Microsoft Offering $20K, Office Space to Kinect Developers

By Kevin Parrish
published

Developers can now submit their application to Microsoft's three-month Kinect Accelerator program. Only 10 will be selected to receive the $20K investment, office space and mpre.

Has Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing device for the Xbox 360 and PC caught your eye? Has that glimmer been diffused by a lack of funding, preventing your inner developer from creating something innovative and fun? You're in luck, as Microsoft is now accepting applications for its Kinect Accelerator (opens in new tab) program that offers a $20,000 investment and other perks.

"If you are a developer or existing team/startup focused on building a business that takes advantage of the Kinect and Natural User Interface technologies, then the Kinect Accelerator is where you need to be," the company reports. "Through this program, Microsoft is supporting entrepreneurs, engineers and innovators like you to bring to life a wide range of business ideas that leverage the limitless possibilities Kinect enables."

Microsoft isn’t just letting anyone off the street sign up and claim their $20K prize. Following a competitive screening process, Microsoft will choose ten finalists. The "incubation" program itself will only last three months, running from March to May 2012 in Seattle, Washington. Finalists will receive the $20K investment, an Xbox SDK, a PC SDK, office space, all the resources of BizSpark, and technical training and support.

Microsoft also said that finalists will receive mentorship from entrepreneurs, investors and Microsoft executives intensely focused on making their business a success. "At the end of the program, each company will have an opportunity to present at an Investor Demo Day to angel investors, venture capitalists, Microsoft executives, media and industry influentials," the company said.

So what qualifies for the Kinect Accelerator program? Microsoft provides a list right here (opens in new tab), but applicants aren't expected to have prior experience in developing for Kinect. "The business concept does need to leverage Kinect capabilities as part of the final offering," Microsoft said. "Your team must also be willing to develop the technical skills required to bring your solution to a functioning prototype."

To apply for Microsoft's Kinect Accelerator program, head here (opens in new tab).

Kevin Parrish
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Parsian
    I hope Microsoft has moved fast enough in integrating its Kinect into Win 8. Nothing helps popularizing a technology better than having a tons of content to support it and nourish it.

    I like to see Kinect in phone, tablet, desktop and HTPC. However, they have to make it work with the phones/tablets/laptops built in front camera(s).?!??
    Reply
  • whysobluepandabear
    "office space and mpre." -- O Rly?
    Reply
  • Kinect is already dying big time. It was a gimmick with a limited lifespan. I already see a discounting going on in software. No developer is going to want to get involved in that.
    Reply
  • sixdegree
    The best thing ever came out from this program would probably be an Angry Birds Kinect game. For $49.99. Kinect accessories sold separately.
    Reply
  • I want a mpre too.
    Reply
  • jibbs
    wtf are you supposed to do with $20,000?
    Reply
  • Parsian is right,. one reason why Apple got so successful on their products (iTunes/iPad/iPhone).

    Microsoft is doing the same, don't just look at what Kinect offers right now but also what it could bring in the future, one thing MS so far realized. For one, it prevents gamers from sitting all day like mindless zombies; provides almost full body exercise and provides way that the whole family could engage.

    For professionals (or anything that requires accurate 2D/3D navigation and control),. mouse and keyboard will do- but it also means that you're probably stuck up in your desk all the time.

    Integration is key,. just like modern phones do..

    Reply
  • spentshells
    I love connect for it's use in multimedia and navigation
    Reply
  • alidan
    jescott418Kinect is already dying big time. It was a gimmick with a limited lifespan. I already see a discounting going on in software. No developer is going to want to get involved in that.
    in gameing, i hope it dies, as tech, i hope it lives.


    FriskiestParsian is right,. one reason why Apple got so successful on their products (iTunes/iPad/iPhone).Microsoft is doing the same, don't just look at what Kinect offers right now but also what it could bring in the future, one thing MS so far realized. For one, it prevents gamers from sitting all day like mindless zombies; provides almost full body exercise and provides way that the whole family could engage.For professionals (or anything that requires accurate 2D/3D navigation and control),. mouse and keyboard will do- but it also means that you're probably stuck up in your desk all the time.Integration is key,. just like modern phones do..
    well with 3d, get 4 higher resolutions on kinect, and have it scan the object, its now 3d and its moddled, and its textured, now go in and clean it up and add details.
    Reply
  • capt_taco
    That desperate, eh?

    Well, that's what happens when you have a flash-in-the-pan gimmick. They should've seen this coming when everyone got tired of their Wii after 6 months. There's a good reason for this: It doesn't take very long before the novelty of motion-based controls is outweighed by the fact that it's not very much fun to stand around in your living room for 3 hours flapping your arms like an idiot.
    Reply