TECHNOLOGY giants Intel and Microsoft, along with Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ), Group Intelligence Inc and Red Herring Inc, yesterday launched a web portal that aims to match technology startups in the Asia-Pacific region with venture capitalists and governments.

The SoftwareAP.net (www.softwareap.net) initiative will initially target technology startups in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines which are seeking investments and looking to grow beyond their home countries.

Speaking to BizIT in a phone interview earlier in the week, John Hummelstad, a director and partner of Microsoft's venture capital and emerging business operations in Asia-Pacific, noted certain traits in startups looking to grow overseas.

'They are typically run by entrepreneurs who have not done this before, they are always strapped for cash and they are looking for governments and alliances to grow,' he said.

SoftwareAP.net thus aims to lend these firms a helping hand.

'We have no responsibility for marriage, but we have responsibility for the first date,' quipped Mr Hummelstad. He added that he would be disappointed if the initiative did not make 'several hundred introductions' within the next year or so.

Microsoft said in a statement yesterday that SoftwareAP.net is targeting to register some 70,000 technology companies.

Interested companies can register for free at the website and answer an 'investment readiness' online questionnaire.

Based on the results of this questionnaire, the portal will match the firm to the appropriate investment or funding channel, which could include venture capitalists and private equity investors who have also registered on the site.

Another target audience of the portal are governments, which can showcase their incentives and trade opportunities to attract technology startups and investors, or create 'virtual trade missions'.

Mr Hummelstad revealed that there are currently 'some' Singapore companies registered on the portal, while on the funding side there already is an angel investment community and three venture capitalists.

Group Intelligence - a US-based company which focuses on selling solutions to create online communities - will manage the website.

This article first appeared in BT on April 19, 2007