The Microsoft Black and African American Partner Growth Initiative is a business incubator focused on increasing representation within the Microsoft Partner Network. The Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) is a hub of people, resources, and offerings brought together to give you everything you need to build and deliver successful solutions for your customers. The Initiative business incubator provides information on how to navigate through MPN, as well as access to resources, community, and capital.
➡️ Read on for information about initial benefits, upcoming changes, and the type of business that is eligible to participate in the Initiative.
Initial Benefits
Partners who have enrolled in the Initiative receive:
- An opportunity to receive a dedicated specialist through the Cloud Enablement Desk
- Support with building solutions through the Solution Workspace tool
- Support with publishing solutions and services in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace to be seen by customers
- Access to capital
- Opportunity to be showcased in a business directory for Black partners
- Microsoft Partner Community access for critical information sharing for Black partners
- Free membership in the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP) to access additional partner resources
- Monthly office hours and roundtable discussions with Partner Development Managers (PDMs)
- LinkedIn community group to network with other enrollees
- Prioritized referral to other Microsoft programs based on eligibility
- Go-to-market benefits including:
- 30-minute consultation for partner readiness team
- On-demand marketing research and training
- Partner-to-Partner go-to-market assets
- Profile optimization & referral management
- Co-branded marketing assets via Toolbox platform
Please contact us if you have not yet received access to these resources
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Big changes are on the horizon for the initiative! We have many upcoming opportunities to hear and learn from Microsoft stakeholders and executives starting on how to best utilize Microsoft resources, grow your business, and connect to opportunities. You will also have an opportunity to apply for acceptance into an accelerator cohort providing deeper 1:1 engagement, mentorship, business enablement training, and access to market opportunities, leads, and referrals.
Questions? Contact the team at ptnrsupp@microsoft.com
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Initiative and Network Eligibility
To be eligible to participate fully in the Initiative your business must be a 51 percent Black or African American-owned tech organization, a member of the Microsoft Partner Network, and based in the United States.
Microsoft partners include those tech businesses who are:
• Offering consulting and services that utilize Microsoft products.
• OR
• Building on a Microsoft platform to build their own business.
• OR
• Developing apps using Microsoft products
• OR
• Creating IP using Microsoft products (i.e., organizations who are willing to build technology on the Microsoft platform)
We look forward to continuing to evolve this program.
