Startups usually like to go with Open Source Software (OSS) for the obvious reasons, start ups are low on funds and OSS is free. Microsoft has a program for startups that will give the startup a copy of all of its software for use in production for free until the startup reaches a certain point of growth (usually $1m in revenues) or gets acquired by a larger entity. This program is called BizSpark and it has been around for a little while. Approximately 30,000 startups have taken advantage of BizSpark so far.

I am the co-founder and investor of a startup called Triton Works. (Picture Expedia.com for Ocean Freight.) Myself and three partners founded it in 2008 and Triton was one of the first companies to accept BizSpark “funding.” Today I am happy to announce that Triton was acquired by UBM. Triton has graduated from the BizSpark program!

Hopefully success stories like this will build awareness to the BizSpark program.