In ADN's startup program in collaboration with Microsoft, founders are successful in the IT business and cloud industry from the very beginning.

ADN DISTRIBUTION GROUP is a leading provider of Digital Solutions for IT resellers. It identifies current IT trends in the areas of Cloud and Managed Services, Next-Generation Security, Data Center Infrastructure and Modern Workplace, and combines the strengths of innovative technologies to create attractive future solutions for IT resellers and manufacturers. As a Microsoft Gold Distributor and Value Added Distributor with many years of experience and the excellent know-how of its cloud specialists, ADN supports IT startups in developing a holistic cloud concept - from the first technical implementation in the cloud to the marketing of the software on the market. Today we are talking to Thilo Schumacher about the ADN Startup Campaign.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: How and why did you come up with the idea for a startup campaign?

Thilo Schumacher: Especially in the cloud business, growth picked up significantly last year. Now many founders want to benefit from this wave of success. However, this only works if the business is set up from the start on crisis-resilient, future-oriented and competitive foundations. And this is exactly where ADN comes in: We want to provide targeted start-up assistance to founders in the IT sector so that they can expand their business idea on a solid footing. As an experienced partner, ADN supports startups holistically on their cloud journey. This begins with a sound strategy and ranges from the first technical implementations in the cloud to the efficient marketing of the software.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Who exactly is the startup program aimed at?

Thilo Schumacher: Our program is aimed exclusively at founders in the IT industry. It is particularly exciting for startups that are facing the decision of how to host the software they have developed with a lot of time and effort. Is it even possible to map this in a local data center? Wouldn't it be better to choose the safe and scalable path into a hosted cloud straight away? This is exactly where the new ADN Startup Campaign makes the decision easy: Our program, which we have launched in collaboration with Microsoft, paves the way to a successful cloud business with Azure.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: ADN and Microsoft – how did this cooperation come about?

Thilo Schumacher: The core of our campaign is to demonstrate how B2B tech startups can scale with Microsoft Azure. Primarily, we aim to explain the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure, clearly outline the opportunities for a successful cloud business, and make transparent why Microsoft Azure is so well-suited for startups. One of the most important topics when founding a startup—namely scalability and financing—we provide crucial advice, for example, how to optimize scaling according to demand as well as the associated costs and finances. Our startup program essentially takes on the role of mediator and amplifier, because it is only through our extensive experience and the connection of the often opaque paths in the cloud business for newcomers that we guide startups to success by scaling their ideas in the market through the Microsoft Azure environment.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: How exactly can the financial benefits be imagined? What does the partnership with Microsoft promise young IT entrepreneurs?

Thilo Schumacher: Through the partnership, we can, for example, offer free Azure volumes. This is an advantage not to be underestimated, as startups want and need to test their prototypes or provide a demo environment for their customers. To make this possible, we help with up to €1,000 in Azure Credits for Free, which founders can receive through us. We also provide reseller discounts. Startups that want to host their application on Azure receive a discount on Azure resources through us—for both reselling and personal use.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: And what other advantages does the ADN team have in store?

Thilo Schumacher: Here, I would like to point directly to our comprehensive Solution Assessment for cloud-native development, which sets the essential course for our startups. Because founders who are already using or want to start with the Azure Cloud are in the best hands when discussing cloud strategy and conducting a quality check of the application at ADN. I would particularly like to emphasize the individual support, which proves to be very valuable in individual cases. Our founders receive extensive support in the business-critical areas of marketing, sales, and social media. This includes, for example, accessing additional marketing budgets or advice on co-funding through Microsoft.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: What do the first steps within the program look like?

Thilo Schumacher: Our startup campaign includes six standard packages or alternatively tailored offers that pick up founders exactly where they are. The intensive 1:1 consulting, flexibility and speed, the unique mix of expertise, and funding as well as various incentives make the offer unique.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: How can startups interested in the IT sector approach you and get in touch?

Thilo Schumacher: Interested parties can contact us at any time through all channels, whether by phone, email or directly at (virtual or hybrid) trade fairs and conferences. The easiest way is probably to arrange an initial, non-binding discussion via our website www.adn.de/de/cloud-fuer-startups. This is where we can discuss how we can best support you and develop a strategy together with the startup for moving to the Azure Cloud. The motto here is: Everything is possible, nothing is mandatory! We will discuss with the founders in a straightforward and personal manner which steps might be suitable for moving to the cloud and offer an individual all-inclusive package for this.

DIGITAL FUTUREmag: Thank you very much for this information about ADN’s new startup program. If we had an IT idea, we’d definitely get started with you!