Microsoft and 360-Nautica have announced that their strategic collaboration aims to enhance Qatar’s startup ecosystem, helping companies to grow from an idea stage to a self-sustainable organization. Both organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of accelerating startup growth with the power of cloud technologies and skill.  

“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, the launch of the ‘Microsoft for Startups’ program will provide select startups with access to technology, go-to-market benefits, community support, as well as workshops and training sessions. The goal is to enable entrepreneurs to improve their technological innovations, reduce gaps in skills, and introduce their innovations to the market faster.

360-Nautica will also migrate their existing startups to the Microsoft Azure cloud in addition to supporting new startups. Some of the major benefits attained by this include increased performance and 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.” 

The workshops hosted by 360 Nautica will include Microsoft experts who will train budding entrepreneurs on core cloud competencies. Moreover, the sessions will include an introduction to cloud technologies, developing and hosting applications on the Microsoft Azure Cloud, data services, advanced analytics, blockchain, and AI.

Microsoft has announced that it will soon launch a cloud region in Qatar as a result of increasing demand for its cloud services. These data centers, expected to launch in 2021, will boost the nation's startup ecosystem by providing enterprise-grade performance, data residency, security, and compliance, empowering them to innovate freely.

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