SINGAPORE (June 7): Temasek and Microsoft have announced a joint partnership aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions.

Called the Microsoft Accelerator (MA) programme, its mission is to help startups scale up quickly into enterprise-ready companies by mentoring them in launching their companies, building the team, sourcing for customers and expanding into global markets.

Temasek and six of its portfolio companies have joined the programme and will serve as official global network partners in Seattle, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Bangalore.

These companies are real-estate developers CapitaLand and Ascendas, venture lending platform InnoVen Capital, cyber-security provider Quann, engineering group ST Engineering and investment company Fullerton Financial.

Key focus areas for this initiative include urban solutions, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare IT and digital media. Start-ups involved in the programme will be able to tap on the guidance and experience of programme managers drawn from the ranks of Temasek and its portfolio companies.

“This strategic partnership gives the start-ups the ability to leverage subject matter experts, mentors, pilot programs, joint go-to-market initiatives and marketing support from Temasek and its portfolio companies,” says Scott Coleman, General Manager, Microsoft.
Temasek and its portfolio companies will also stand to benefit from this partnership.

“Our participation in the MA will allow us to understand how Microsoft selects and nurtures start-ups, and give us access to new ideas and technology... This partnership will provide us valuable insights and bolster our efforts to develop integrated and interconnected smart buildings as well as create seamless online and offline customer experiences,” says Ng Kok Siong, Chief Corporate Development Officer, CapitaLand.