Microsoft giving free software to startups Firms getting free software to encourage development that spans different devices

Dan'l Lewin poses for for a portrait at Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in Mountain View, Calif. Photo by Mike Kepka / The Chronicle Dan'l Lewin poses for for a portrait at Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in Mountain View, Calif. Photo by Mike Kepka / The Chronicle Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chroncle Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chroncle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Microsoft giving free software to startups 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Microsoft is giving free software to startups around the world to encourage them to develop products that span the Web, PCs and phones, the company said today.

The program, called BizSpark, is expected to make it easier for Microsoft to compete against Google and other Web rivals with its nascent cloud computing strategy, which was announced last week, and also make it easier for startups to work with Microsoft.

"I think it's terrific and something that's sorely needed," said Pascal Levensohn, founder of Levensohn Venture Partners in San Francisco. "They're seeding an entire new ecosystem by casting their net very widely to harness innovation."

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Through BizSpark, Microsoft will offer free software development tools, technical support, marketing and discounted hosting for three years to qualified startups in more than 80 countries, said Corporate Vice President Dan'l Lewin, who designed the program.

The startups will be recommended by a network of partners Microsoft has been building: venture capitalists, university incubators, angel investors and others, including the National Venture Capital Association and TiE Global.

The only restrictions are that startups be private, less than 3 years old and have less than $1 million in revenue.

"It's been my idea for a long time that we work toward this program," said Lewin, who was hired by Microsoft seven years ago to improve relations between Microsoft and Silicon Valley. "This is my baby."

Lewin said Microsoft is "completely committed" to making its software interoperable with any other software that startups want to use and they are free to leave the program at any time. If they make it through three years, they pay a $100 fee and graduate into Microsoft's standard software licensing program, he said.

One startup that's already joined the program - ZocDoc, a Web site that helps people find and make appointments with doctors and dentists in New York City - was discovered by Microsoft in September at the TechCrunch 50 conference in San Francisco, said Nick Ganju, ZocDoc's chief technology officer.

ZocDoc was already running on Microsoft software but has raised about $3 million in venture capital and plans to expand to other areas of the country, he said. Investors include Khosla Ventures in Menlo Park, Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' investment company, Bezos Expeditions.

"We think (BizSpark) is a fantastic program and are very pleased," Ganju said.

Despite the tough economy, Microsoft has increased its investment in BizSpark to drive the program forward, Lewin said, because "This is our lifeblood, working with developers."