As Microsoft for Startups works to find compelling startups pursuing interesting innovation, we continually engage with a variety of industry partners to help identify startups with the potential to become the next industry leader—or breakout unicorn. And while venture capital firms, accelerators, and corporations all provide an incredibly helpful frame of reference, we also recognize that some of the most compelling startups are being conceived even earlier than that—at universities.
That’s why Microsoft for Startups works with leading university startup programs around the world to identify entrepreneurs who also just happen to be students.
Not every student is chasing the startup dream. Others are inspired by the idea of a role on the other side of the table—in venture capital or other startup support organizations. At Microsoft for Startups, we recognize the benefits of fostering both of these paths for the startup ecosystem. That’s why we launched an experiment called the Scouts program, designed to engage college students interested in pursuing the venture capitalists (VCs) path.
Being a Microsoft for Startups Scout showed me how powerful a connected entrepreneurship community can be. Students are eager for resources, and companies like Microsoft are ready to support—but a lot gets lost in the network gap. I really enjoy helping bridge that. I’ve also loved meeting student founders who are tackling big challenges with creativity and conviction—it’s been energizing and inspiring.
—Sumedha Kethini, Stanford University
Scouting startups at schools
We launched our pilot Scouts initiative last year as part of an effort to engage startup-focused college students as on-campus startup Scouts. By partnering with leading university startup communities—Stanford University and Georgia Tech, we empowered well-connected students to recruit and onboard startup founders to Microsoft for Startups, whether they were actively engaged in the university startup programs or not.
Like VCs, these Scouts created their own deal flow, performed due diligence in collaboration with Microsoft, and were able to “invest” in startups by offering credits for Azure cloud services.
Becoming a Microsoft for Startups Scout has been a game-changer. Every day, I get to jump into conversations with builders, help launch real products, and grow Georgia Tech’s founder culture at full speed. Leading Startup Exchange and working as a Scout has made me the go-to person on campus for anything startup-related—and it’s been incredibly rewarding. Since stepping into this role, Georgia Tech (GT) has sent more startups than ever to [premier startup accelerators], doubled the number of female founders, and launched events like our first-ever ‘Ship-a-thon’ with Microsoft. I’m grateful to have a front-row seat—and a real hand—in building the next wave of innovators.
—Harish Viswanathan, Georgia Tech
By recruiting student Scouts, Microsoft aimed to create a win-win situation: students receive networking and career opportunities, while Microsoft gains early access to high-potential campus startups. The key objectives of the pilot were:
- Early startup discovery: Find promising student founders early in their journey through Scouts, who are deeply involved in campus innovation communities. This helps Microsoft identify early talent and potential and provide resourcing and guidance to grow the startup ecosystem.
- Authentic campus presence: Develop and cultivate relationships with student evangelists on campus, who would raise awareness of Microsoft’s startup resources (like Azure credits, mentorship, and imagine cup) in student clubs, hackathons, and incubators.
- Community building: Connect and empower Scouts across campuses to foster a sense of community, united in the mission of spotlighting and bringing success to early startup founders. This community would also shed light on startup trends, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by student startups.
Sourcing Scouts: Georgia Tech and Stanford University
To explore the potential of the program, Microsoft for Startups engaged students at Georgia Tech and Stanford.
There has been a recent uptick in Georgia Tech students interested in startups in general. [Anecdotally, we’re hearing that], GT had the second highest number of founders—second only to Stanford.
—Matthew Steele, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech was chosen for its vibrant startup activity, its strategic location in Atlanta’s tech scene, and the strong alignment of its people and programs with Microsoft’s goals. The Scouts pilot demonstrated that this choice was well-founded. Georgia Tech brought unique energy and reach to the program, helping make Microsoft’s vision of empowered student entrepreneurs a reality on campus.
Georgia Tech hosts several standout events that fuel student innovation. Startup Exchange organizes the semesterly Summit pitch competition, where the top five teams from the SX Fellowship pitch their ventures alongside demos from teams in our Genesis and Ship It programs. The campus is also home to major annual hackathons like HackGT, ImmerseGT, and AI ATL, which attract hundreds of participants and foster collaboration across tech, AI, and VR/AR (virtual reality and augmented reality).
—David M. Serrao, Georgia Tech
Stanford University was chosen for the pilot because it represented the ideal convergence of opportunity and strategy for Microsoft’s university outreach initiative. In Stanford, Microsoft found a campus with unparalleled entrepreneurial energy, an existing support network of student leaders, and a high density of future startup stars. This made Stanford a clear choice for partnership.
Being a Microsoft for Startups Scout has been transformative in learning how to best connect with and support a wide range of Stanford founders from freshmen starting their first entrepreneurial project to experienced Graduate School of Business innovators.
I feel more confident now as a leader within the Stanford student founder community because of these experiences.
—Reilly Armstrong McKnight, Stanford
Yet another opportunity for students to learn
By enlisting student Scouts, Microsoft successfully increased its visibility and adoption within university startup ecosystems. The program’s structure—rooted in peer networks, regular mentorship, and concrete goals—proved effective in connecting early-stage founders with Microsoft resources.
Being a Microsoft for Startups Scout has played a crucial role in helping me become a better student innovator. The Microsoft for Startups Scouts program has provided me a platform to collaborate with top student builders and learn more about the amazing products they’re building. It has also provided me with excellent guidance and mentorship opportunities from the Microsoft team. Through this experience, I’ve learned to evaluate startups holistically—assessing both their technical foundations and product vision.
—Michael Sun, Stanford
The Microsoft for Startups Scouts program is more than just an initiative—it’s a movement to empower the next generation of startup champions. By bridging the gap between student innovators and global resources, Scouts are helping shape a more inclusive, dynamic, and forward-thinking startup ecosystem. As we look ahead, we’re excited to expand this model to more campuses, deepen our partnerships, and continue unlocking the potential of student-led innovation.
