Microsoft Ventures, Deshpande Foundation form new incubator

Microsoft Ventures and Deshpande Foundation have launched Sandbox Startups, an incubator focussed on startups in tier II and III Indian cities.
"Most small cities lack adequate support system to nurture startups. Consequently, startups and startup potentials don't have access to requisite training, mentoring and a sandbag to try out their entrepreneurial stints," Deshpande Foundation CEO Naveen Jha said.
Sandbox Startups is aimed at providing a launch pad such aspiring entrepreneurs so that they can validate business ideas, sharpen business acumen, develop products and launch solutions to the market, he added.
"At Microsoft, we are extremely excited to help incubators roll out products and raise capital to fund their growth, eventually benefiting India's budding entrepreneurial ecosystem," Microsoft Ventures India Director Rajinish Menon said.

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Equifax India to acquire NettPositive

* IT firm Equifax today said it plans to acquire analytics company NettPositive by purchasing the remaining minority interest in the Bangalore-based firm.
Equifax has held a majority interest in the company since 2012 and with this transaction, NettPositive will become an operating entity of Equifax India, it said in a statement.
Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
NettPositive provides analytics and business intelligence solutions to the financial services, insurance, retail and telecommunications industries in India, the Middle East and Africa.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 19 countries.

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Pitney Bowes to incubate 8 start ups in India * Technology firm Pitney Bowes has named eight start-up companies in India who will join its Accelerator programme.
These start-ups offer a range of solutions like retail shopping, location-based advertising platform, GPS-based vehicle tracking system (VTS) and customer experience management platform.
Selected start-ups will have access to Pitney Bowes' software, application programming interfaces (APIs) and data for the duration of the programme, it said in a statement.
In addition to strategic connections, start-ups in the Pitney Bowes Accelerator program will also be networking with prospective investors.