Global tech major Microsoft Corp. and consulting company, Accenture, have launched a joint initiative to help entrepreneurs and startups that are focused on social impact and sustainability.
The initiative seeks to provide support and technologies to social enterprises to help them build scalable solutions and business models, a joint statement said. Through the programme, Microsoft Research India and Accenture Labs will help social enterprise startups test and validate proof-of-concepts, conduct design thinking sessions, and provide support in using Microsoft technologies.
“Startups in the social impact and sustainability space are among the world’s most inspiring organisations… Microsoft’s collaboration with Accenture offers us an opportunity to empower these startups so they can use technology to make an even greater impact in addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges,” Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, Microsoft global sales, marketing and operations, said in a statement.
This programme will focus on agriculture, education and healthcare, and initially engage with startups in Africa, West Asia and South Asia, leveraging the MSR India center for Societal impact through Cloud and Artificial Intelligence.
“Our experience shows that by applying emerging technologies to critical challenges facing society, we can accelerate social transformation. By providing social impact entrepreneurs with direct access to the combined power of Accenture and Microsoft’s technology expertise, we can help significantly improve access, equality, inclusion, education, health, sustainability, and the environment,” said Paul Daugherty, group chief executive, Accenture Technology and chief technology officer at Accenture.
This initiative is part of Microsoft’s Global Social Entrepreneurship programme that seeks to empower tech-enabled startups focused on addressing social or environmental challenges. The involvement of Accenture Labs is part of its ongoing Tech4Good programme.
