BIG DATA

The Purdue Research Foundation has joined an international program that provides software technology startup companies with three years of Microsoft software for free.

"When a new company is launched, every penny counts, and buying software and other technology can be a huge drain on an entrepreneur's budget," said Joseph B. Hornett, Purdue Research Foundation senior vice president, treasurer and COO. "The national BizSpark program by Microsoft is a terrific way to help companies during the critical first three years, and we wanted to be a sponsor for the program."

Microsoft programs available through BizSpark include Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, Visual Studio, SQL Server and more.

A company does not have to be based at the Purdue Research Park to be sponsored by the foundation. Any company meeting Microsoft's criteria is eligible to be sponsored through the foundation, which manages the Purdue Research Park.

For example, the Purdue Research Foundation sponsors The Scarborough Group Inc. of Naperville, Ill., in the BizSpark program. The company is developing a Web-based software service called The Driver's Log that helps car enthusiasts organize their automobile maintenance information.

Company President Tom Scarborough Jr. said the program provides The Scarborough Group with access to Microsoft software without using capital from lenders.

"Appealing to lenders for startup capital is an arduous process," Scarborough said. "Because of BizSpark, we are able to immediately work on the application and not worry about startup costs to develop our core system. When we need capital to hire staff or advertise, we can show our products to a lender and tell them what we need for the next step. Bank officials can see the product at that point, which can help them make their decision."

To be eligible for the BizSpark program, startup companies must have a software-based product or service at the core of their current or future business, be privately held, be in business for fewer than three years and earn less than $1 million in annual revenue. They also must have a sponsor. A company may take part in the program for three years unless it goes public or is acquired by another company. There are no initial fees to join the program, but $100 is due from the company when it exits the program.

Startup company officials can solicit the Purdue Research Foundation to be their BizSpark sponsor by visiting the program's Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/ and entering the section labeled "Startups." The foundation also has a link at http://www.prf.org/bus_dev/BizSpark.asp

After selecting their U.S. region, company representatives can search for the Purdue Research Foundation among the list of the sponsors. Information about the foundation includes an e-mail address where officials can send a message to express their interest.