Microsoft will provide existing and new startups supported by 360 Nautica, with access to latest technology, skills, mentorship, and market visibility to succeed in a digital economy
The partnership will also involve upskilling entrepreneurs on core technologies such as cloud, AI, blockchain and data analytics
18 October 2020; Doha, Qatar – Microsoft and Qatar based tech venture firm 360-Nautica, today announced a strategic collaboration to supercharge the country’s startup ecosystem. 360nautica is a venture and a growth capital platform with a focus on helping entrepreneurs grow from an idea stage to a self-sustainable organization.
Defined through signing of a Memorandum of understanding (MoU), both organizations will work together on a roadmap to accelerate startup growth with the power of cloud technologies and skills, enabling them to scale in the new normal.
“Qatar ambitions to drive forward a diversified sustainable economy driven by innovation, is enabling and empowering start-ups at the heart of this transformation” said Lana Khalaf, Country Manager, Microsoft Qatar “Cloud has become a catalyst for digital transformation and a toolkit of building blocks to drive start-ups forward, from computing, networking, and storage, to mobile and web app services, all the way up to advanced and secured user experiences including AI, Internet of Things and mixed reality. Our partnership with 360-Nautica is a prime example of the growth and digital innovation that Microsoft is fostering in Qatar by empowering start-ups with the latest technological tools, skills, mentorship, and market visibility that they need in order to succeed in a digital economy.”
As part of its collaboration with 360-Nautica, Microsoft will provide support to select startups through its ‘Microsoft for Startups’ program that delivers access to technology, go-to-market benefits, and community support, along with workshops and training sessions. This will enable enrolled entrepreneurs to better harness technological innovations, bridging their skills gap and paving way for them to bring their innovations faster to the market.
In addition to supporting new startups, the collaboration will also involve migrating 360-Nautica’s existing start-ups to the Microsoft Azure cloud. This will enable them to gain significant benefits instantly such as increased performance, optimized costs, while addressing their security, reliability, and scalability needs.
“Our philosophy focuses on helping entrepreneurs grow from an idea stage into a self-sustainable business.” Said Dr.Tejinder Singh, Founder and Managing Director of 360-Nautica. “We are excited to join forces with Microsoft and embark on a journey full of innovation and powered by the most comprehensive, scalable and trusted cloud, and technologies that will provide a competitive edge to these aspiring startups, and create new opportunities in the country.”
As part of the workshops hosted by 360 Nautica, Microsoft experts will train budding entrepreneurs on core cloud competencies. The sessions will include introduction to cloud technologies, developing and hosting applications on the Microsoft Azure Cloud, data services, advanced analytics, blockchain and AI.
The growing demand for Microsoft’s cloud services from across organizations of all sizes in Qatar has led the company to announce its plans to launch a cloud region in the country. Expected to be available in 2021, these datacenters will accelerate the country’s startup ecosystem by providing enterprise-grade performance, data residency, security and compliance, empowering them to innovate freely.
