Startups will compete for more than $1.5
million in cash and go-to-market funding as part of the “Comet
Competition;” Winners to be featured at Ingram Micro Cloud Summit
2019
Ingram Micro Inc. today announced the “Comet Competition,” an
open-call, software developers’ contest funded by Ingram Micro
Cloud and deployed by startup accelerator MassChallenge that is set
to uncover, fund and ultimately bring to market the next wave of
business-to-business software innovators. The Comet Competition
will award 12 independent software vendors (ISVs) through
competitions in Boston, Austin, and Tel Aviv, Israel, with critical
cash and go-to-market funds totaling more than $1.5 million, and
will also leverage Ingram Micro Cloud’s industry leading position
to help accelerate the adoption of these technologies within the IT
and service provider channels.
The Comet Competition is the only startup challenge dedicated to
helping B2B ISVs find commercial success for their technology and
purpose-build for the IT channel.
“Our goal is to always be at the leading-edge of technology, and
ISVs are the foundation of the digital economy,” says Nimesh Davé,
executive vice president, Ingram Micro Cloud. “By partnering with
MassChallenge, the most startup-friendly accelerator in the
industry, we are able to offer ISVs worldwide the opportunity to
compete to take their business mainstream as part of our ISV
initiative and our industry-leading Ingram Micro Cloud
Marketplace.”
MassChallenge is a not-for-profit global accelerator that
focuses on supporting high-impact, early-stage startups at zero
cost and for zero equity. Their program has more than 1,500 alumni
startups including Ginkgo Bioworks, Flywire, Localytics, and Toro.
By teaming with Ingram Micro, MassChallenge is extending its
efforts into the high tech industry and attracting the talent and
technology of today’s emerging B2B startups.
“We are thrilled to partner with Ingram Micro to identify and
reward the most-promising B2B startups around the world,” said John
Harthorne, Founder and CEO, MassChallenge. “Leveraging
our proven community-driven approach, the Comet Competition
offers an incredible opportunity for startups to scale their
growth with a forward-thinking partner in Ingram Micro.”
To participate in Ingram Micro’s Comet Competition, ISV
applicants will be evaluated on a number of criteria, including
future vision, potential in the channel, and ecosystem readiness.
Winners will be selected by a group of distinguished engineers,
executives and industry influencers, and all entrants receive
expert feedback. Applications are now open at
apply.masschallenge.org/comet.
“Scaling is one of the biggest challenges facing ISVs today,”
says Mathias Bjorkholm, CEO, Pickit, a new and innovative solution
for easier access to stock photography. “This new contest from
Ingram Micro Cloud and MassChallenge is the opportunity of a
lifetime for ISVs. With the investments Ingram Micro has made in
their easy onboarding technology and programs like this, we now
have the opportunity to plug into a built-in ecosystem and scale
immediately. We’re all in.”
MassChallenge is set to join Ingram Micro on stage at the
upcoming 2019 Ingram Micro Cloud Summit, taking place in San Diego,
Calif., March 11-13, to feature the regional finalists and to
select one global winner. More information including early
registration is available here:
https://www.ingrammicrocloudsummit.com/.
Ingram Micro has proven to be the fastest route to market for
ISVs looking to build and scale their SaaS or IaaS-based
businesses. Once onboarded to the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace,
ISVs are able to quickly scale, promote, sell and deploy their
solutions to channel partners and the customers they serve in more
than 50 global markets, including China. More information about
Ingram Micro’s ISV programs is available here.
For more information, or to apply to the challenge by the
December 4, 2018 deadline, visit:
apply.masschallenge.org/comet.
For questions, contact: Comet@ingrammicro.com.
About Ingram Micro Cloud
At Ingram Micro Cloud™, we view cloud not just as a single
technology, but as a foundational platform to run and drive a whole
new way of doing business. By leveraging our platforms and
ecosystem, cloud service providers, telecom companies, resellers
and enterprises can quickly transform and get up and running in the
cloud within minutes, with little to no investment. Our portfolio
includes vetted security, communication and collaboration, business
applications, cloud management services and infrastructure
solutions designed to help clients monetize and manage the entire
lifecycle of cloud and digital services, infrastructure and IoT
subscriptions. For more information, please visit:
www.IngramMicroCloud.com.
About Ingram Micro Inc.
Ingram Micro helps businesses Realize the Promise of
Technology™. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and
supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep
expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply
chain solutions enables its business partners to operate
efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled
agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that
come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart
and ahead. More at www.ingrammicro.com.
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup
accelerators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in
Boston, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, Texas, and the
UK, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global
innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential startups across
all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than
1,500 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $3 billion in
funding, generated over $2 billion in revenue, and created over
80,000 total jobs. Learn more about MassChallenge at
www.masschallenge.org.
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Global Media Contacts:WhiteFox Marketing Inc.(for
CloudBlue and Ingram Micro)Marie
Rourke714-292-2199marie@whitefoxpr.comorMassChallengeCaroline
Pepek888-782-7820caroline@masschallenge.org