Start-ups joining the BizSpark programme gain access to all of Microsoft’s development and infrastructure tools needed to run the business. Advice is also provided on the best use of tools to cater for the start-up’s specific needs such as Visual Studio, Windows Server and Operating system, SharePoint, SQL Server and Office. The Microsoft Innovation Centre also offers technology consultancy, co-working space, meeting rooms and access to partner resources.

One success story is Booking & Co. Established in 2008 and officially launched in 2010, the company is the only Maltese expert company in travel technology and has a portfolio of over 400 hotels across Europe, South America and the Asia-Pacific region. In Malta, the company is today the market leader with over 40 local properties in its portfolio.

“I never planned to open a software company but I had the idea and when the opportunity and the right people came along, I took the plunge. Today I don’t look back,” said Clifton Dingli Bennetti the company’s chief technology officer.

“We succeeded in establishing a strong foothold because unlike other companies who try to source and fight their competitors, we sought to collaborate with them and offer something which was unique.

“At Microsoft’s Innovation Centre, we found all the technology and logistical support that start-up companies need when starting off. Our operations grew tenfold in a matter of a few years and from the BizSpark programme we moved on to BizSpark Plus which – besides free software and tools such as Visual Studio and Office – meant that we benefited from a grant of up to $60,000 of free Azure cloud services for a year.”