This may be a first for startups anywhere in the world. Microsoft Ventures in India has launched a hotline for Indian entrepreneurs to get real-time professional advice on their business and technical queries.
A team of four professionals trained by Microsoft will staff the hotline called JumpStart, which will address queries related to accounting and taxation, legal, understanding term sheets and technology. Some queries will be handled by the four-member team, while others will be routed to experts who will offer necessary interventions within 48 hours.
The toll free number — 18002002114 — is open to entrepreneurs during business hours from Monday through Friday and will initially support Hindi and English languages. Microsoft Ventures expects 15-20 calls in the first few days and believes the number could rise to 500-1,000 a month.
Kattayil Rajinish Menon, director of Microsoft Ventures in India, said, "Sometimes answering even simple questions about how to get started or which service provider to contact can really help startups avoid delays and cost overruns. While JumpStart cannot promise the success of a startup's business, it can definitely help by educating entrepreneurs how to get started quickly by providing information on the vast resources available today." For complete post see here
