Microsoft Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact News

Introduction by Anthony Virapin , Worldwide Leader, Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact

Welcome to the latest edition of the Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact newsletter.

As we head into the final months of 2025, I’ve been reflecting on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next. We’re entering a new phase of focus for Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact, one that continues to put people and purpose at the center of everything we do.

This year, we’ve seen extraordinary momentum across our community, and it’s clearer than ever that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools we have, to drive inclusive, scalable impact. That’s why we’re honing in on three key industries where we believe this impact can be most transformative.

We’re deepening our focus on Education where we’re seeing founders reimagine what learning can look like — from AI-powered tutoring to platforms that bridge the digital divide. One inspiring example is our accelerator alumni EduTech Global , whose platform helps schools and governments deliver high-quality digital education at scale through curriculum-aligned content, teacher training, and data-driven insights. Their work is helping millions of students access opportunity through technology.

We’re also proud to spotlight the innovative solutions developed by inspiring entrepreneurs to empower the work done by the Nonprofits sector. These organizations are often the unsung heroes of local impact, and we’re committed to helping them scale their reach through technology, capacity-building, and community partnerships. Our accelerator cohort alumni, Springly is a great example, offering an all-in-one platform that simplifies everything from fundraising and CRM to event planning. By simplifying the administrative burden, Springly empowers nonprofits to focus more on their mission and less on manual tasks. It’s a great example of how tech can amplify impact at scale.

And finally, Sustainability, a space that sits at the heart of everything we do. As part of our broader mission to elevate people and purpose, we’re motivated to support founders who are building solutions that help communities thrive in the face of environmental and societal pressures. Whether it’s through AI-powered innovations that optimise resource use or platforms that enable more sustainable operations, we’re seeing entrepreneurs lead with resilience and creativity. Just like the entrepreneurs from one of our accelerator cohorts – Sacred Groves , a Community Interest Company enabling businesses to protect and conserve a million acres of natural habitats with the support of a global community of Guardians (environmentally sensitive individuals and companies). By helping these Guardians seamlessly participate in the process of conservation, Sacred Groves is redefining how conservation can be embedded into commerce and everyday action.

This spirit of innovation and impact was front and center at the Impact Fest this week, where we released our State of Impact Report 2025, developed in partnership with Dealroom.co and ImpactCity , offering a powerful snapshot of how far our community has come.

Impact companies have grown 28x in value over the past decade, proving that purpose-driven ventures can scale globally. Yet, this year reminds us that progress isn’t linear: VC investment is down for the fifth year in a row (24% drop from last year), and priorities are shifting toward resilience and security. The report spotlights areas where innovation is urgently needed, from food security and water tech to sustainable materials and AI-powered solutions. For entrepreneurs, this can be both a challenge and an opportunity, as these are spaces where founders can lead, not just to build businesses, but to shape a future that is resilient and inclusive.

The momentum and ingenuity across our ecosystem is a reminder that purpose-driven entrepreneurship remains a force for positive change. Explore the full report and join us as we chart the next chapter together.

This year’s State of Impact report also shines a spotlight on the growing alliance between our program and non-profit ISVs like threshold.world . As a leader in the “AI for good” movement, Threshold exemplifies how mission-driven organizations are harnessing ethical, transparent AI to address society’s most pressing challenges. Under the guidance of Dan Lammot and his team, Threshold is helping to set new standards for responsible technology, demonstrating that when people and purpose are kept at the center, innovation can truly serve the community.

And if you're curious about the allies helping us make this happen, scroll down to this month’s Ally Spotlight which features Dealroom.co, our trusted partner in bringing data transparency and insight to the impact startup ecosystem.

 All the best,

Anthony and the Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact Team

Ally Spotlight: Dealroom.co

This month, we’re shining a light on Dealroom.co , one of our key allies in the Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact initiative. We’ve teamed up to empower purpose-driven entrepreneurs by combining global reach with deep ecosystem insights, using technology and data to support ventures driving social and environmental change by bringing greater visibility to the innovators building a more sustainable and inclusive world.

How do you leverage the Microsoft ecosystem to scale your reach and impact?

“Through our collaboration with Microsoft’s Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact initiative, we are able to bring data-driven insights to a global network of purpose-driven entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers. By aligning with Microsoft’s community, tools, and communication channels, we can reach a much broader audience of startups and organizations working toward social and environmental change. This partnership helps translate data into action, empowering local ecosystems to scale impact globally. The Microsoft team has been fantastic to collaborate with, always open, responsive, and committed to creating real value for partners and entrepreneurs alike.”

How has partnering with Microsoft amplified your ability to drive impact?

“Partnering with Microsoft has allowed us to elevate visibility for entrepreneurs who are driving innovation for good. Together, we have produced the State of Impact report, mapping thousands of impact-driven startups and connecting them with investors, accelerators, and corporate partners. The partnership combines Microsoft’s global reach with Dealroom’s ecosystem intelligence, helping the impact community gain the recognition, investment, and support it deserves. Working with such a mission-driven and collaborative team has made the process both productive and genuinely inspiring.”

What advice would you give to other organizations looking to create successful alliances with Microsoft?

“Approach the relationship as a true partnership built on shared purpose. The most successful collaborations happen when you align your strengths with Microsoft’s mission and ecosystem and remain proactive in communication and co-creation. Bring ideas to the table, explore how your work complements their initiatives, and invest in joint storytelling that showcases mutual impact. The Microsoft for Impact team is wonderful to work with and genuinely committed to helping partners grow and make a difference.”

Lessons from Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and for entrepreneurs, it’s a timely reminder that security isn’t just a technical checkbox but a core business enabler. As AI becomes more embedded in our products and operations, the stakes are rising. The question isn’t just “Are we protected?” but “Are we resilient?”

That’s why we’ve introduced a smarter way to measure AI’s impact on cybersecurity. Traditional metrics like detection rates and false positives don’t tell the full story. Our new approach focuses on real-world outcomes and how well AI helps organizations reduce risk by responding faster and staying ahead of evolving threats. AI isn’t just spotting threats anymore but learning, adapting, and helping us build systems that anticipate and withstand attacks. Here are three you need to keep in mind:

 1. Security is now a product differentiator

Customers are increasingly choosing vendors not just for features, but for trust. If your product handles sensitive data, powers critical workflows, or integrates with other systems, security becomes a selling point. Make it visible. Make it measurable and make it a part of your brand.

 2. AI can’t secure what it doesn’t understand

AI can’t protect what it can’t interpret. If your systems are fragmented, undocumented, or opaque, you’re creating blind spots. Build with clarity and consistency so AI can do what it does best, which is to detect threats, adapt to patterns, and strengthen your defenses.

 3. Resilience beats perfection

You won’t catch every vulnerability. But you can build systems that recover fast and improve continuously. That’s where AI shines, especially when paired with human ingenuity.

For instance, our standout entrepreneur from our Booster Cohort, Bug Bounty Switzerland is redefining cybersecurity with a blend of ethical hacking and AI. Their Cyber Resilience Shield uses Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to sift through thousands of potential vulnerabilities and pinpoint the ones that matter most—turning a needle-in-a-haystack problem into a scalable, intelligent process.

Bug Bounty’s story is a powerful reminder that AI isn’t just making cybersecurity smarter but also making it more inclusive and scalable. For startups with limited security resources, this is a game-changer.

Explore how Microsoft is raising the bar with a smarter, outcome-driven approach to measuring AI’s impact on security and what it means for entrepreneurs building in today’s threat landscape here.

What’s happening in November?

What? 💡 Building and Governing AI Agents with MCP and Azure Integration Services. Want to make your AI tools easier to manage and scale across your organization? This session walks you through how to register, secure, and govern AI tools using Azure services and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). You’ll learn how to expose tools like Logic Apps connectors and LangChain agents in a way that’s secure, reusable, and easy to control without needing to change your backend systems.

When? 📅 November 4th | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (UTC+01.00)

Where? 📍 Register here

What? 💡 Agents of Change: How AI Agents Enhance Security. AI agents are reshaping cybersecurity, and this session explores how. You’ll see real-world examples from Microsoft’s Security Copilot, showing how automation powered by agents can help tackle security challenges more effectively. The discussion also dives into risks like hallucinations, ethical concerns, and the evolving regulations around AI in security—giving you a clear view of both the opportunities and the responsibilities ahead.

When? 📅 November 5th | 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM (UTC+01.00)

Where? 📍 Register here

What? 💡 From draft to delivery—elevate your work with Microsoft 365 Copilot. This livestream will help you how to use Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Outlook to speed up your work, from first draft to final delivery. You’ll learn prompt techniques, explore Copilot Chat, and understand how to use work-based vs. web-based data to get better results.

When? 📅 November 13th | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (UTC+01.00)

Where? 📍 Register here

What? 💡 Reimagine Your Daily Work with Agents: Start Building Your First Agent. Reimagine how you get work done with no-code agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and SharePoint. This session introduces business users to building and using agents that simplify everyday tasks and boost productivity. You’ll explore ready-made Copilot agents, learn how to create your own, and see how these tools can streamline workflows—no coding required.

When? 📅 November 18th | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM (UTC+01.00)

Where? 📍 Register here

Join our community!

The Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact (EfPI) community is open to entrepreneurs from all industries, who are working in the social impact sector. Whether your venture operates in technology for nonprofits, education, or sustainability, if you're driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, we encourage you to join our LinkedIn community today!