Microsoft launches dedicated healthtech startup program in India

Today, Microsoft has announced the launch of a dedicated healthtech startup program to drive healthcare innovation in India. India faces an increasing number of healthcare challenges with a lack of infrastructure, uneven doctor to patient ratio, and an increase in demand for healthcare services. The program is designed to help startups scale with advanced technology and joint go-to-market support.

Microsoft HealthTech Startup Program Approach
Spread across three tiers, the program offers a range of benefits:

– All startups: Qualified Seed to Series C startups can boost their business with Azure benefits (including free credits), unlimited technical support and go-to-market resources with support for Azure Marketplace onboarding

– Co-sell startups: Startups with enterprise-ready solutions can scale quickly with joint go-to-market strategies, technical support and new sales opportunities with Microsoft’s partner ecosystem

– Co-build startups: Startups that are looking to create healthcare solutions have access to Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, the first industry-specific cloud that brings together trusted and integrated capabilities to enrich patient engagement and connects teams for improved collaboration, decision-making, and operational efficiencies

Being forced by the global pandemic to rethink how healthcare services across the world operate, startups in this industry are reimagining solutions for some of the most pressing healthcare challenges. Technology innovation with advanced data and analytics capabilities is a critical enabler as we build trusted and reliable solutions at scale. The Microsoft for Healthtech Startups program deepens our focus on specific industries and is aimed to accelerate the growth journeys of startups with the best tech enablement and business resources,” said Sangeeta Bavi, Director – Startup Ecosystem, Microsoft India.

Partnership with Startup Incubator Social Alpha
In addition to the healthtech program launch, Microsoft is also collaborating with startup incubator Social Alpha to accelerate the growth of participating startups. To date, Social Alpha has supported over 20 healthtech startups working across devices, diagnostics, treatment, access and quality/UX.

The collaboration with Social Alpha will provide healthtech startups programmatic support through product innovation labs, sandbox pilots and structured incubation initiatives that offer knowledge services, bootcamps and masterclass sessions with mentors as well as tech and industry experts.

As the startups accelerate, they receive access to go-to-market resources, ecosystem networking, angel networks and investor forums. Social Alpha supports entrepreneurs and innovators that enable social, economic and environmental change through their ‘lab to market’ journey by building access to technology and business incubation initiatives. – HIT Consultant