Credit: Dreamstime
Ingram Micro has opened applications to recruit early-stage independent software vendors (ISVs) across the world with Singapore selected as a host nation.
Revealed on the sidelines of Microsoft Inspire in Las Vegas, the Comet Competition aims to find business-to-business software innovators whose products have “clear applications and potential implementations in the channel”.
Through simultaneous global competitions spanning five continents - also including Australia and India regionally - the competition will award $5 million in funding to 60 ISVs.
Specifically, the top finalist in each region will receive $100,000 in-kind go-to-market funding while the three runners-ups in each region will be awarded $50,000. The overall competition winner will receive $1,000,000 cash at Cloud Summit 2020.
“Successful B2B start-ups are increasingly looking to an indirect distribution channel to help diversify and accelerate their revenue, and gain fast access to new markets around the world,” said Michael Kenney, head of strategy and business development for Ingram Micro Cloud.
“Participating in the Comet Competition presents a huge opportunity for these innovative companies. Our goal at Ingram Micro Cloud is to help identify and bring to market the best technology in the industry.
“It’s especially exciting to advise global startups at the beginning of their journeys and watch them achieve significant business milestones faster and more broadly than they ever anticipated.”
Launched in tandem with Ingram Micro ONE APAC 2019 in Singapore - the distributor’s annual regional channel conference - the initiative is also endorsed by Microsoft as part of a collaboration between Microsoft for Startups group and Ingram Micro Cloud.
To be eligible, start-ups cannot be generating more than $10 million in revenue over the last year and should be positioned to make an impact on their respective industries.
Applications for the Comet Competition will be accepted through to 30 September.
