Requirements? Extremely minimal: If you’re a privately held company building a software based product or service (even using open source code), in business for less than three years and have less than USD$1 million in annual revenue, you’re in. For complete eligibility requirements, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark.

Microsoft is committed to the success of your Startup — and because spending money is the last thing you need to be doing when you’re just starting up, there’s no upfront cost to enroll. Your participation in Microsoft BizSpark lasts as long as three years from the date of enrollment, unless you choose to exit the program early (or go public or are otherwise acquired). Renewal in the program is annual. Microsoft will assess a USD$100 program offering fee when your Startup exits the program.