Hey Startups!

I thought we would put together a post for you to explain some of the new experiences on the bizspark website.  Here’s some info for you on how to navigate the new My BizSpark experience.

What is Bizspark

There are a Number of benefits you get as you join the Bizspark Program, This is a fully Self Service Platform of technologies.

Your startup qualifies if it’s less than five years old, is privately held, and earns less than $1 million annually.

You’ll have access to Visual Studio Ultimate, Windows, SQL Server, Office and way more. Basically almost every Microsoft product available for development and testing!

The best part is all licenses you obtain during your enrollment in BizSpark are perpetual upon graduation, in other words, you get to keep what you’ve used.

1. Get immediate access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products (including Windows Azure Platform) for use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions.
2.  Receive two technical support incidents per startup. Each incident is managed by Microsoft until they are resolved, no matter how many calls it takes.
3. Receive business development and technical training at highly subsidized costs or in many cases, no costs.
4. Receive access to MSDN Ultimate managed newsgroups, online library, and so on.
5. Get connected to BizSpark Network Partners around the world—incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies, and hosters—that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship, and who will provide a wide range of support resources, including expert mentoring.

Program Journey

As the first person accepted into BizSpark, you will become a “BizSpark Administrator.” As BizSpark Administrator, you will grant access to your employees, making them “Authorized Users” of the program. Then, as Authorized Users of BizSpark, your employees
will be able to use their benefits. Here is a summary of your journey in the program:

1. Startup applies to the program and accepts terms on behalf of the company.
2. BizSpark Administrator receives a welcome email.
3. BizSpark Administrator grants Visual Studio subscriptions to employees of the startup, making them Authorized Users.
4. Authorized User receives email signs indirectly at
   http://my.visualstudio.com.
5. Authorized User now has the ability to use Visual Studio subscription benefits.

Account Management

The My BizSpark experience lets BizSpark Administrators manage company information and Authorized Users.

We have two types of accounts: Administrators and Authorized Users (aka
Visual Studio Subscribers). Here are the essential differences between the two account types:

Administrator Experience: Granting BizSpark benefits to individuals in your company

1. Go to the Microsoft BizSpark website and
   sign in with your BizSpark Administrator Account.
2. Select the Offers tab.
3. You will be on the Offers tab.
   Here, you can grant Visual Studio subscriptions to your startup’s employees.
4. Fill out your employee’s name and email, and then click the
   Assign link to grant a Visual Studio subscription to your employee.

Note: If you would like to use the benefits yourself, you will need to add yourself here also.

As you manage and operate your company, you may need the ability to change Authorized Users from one person to another. We have enabled Revoke and Reassign functionality for BizSpark Admins to manage the BizSpark account:

Administrator Experience: Revoke BizSpark benefits to individuals in your company

BizSpark Admins can rescind Visual Studio subscriptions from Authorized Users

Note: The email account tied the Authorized User cannot be provisioned Visual Studio benefits in the future once revoked.

Administrator Experience: Reassigning BizSpark benefits to individuals in your company

BizSpark Admins can reassign Visual Studio subscriptions up to five Authorized Users on your account.

1. Go to the
Microsoft BizSpark website and sign in with your BizSpark Administrator Account.

2. Select the Offers tab.

3. Choosing Reassign will disable the original Authorized User’s Visual Studio subscription and reassign it to a
new Authorized User.

Note: Only Authorized User with an “Assigned” status may be reassigned.

4. An edit row will appear to enter your new Authorized User’s name and email. Choose Reassign to grant a Visual Studio subscription to the new Authorized User.

Note: The email account tied the original Authorized User cannot be provisioned Visual Studio benefits in the future once assigned.

5. Once the new Authorized User’s Visual Studio subscription displays as “Assigned” on the My BizSpark portal, they will be able to access their Visual Studio subscription.

6. Follow the Authorized User instructions below to get started.

Administrator Experience: Viewing company information

1. Go to the Microsoft BizSpark website and
   sign in with your BizSpark Administrator Account.
2. Select the Startup tab. Here, you can view are BizSpark Administrators.
3. You can also review your account information.

Authorized User Experience

1. Once your BizSpark Administrator grants you permission for one of the Visual Studio subscriptions, you will receive an email.
2. Click on the link in the welcome email or go directly to my.visualstudio.com to
   access your Visual Studio subscription benefits. Sign in using the email address assigned by your BizSpark Administrator.
3. Click the Benefits tab which will take you to the Visual Studio Enterprise with MSDN (BizSpark) page where you can view and begin to use your benefits.
4. To get started with Azure, click Activate on the Azure tile.

5.      Complete the
Microsoft Azure sign up experience, and start using Azure.

Note: Currently, as an Authorized User, the
Microsoft BizSpark experience will direct you to contact your admin.

• To access your Visual Studio benefits, sign in at
  my.visualstudio.com.

You may also be interested in the following links to get started.