Last week, we was sponsored into the Microsoft BizSpark program by Rackspace UK.

Microsoft BizSpark is all about helping you get started through free software licenses:

BizSpark is uniquely designed to accelerate your success by providing fast, affordable access to current, full-featured Microsoft tools and technologies, plus production licensing for hosted solutions. For support, BizSpark unites a global community of technology and entrepreneurial experts who can guide you through the hurdles of growing a new business.

Basically, if you match the following criteria:

Is in the business of software development,

Is privately held,

Has been in business for less than 3 years, and

Has less than US $1 million in annual revenue.

You enroll through a Network Partner which acts as a sponsor, and you will receive a Visual Studio Team System Team Suite with MSDN Premium subscription:

Quote Scott Hanselman:

• All the software included in the Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System Team Suite (VSTS) with MSDN Premium subscription
• Expression Studio Version 2
• VSTS Team Foundation Server (standard edition)
• Production use rights to host a “software as a service” solution (developed during participation in the BizSpark Program, on any platform) over the Internet, with regard to the latest versions of Microsoft products including:
  • Microsoft Windows Server® (all editions up to and including Enterprise)
  • Microsoft SQL Server (all editions)
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server
  • Microsoft System Center
  • Microsoft BizTalk Server
  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM (coming soon)
• In addition to the core program offering, BizSpark startups will be eligible for other Microsoft offerings, such as:
• Microsoft Azure Services Platform - The Azure Services Platform is the collection of Foundational, Developer and Live Platform Service such as Windows Azure, Live Mesh, Compute Services, Storage Services, Workflow Services, Identity Services, Connectivity Services, SQL Data Services. All developers will have access to the Azure Services Platform developer tools which includes the local development fabric.

And the best part is, that it is all free! You only pay 100$ when you exit the program.