Apply for this incubator program with the Microsoft Reactor by Dec. 21

The next play from Microsoft Reactor Philadelphia is an incubator program: Startups and growth-stage companies in fields like B2B/B2C (that’s business-to-business and business-to-consumer) software, artificial intelligence, gaming and internet of things can apply to join the Reactor: Better Faster Stronger program by Dec. 21.
But what is it exactly?
“It’s like a collaboration engine,” says tech man-about-town Yuriy Porytko, the team lead on this project. Porytko said the program which will offer entrepreneurs access to mentorship, pitch competitions and other resources like “reverse hackathons,” where Microsoft employees will review a startup’s product from a technology standpoint.
The program will not invest in companies nor take equity. For 12 weeks, starting in January, the 10 companies that make the cut will work on their ideas leading up to a showcase in March dubbed “The Big Splash.” The program doesn’t include office space off the bat but participating companies can ask for it, Porytko said.
Apply by Dec. 21
“You guys [Technical.ly] have covered the Reactor and its promise for diversity,” Porytko said. “And this program is specifically designed to reach out to the folks that might not have access to regular channels of the tech ecosystem.”
Microsoft Technical Evangelist Dave Voyles said in an email that the biggest appeal from Microsoft’s standpoint is to connect entrepreneurs with the tech available at the Reactor.
“Every company is a software company in some regard, whether you are a one-person landscaper looking to reach more customers through your website, or a healthcare company looking to integrate a Kinect sensor into your medical auditing solution, every company utilizes technology at some point, and we’d like to make sure it’s a success,” Voyles said.
Full disclosure: Porytko asked this publication to be “watchdogs” of the program. He’s asked we make sure the program delivers on its promise of diversity. Our first question is: How are you defining diversity?
But we’ll be watching, Yuriy. We’ll be watching.