Venture Hive, an entrepreneurial education company in Miami, is partnering with Microsoft to power a new chain of Pre-Accelerators at Microsoft Innovations Centers around the globe.
The initial group of Microsoft Innovation Centers in Chile, Pakistan, Nepal and Armenia will be linked by Venture Hive's training program, connecting entrepreneurs to resources and support they need in validating and building their ideas into solutions. Venture Hive also houses the first MIC in the U.S.
"We partnered with Microsoft to open the Miami MIC solely focused on supporting the South Florida community through technology education and support," said Susan Amat, founder of Venture Hive. "We are thrilled to support these four MICs and their entrepreneurs in building great startups to strengthen their ecosystems."
Over the 12-week intensive program, the selected teams will go through specialized training and have access and support from the international community. The program will culminate in the MIC DEMO WEEK in April, where a global audience will witness the product demonstrations and startups will receive feedback from experts in each of the partner countries.
"It is part of our mission to level the playing field for all of the aspiring entrepreneurs around the world who want to build something, who want to be their own bosses, who want to make the world a better place," Microsoft said in a blog post Tuesday about the new Pre-Accelerators. "Initially in four locations around the world, we look forward to bringing the program to the more than 100 global MIC facilities."
Venture Hive was chosen this summer as the location of the first Microsoft Innovation Center in the United States. Developed and operated in partnership with Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami and Venture Hive, the Miami center hosts technology training and workshops, providing entrepreneurs, technologists and governments access to networking opportunities and potential talent for future job opportunities. Amat said Tuesday she is considering opening a Pre-Accelerator program at the Miami location.
Venture Hive, which also houses an accelerator and incubator and is supported by Miami-Dade County and the Miami DDA, recently received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, partnered with Disruption Corporation in Washington DC on investor education and announced a partnership with DLA Piper for startup legal services. Vanture Hive is currently running a tech-entrepreneurship program with Miami-Dade high school students.
Posted Dec. 2, 2014