The AI Digest: Startup Edition - Croux’s AI staffing solution, Atomicwork’s ITSM innovation, Satori’s journey, Female Founder Office Hours and more

Welcome to our monthly digest of the latest AI resources from Microsoft for Startups—covering industry trends, founder stories, best practices, and Microsoft AI product developments.

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub offers free access to the AI tools startups need to accelerate innovation. If you’re a startup founder, join us at Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to discover how we can help you dream bigger and build faster. Apply today.?

This month, we’re showcasing how startups are leveraging AI to drive transformation across industries. From Croux ’s AI-driven staffing solutions in hospitality to Atomicwork ’s seamless integration with Microsoft Teams, AI is powering innovation across the board. Discover how the Expert Network helped Satori overcome key business challenges and why more startups are turning to Azure for their GenAI needs. Sharpen your skills with Learn Live: GitHub Universe, join the Microsoft Learn AI Skills Challenge, check out our brand-new lessons to our "Generative AI for Beginners" course, and explore the Microsoft Learn AI for Startups Hub for growth resources. Plus, there’s still time to apply for Female Founder Office Hours and the Oxbridge AI Challenge, while our collaboration with Entrepreneur First’s autumn AI cohort continues to fuel the next wave of innovation with up to $350,000 in Azure Credits. Don’t miss our upcoming events at SF Tech Week and the Microsoft AI Tour!

TL;DR:

AI buzz:

• Learn how Croux is leveraging AI to transform and empower the gig economy?

• Efficiency meets innovation with Atomicwork’s AI-powered ITSM solution?

• Discover how Satori accelerated their growth with the help of the Expert Network?

• Six reasons why startups and at-scale cloud native companies build their GenAI Apps with Azure?

Learn:

• Level Up: New GitHub Models and Gen AI Lessons Available
• Discover the Microsoft Learn AI for Startups Hub?

• Join the Microsoft Learn Skills Challenge?

• Get certified with Learn Live GitHub Universe series (English)?

• Certifícate con Learn Live GitHub Universe en Espa?ol (Spanish)

Events:

• Scaling GenAI with Microsoft for Startups during SF #TechWeek?

• Pinecone & Microsoft for Startups Sessions: Networking Mixer, Fireside Chat and Workshop during SF #TechWeek?

• SFTW Local & Open-Source AI Developer Meetup?

• SG Happy Hour @TechCrunch Disrupt 2024?

• The Microsoft AI Tour is coming to a city near you?

Get inspired:??

• Applications are now open for Edition 12 of Female Founder Office Hours
• Only a few weeks left to apply for the Oxbridge AI Challenge
• We’re partnering with Entrepreneur First’s autumn AI cohort

AI Buzz

Hospitality professionals are joining forces to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges. ??

Croux , founded by industry experts, leverages AI and machine learning to solve staffing issues, ensuring workers can pick up shifts, receive timely payments, and access wellness benefits. Supported by TitletownTech , their solution is making waves across the Southeast and Midwest.?

? Watch the full video here to see their impact.?

Simplifying internal service management, Atomicwork uses AI automation to deliver results. ???

Atomicwork is setting new standards for internal service management.??

With AI automation and integration into Microsoft Teams, their ITSM platform streamlines employee services, making tasks like onboarding and password resets effortless.?

See how Founders Hub helped them develop this workplace solution here.?

Unlock expert guidance with Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub ???

Founders in the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub can access tailored expertise through the Expert Network, which connects them to a wide range of Microsoft professionals.??

For Satori , a cybersecurity startup, this support came in the form of critical advice from a Microsoft sales leader, which helped them overcome key challenges and unlock new growth paths.?

Learn more about their journey and how the Expert Network helped them thrive here.?

Azure: The platform of choice for GenAI startups ???

From Perplexity to Moveworks , startups are choosing Azure for its top-tier performance, flexible deployment models, and reduced GPT Text costs. With features like pay-as-you-go and provisioned throughput units, Azure is powering the next generation of GenAI solutions.?

See why more startups are building with Azure in our latest blog here.?

And tune in to the Azure AI Innovation podcast with Ross Kennedy and Ravi Sudhakar Kambhampati for more insights here.?

Learn

Level up with new lessons in “Generative AI for Beginners”! ??

We’ve added brand-new lessons to our "Generative AI for Beginners" course! Explore models like Llama 3.1 and GPT-4o to grow your skills and take your AI knowledge to the next level.

Start learning here.

Say hello to the Microsoft Learn AI for Startups Hub! ??

The Microsoft Learn AI for Startups hub provides a comprehensive set of resources to help you seamlessly integrate AI into your business. From Azure OpenAI Service to Microsoft Copilot, you'll have access to the tools needed to drive innovation and scale efficiently. Whether you're just starting out or already scaling, these resources are designed to fuel your startup's growth and support you at every stage.?

Check out the hub.?

Register now for the Microsoft Learn AI Skills Challenge and get ahead with the latest AI skills. ?????

Ready to showcase your AI expertise? Join the Microsoft Learn AI Skills Challenge and tackle one of six challenges before November 1st.? Complete the challenge to earn a Microsoft Applied Skills Credential and build the skills you need to excel.?

Register now.?

Get ready for Learn Live: GitHub Universe 2024 from October 8th to 22nd! ???

Join us for Learn Live: GitHub Universe 2024 and take your skills to the next level! Tackle three exciting projects to master GitHub Copilot, automate tasks with GitHub Actions, and build websites and APIs. Plus, receive a GitHub certification discount and access the GitHub Learning Path on Microsoft Learn. Sessions begin at 9 AM PST in English and Spanish. Let’s build something amazing!?

Get started today in English or Spanish.

Events

Join us in San Francisco in October for three exciting events during SF #TechWeek! ??

1.) Pinecone & Microsoft for Startups Sessions: Networking Mixer, Fireside Chat and Workshop | October 8th | 1 pm PDT?

Kick things off with a fireside chat featuring insights from Pinecone leadership and Heena Purohit , Director of AI Startups at Microsoft for Startups. Afterwards, dive into an interactive Azure deployment workshop led by Pinecone engineers, where you’ll get hands-on experience with their vector database.?

Request to join here?(approval required).?

2.) Scaling #GenAI with Microsoft for Startups| October 8th | 6 pm PDT?

If you’re an AI enthusiast, founder, or industry leader, this Startup Grind event is a must. Heena Purohit , Director of AI at Microsoft for Startups, will discuss how to harness AI for productivity, GenAI strategies, and business growth. With opening remarks from Tom Davis , Partner at Microsoft for Startups, the panel will dive into real-world AI transformations and offer valuable insights into the future of AI innovation.?

Tickets are sold out, but you can still join the waitlist here for a chance to attend!?

3.) SFTW Local & Open-Source AI Developer Meetup | October 9th | 5 pm PDT?

Join us at SHACK15 in San Francisco for the next SFTW Local & Open-Source AI Developer Meetup! Hosted by Cerebral Valley and Ollama , with sponsorship from Microsoft for Startups, Convex , and Tecton , the event will feature lightning demos, networking, and open-source AI discussions.?

Request to join here (approval required).?

SG Happy Hour TechCrunch Disrupt | October 29th | 8 pm PDT ???

Join us after TechCrunch 2024 Disrupt for a happy hour with fellow attendees, founders, and the Startup Grind community. It’s a great opportunity to network and connect with others in a relaxed setting.

Register here.?

Check out the Microsoft AI Tour – coming to a city near you! ???

The Microsoft AI Tour just launched, and we’re bringing AI expertise to over 60 cities across the globe. With keynote sessions, expert-led discussions, and hands-on workshops, this is a must-attend event for anyone looking to drive AI transformation. Check out the upcoming locations and see if Microsoft Events is coming to your area!?

Find your city here.

Get inspired

Applications for Edition 12 of Female Founder Office Hours are now open! ???

We’re thrilled to partner with Playfair for Edition 12 of Female Founder Office Hours, the largest one yet! On November 7th, 300 women founders will virtually connect with 4 investors each for one-on-one meetings to pitch their tech ideas, get advice, and explore funding opportunities. This event has already raised ￡194m in 2024, with 25% of founders successfully securing funding after attending - apply now.?

Submit your application here - applications close on October 15th.?

There’s still time to apply for the Oxbridge AI Challenge! ??

We’re proud to sponsor the Oxbridge AI Challenge , driving AI innovation and entrepreneurship across Oxford and Cambridge. Winners will receive $150,000 in Azure Cloud credits, mentorship, exclusive networking opportunities, and a spot in the Imagine Cup.

Don’t miss your chance—applications close on October 20th! This is your opportunity to showcase your AI solutions and be part of something big, with finals coming up in December.

Learn more here.

Apply now.?

Have you heard about our partnership with Entrepreneur First’s autumn AI cohort?

In case you missed it, we're collaborating with Entrepreneur First to support the next generation of AI innovators. We’re providing up to $350,000 in Azure Credits to the autumn AI cohort, giving them access to advanced AI infrastructure like GPT-4 and Llama 3.

Together, we’re helping these startups tackle critical issues like cybersecurity and global health crises.

Check out the full details of our partnership here.

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Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub offers free access to the AI tools startups need to accelerate innovation. If you’re a startup founder, join us at Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and discover how we can help you dream bigger and build faster. Apply today.?