Cloud Computing: Microsoft Establishes Venture Fund for Early-Stage Startups
June 1, 2016
Grazed from eWeek. Author: Pedro Hernandez.
Microsoft is on the lookout for early-stage startups whose technologies complement its own cloud-first ambitions. The Redmond, Wash., technology giant on May 30 announced the formation of Microsoft Ventures, a formalized venture fund that will enable the company to finally address a gap in its corporate investment strategy.
"In Microsoft’s history of engaging with and supporting start-ups, we’ve done a lot of investing, but not a lot of early stage. Because we would often invest alongside commercial deals, we were not a part of the early industry conversations on disruptive technology trends," admitted Nagraj Kashyap, corporate vice president of Microsoft Ventures, in a May 30 announcement. The new group will provide Microsoft with "a seat at the table," he added…
Prior to Microsoft Ventures, Kashyap headed Qualcomm’s venture capital arm for 12 years. Kashyap left the mobile chip maker in January, according to a report in Fortune. During his time there, Kashyap oversaw investments in Magic Leap, Sotera Wireless and Bitfone, the latter of which was acquired by HP…
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