Microsoft Ventures 'graduates' 17 technology start-ups

Microsoft Ventures in India today announced the 'graduation' of 17 technology start-ups including App Virality, Bookpad, Imly and Sliderule.
16 of these companies constituted the fourth batch of its accelerator programme, besides another one from an earlier batch.
Start-up ventures which graduated today are also include Appointy, Boutline, InstaSafe, Metaome, IntouchApp, Voonik, MyBusTickets.In, Praxify, Thinxtream, Touchfone, ZingHR and Zoom. Profoundis was from its second batch.
"We felt the need for a forum to brings together all stakeholders and provides them with a platform to discuss current initiatives, decide on actionable follow-up steps and measure the progress over a period of time," Microsoft Ventures in India Director Ravi Narayan said.

Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative to help entrepreneurs build companies.
The 17 start-ups which graduated today will join the 34 alumni startups from the last three batches of its accelerator programme.

As alumni, they will continue to be supported by the Microsoft Ventures team, both in India and abroad, as they work on customer connect and technology advancement.
"The weekly meetings with the leadership team have helped us maintain focus on achieving our short term goals and ensured that these are aligned with the company's long term vision. Our mentors have helped us accelerate from a startup of 20 people to 45 in less than three months", Praxify's Co-Founder CEO and MD Abhijit Gupta said.

Going forward, Microsoft Ventures will be partnering with several industry bodies, including Nasscom, TiE chapters around the country and iSPIRT for Think Next.