Artificial intelligence is transforming industries and creating increasingly new opportunities for innovation and growth. This is an exciting time for startups to develop groundbreaking solutions and integrate AI capabilities into their offerings.
Microsoft is excited to launch the AI Tech Accelerator Community, a five-month program dedicated to Swiss startups developing or planning to extend their offering with innovative AI solutions. Running from February 4th until the end of June 2025, this exclusive community offers a collaborative environment designed to fast-track AI solution development.
The program is structured around three main streams: community coworking, technical and business input sessions, and dedicated 1:1 expert time. This setup provides startups with the unique opportunity to engage and exchange with peers, as well as with Microsoft and external experts. This year the AI Tech Accelerator Community additionally includes a collaboration with NVIDIA, where startups are supported through the NVIDIA Inception program, allowing access to training sessions from NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute. And by using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform, startups will be able to accelerate their AI development and enhance performance.
Community coworking sessions will take place every second Monday, starting exceptionally on a Tuesday, February 4th. Each startup can have a maximum of one or two participants per coworking session, with the flexibility to vary the attendees.
Please submit your application here. The application deadline is 10th of January 2025.
Pre-requisites and Selection Criteria
- Have a viable post-MVP software solution with at least one customer reference
- B2B SaaS OR highly scalable B2C software solution
- Have a clear idea on how to use AI within your solution
- Developing your solution on Microsoft Azure (either willing to migrate or already on Azure)
- Have an active Azure subscription by February 1st
- Willingness to sign NDA with Microsoft (to ensure protection of startups’ IP and necessary to receive non-public product information)
- Commitment of a person per startup participating in the accelerator at the Microsoft office during the in-person events (approximately every second Monday from February to end of June). The location of the program will be the Microsoft Offices in Zürich in The Circle (The Circle 02, Flughafen Zürich, 8058 Zürich).
Benefits
- Participation in the AI Tech Accelerator Community is free of charge
- Access to a community of founders and technical leads from other startups
- Technical and business support from Microsoft to build an offer using the capabilities of Azure OpenAI or other Microsoft AI technology bricks
- Free Azure cloud credits to develop your solution*
- Access to OpenAI models on Azure
- Access to mentors and topic experts in the field of AI based on individual need
* subject to the eligibility criteria of the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub program
Program Details
- The focus this year is on building an exclusive community of startups
- One or two person(s) in-person representation per startup only
- 5 months, starting February 3rd, every second Monday of community coworking and on request support to build your solution on Azure OpenAI or other Microsoft AI bricks in a Microsoft office location in Switzerland
- Demo Day (tba) after the program
An optional technical Azure OpenAI and AI foundry session for the AI Tech Accelerator Community will take place on January 27th and 28th. This session will help you to be well-prepared for the journey ahead.
Please submit your application here by January 10th 2025, 20:00 CET.
Do you have more questions about the Microsoft AI Tech Accelerator Community? Contact [email protected]
Do you want to learn more about the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub program? Visit the Microsoft for Startups Switzerland page.
