The First Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure Demo Day -- Powered by Tech Stars

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Yesterday we wrapped up the Accelerator experience with TechStars in Seattle with our Demo Day. The packed event included more than 400 registered attendees, including 110 investors to watch 10 startups pitch their ventures. The demo day is one of two we are having this month. The next one will be in Silicon Valley on January 31. And once that is over, we will wrap up the ongoing application process for the second Microsoft Accelerator for Windows Azure powered by Tech Stars, which closes February 1. 

Janet Tu with the Seattle Times posted a story with an interview with Jilliene Helman, co-founder and CEO of Realty Mogul. In speaking about the program, Helman noted "it's not fly-by mentorship…It's roll-your-sleeves-up mentorship." Her story lists the startups that presented and included a link to apply for the next accelerator.

GeekWire’s John Cook wrote a recap of the event, including overviews of each startup and a quote from Socedo founder Aseem Badshah. Cook notes that “Microsoft’s Executive Conference Center was a target-rich environment for entrepreneurs. Venture capitalists such as Madrona’s Matt McIlwain and Voyager’s Bill McAleer and angel investors such as Geoff Entress and Charlie Kindel listened to the presentations, the first group of companies to emerge from the Windows Azure accelerator program.”

Also onsite was Rick Turoczy, Portland-based startup blogger for Silicon Florist and the general manager of Portland Incubator Experiment (PIE) posted an in depth recap of each company's presentations and even includes some thoughts on which ones would be ripe funding targets. He also closed the story with a positive endorsement of the program: “ The nice thing about the Azure program is the breadth of companies that can apply. If you’re building something in the cloud, you’re eligible. But you have to hurry. Applications close February 1.”

You can check out some of the videos we have been posting from the founders at our Facebook Page. Along with the videos you will find some great resources for building your startup in the form of advice and conversations with over 37, 000 entrepreneurs and developers. If you have any questions, you can also ping us on Twitter @bizspark.