16 startups graduate in MS Accelerator's 4th batch

Total graduates from the incubator touch 51; to start 5th batch in July

Microsoft Ventures today announced the graduation of the fourth batch from its startup incubator, Microsoft Accelerator. This batch included 16 companies, which varied from early-to-mature business stages.

Microsoft Ventures is the global technology giant's venture arm, which looks into funding and incubation of technology start-ups.

The Accelerator runs a four-month incubation program for startups, which helps these teams take their businesses a step forward. The teams that join Microsoft Accelerator at an idea stage are helped in developing their product, while those that already have clients are helped in expanding business. The program has so far incubated 51 start-ups, including those that graduated in the latest batch.



"I have been closely watching this batch since they started at the Accelerator. Each company was unique-not only were they at different stages of maturity and addressing very different business segments, their problems were also unique," said Shripati Acharya, managing partner at seed fund Angel Prime.

The fourth batch of Accelerator included six startups that were earnings revenues before joining the program, while three that were still at the idea stage.

The latest batch included, online scheduling software Appointy (looking to raise Series A funding), digital content technology provider Bookpad (has five paid customers and angel funding is in progress), online learning hub Sliderule (has 100,000 users and has raised angel funding), online fashion guide Voonik (has 100 orders per day and has raised seed funding) and tech-enabled self-driven car rental company Zoom (closed seed funding).



Additionally, the batch also included some other unique ideas such as online home food market Imly, mobile printing solutions provider Thinxtream, sports fan engagement platform Boutline and dropbox for contacts Intouch App.

"Microsoft Ventures has played a pivotal role in reshaping our business strategy for emerging markets," said Abhijit Gupta, co-founder and chief executive officer of Praxify, which was one of the companies that were incubated in this batch.

"Access to partners and potential collaborators has been a boost for a fast-growth product company like ours. Our mentors have helped us to accelerate from a startup of 20 people to 45 people in less than three months," Gupta added.

Microsoft Accelerator has started the process for enrollment for its next batch, which will start in July 2014.