Clarizen Selected for Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vision, market traction and potential to bring on-demand project collaboration software to businesses worldwide earned Clarizen a spot in the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program. Stewarded by the Emerging Business Team (EBT), the Accelerator Program connects innovative, high-potential startups committed to the Microsoft platform, like Clarizen, to an extensive technical support network, as well as all the necessary marketing and channel support that an emerging company needs to succeed.

“Being accepted into the Startup Accelerator Program validates Clarizen’s vision for software-as-a-service, and using on-demand tools to provide a more powerful, collaborative way for businesses to manage their projects,” said Avinoam Nowogrodski, CEO and co-founder of Clarizen. “We have gained incredible momentum in 2007, with more than 3,500 companies registered and more than 100 paying customers only three months after launching our commercial service. The Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program provides us with increased access to Microsoft resources that will help us grow even further and achieve our goals for 2008.”

Clarizen’s solution gives small and midsize businesses a new online tool for planning, executing and collaborating on an unlimited number of projects over the Internet, requiring no software or hardware installations. In addition to functionality such as repeatable project templates and a friendly, intuitive user interface, Clarizen has a combination of features creating a new level of collaboration for businesses:

• Cross Organization Collaboration allows users to invite team members outside of their company, like third-party vendors and business partners, into the system to take part in project planning and execution.
• ProjectMail™ allows all team members to receive status reports, tasks and updates from the system directly to their Inbox and then update their progress via email without even logging in to the system.

This level of innovation for its project collaboration software led to Clarizen’s selection for the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program. Companies are selected to join the program based on their innovation, marketability, growth potential, funding, platform decision and strategic importance to Microsoft. Having met all of these criteria Clarizen will receive customized engagement plans designed to support its software development and increase market visibility.

“Clarizen provides a valuable solution,” said Don Dodge, Director, at the Emerging Business Team for Microsoft. “Microsoft is pleased to be working with Clarizen to offer businesses powerful, easy-to-use project collaboration software.”

The Microsoft EBT evaluates hundreds of technology startups each year to identify those with the strongest potential to succeed in the market, shape the industry’s future, and enhance the overall value of Microsoft products and services for customers. The Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program shines the spotlight on some of the most promising startups and provides good examples of how startups can work successfully with Microsoft. The program is now open to interested startups, which can apply via a profiling process outlined at the Microsoft Startup Zone at http://www.microsoftstartupzone.com.

About Clarizen

Clarizen is a leading global provider of on-demand, collaborative project management solutions that allow all businesses to easily manage all of their projects and resources in a single environment. Clarizen facilitates true team collaboration, ensuring project data is always up-to-date and aligned with business objectives. No complex software or hardware installations are required due to Clarizen’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) structure, resulting in immediate business impact as teams and projects get up and running instantly. Clarizen’s intuitive user interface and innovative email reporting capabilities ensure quick and smooth adoption by users, keeping everyone on track with up-to-date project data. For more information please visit www.clarizen.com.

Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Airfoil Public Relations – High Tech PR
Lucia Giacomantonio, 650-691-7308
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