Microsoft and Accenture have teamed up to help deepen the reach of entrepreneurs and startups that are focused on social impact and sustainability. The collaboration is part of the companies’ shared vision to amplify the societal impact of emerging technology and benefit a million people by democratizing access.
As part of the initiative, Microsoft Research India and Accenture Labs will help social enterprise startups test and validate proofs-of-concept, conduct design thinking sessions to help them re-envision the impact of their solutions, and provide support in exploring and using Microsoft technologies. The partnership will help these startups build scalable solutions and business models with more tangible and lasting benefits.
“Our experience shows that by applying emerging technologies to critical challenges facing society, we can accelerate social transformation. This collaboration is a great illustration of delivering on ‘value’ and ‘values’ – creating tangible business and social value while aligning with people’s values. By providing social impact entrepreneurs with direct access to the combined power of Accenture and Microsoft’s technology expertise, we can help significantly improve access, equality, education, inclusion, health, sustainability, and the environment.”
– Paul Daugherty, Group Chief Executive, Accenture Technology & Chief Technology Officer, Accenture
The program will initially engage with startups in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, leveraging the MSR India Center for Societal impact through Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI). Initially, the program will focus on the areas of agriculture, education, and healthcare.
Microsoft’s involvement in this initiative is part of Microsoft’s Global Social Entrepreneurship program. The Global Social Entrepreneurship program is designed to empower an ecosystem of tech-enabled startups, focused on addressing important social or environmental challenges. The involvement of Accenture Labs is part of its ongoing Tech4Good program, which is focused on applying emerging technologies to help solve complex social challenges.
