Microsoft and Austrade have announced a partnership to help local partners that offer software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions to accelerate their international growth. 

The Microsoft-Austrade Go Global program is set to commence in September 2022, focusing on an exclusive cohort of Australian software businesses from Microsoft Australia’s SaaS partner network to help them to find success in the US market.  

Under the Microsoft-Austrade Go Global program, participants will be provided pre-departure services such as business mentoring, trade and export workshops, and technology-intensive workshops to remove technical roadblocks for projects in the US market. 

Participants will also be given in-market support, which will be delivered through Austrade’s Landing Pads. They will have access to a coworking space and office facilities for 90 days, as well as one-on-one assistance from a dedicated Landing Pad manager and entrepreneurs in residence. They can also join boot camps on sales and marketing and fundraising in the US. 

Microsoft Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Partner Officer Vanessa Sorenson said the program comes at a time when Microsoft’s 9,000 Australian partners are looking for new ways to expand their operations and attract more customers. 

“We’re thrilled to invest in and support our SaaS partners with high growth potential alongside Austrade,” she said.  

“The Microsoft Austrade Go Global program will help them bring products and services to the world, build their business and scale geographically in a fiercely competitive marketplace.” 

Austrade Chief Executive Officer Xavier Simonet expressed excitement in the partnership with Microsoft.

“We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft to connect some of the most promising Australian SaaS scaleups into the US market and ensure they are fully equipped to succeed on the global stage,” he said.

“Landing Pads provide market-ready Australian technology businesses with access to some of the world’s most renowned innovation hubs including San Francisco, New York, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, London and Singapore.”

Following the completion of the program in September, Microsoft and Austrade intend to expand the program to other international markets by leveraging Austrade’s established international Landing Pad network.

Source: Austrade Media Release. Content has been edited for style and length.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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