Microsoft Ventures' fourth batch

Microsoft Ventures in India last week announced the graduation of 17 technology start-ups, including mobile applications like Virality, Bookpad, Imly and Sliderule. Sixteen of these companies constituted the fourth batch of its accelerator programme, besides another from an earlier batch.

These include Appointy, Boutline, InstaSafe, Metaome, IntouchApp, Voonik, MyBusTickets.in, Praxify, Thinxtream, Touchfone, ZingHR and Zoom. Profoundis was from the second batch.

"We felt the need for a forum to bring together all stakeholders and provide them a platform to discuss current initiatives, decide on actionable follow-up steps and measure the progress over a period of time," said Microsoft Ventures India Director Ravi Narayan.

Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative to help entrepreneurs build companies.

The 17 start-ups will join the 34 alumni start-ups from the past three batches of its programme.

They will continue to be supported by the Microsoft Ventures team, both in India and abroad. Microsoft Ventures will be partnering with several industry bodies, including Nasscom, TiE chapters around the country and iSPIRT for Think Next.

Pearson's fund invests in Zaya Labs
Learning company Pearson has announced a minority equity investment in Zaya Labs, a school service provider delivering blended learning experiences for schools serving students from low income families. The investment was brokered by the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund. Started in 2010, Zaya Labs has developed an affordable model using a blend of online and face-to-face teaching for better learning in schools. Unlike traditional classroom settings, Zaya Labs operates a rotational model where students divide their time between content engagement via tablets, instructional time with a teacher and peer-to-peer group work.

If you have any information to share on your start-up, please write to bsreporter@bsmail.in