake in each of the start-ups. The goal of the program is to create businesses that leverage Kinect for Microsoft\u2019s Xbox 360 or Microsoft Windows.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TechStars founder and chief executive David Cohen says the accelerator, based in Seattle, is focused on helping start-ups build \u201cthe next generation of innovative experiences for the Kinect\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTechStars is helping Microsoft to create and operate the program using what we\u2019ve learned from accelerating over a hundred internet start-ups ourselves,\u201d Cohen wrote in a blog.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t be more excited about where Kinect is heading and the chance to work with some amazing start-ups that are taking advantage of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mentors for the accelerator include entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in the industry, as well as executives from organisations such as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Research and Xbox.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery company participating\u2026 will receive an investment of $20,000, an Xbox development kit, the Windows Kinect SDK [and] office space,\u201d Microsoft said in a statement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They also receive \u201call the resources of [Microsoft] BizSpark, technical training and support\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the end of the program, each company will have the opportunity to present at an investor demo day attended by angel investors, venture capitalists, Microsoft executives and media.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour company does not necessarily need experience developing with Kinect, but the business concept does need to leverage Kinect capabilities as part of the final offering,\u201d Microsoft says.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYour team must also be willing to develop the technical skills required to bring your solution to a functioning prototype.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Microsoft has provided an outline of the eligibility criteria:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n