What is Microsoft® BizSpark™ ?

Just stumbled upon this in an early sunday morning pre-coffee random net surfing exercise..

According to the blurb, Microsoft® BizSpark™ is "a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources when they need it the most".

At first read, it looks quite interesting...the key resources being..

• Software. Receive fast and easy access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products for immediate use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions. There is no upfront cost to enroll.
• Support. Get connected to Network Partners around the world — incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters — that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship who will provide a wide range of support resources.
• Visibility. Achieve global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients and partners

To qualify you need to

• be fairly young and small ish (your company that is!) " most privately held software development startups in business for less than 3 years that are generating annual revenue under USD $1 million can join"

• "Connect with a BizSpark Network Partner or a Microsoft BizSpark Champ to get your BizSpark enrollment code"

Enrollment is free, you just pay a 'USD $100 program offering fee at program exit'...whatever that means?!

Going to have a dig around further and perhaps Tweet on this to what the experiences of others have been..