Microsoft to host India's largest cloud conference in Pune

The content from the conference is estimated to reach 100,000 people via webinars, partner-led sessions, social outreach, engagement with user-group communities and more.  Microsoft made this announcement at the unveiling ceremony of the Azure Café in Pune, the first of its kind in the country.  Microsoft Azure Conference will bring together the best minds in cloud computing from across the country and globally to help develop a robust cloud ecosystem in India.

Microsoft Azure Conference is an opportunity for businesses to explore some of the best cloud solutions and learn from experts to accelerate their move to the cloud.  The openness of Microsoft Azure poses a diverse set of opportunities for businesses to leverage.  They will also be able to learn about newer business models that users and solution providers are deploying to leverage the cloud.

The two-day conference will showcase the best of cloud solutions for businesses, technical content and expert views on Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Speakers will demonstrate how businesses and partners can accelerate their cloud journey. There will be 6 full-day tracks, 65 sessions and over 70 speakers.

Tyler Bryson, General Manager- Marketing, Microsoft India, said, “Microsoft Azure has seen more than 300 enhancements in just the last one year.  This rapid pace of innovation has fueled excitement and enthusiasm across the entire cloud ecosystem.  Discussions at the Microsoft Azure Conference will bring our customers and partners closer to these innovations with real-life scenarios, exchange of ideas with experts and learning from thought leaders.  In fact, the discussions start today, at the Azure Café, and will continue till after the conference.”

Azure Café is a physical hub that Microsoft has created in Pune for business leaders and members of the IT and cloud ecosystem to meet and discuss industry-shaping trends to advance their businesses and those of their customers.  Over the next six weeks, the café will host a variety of learning and exchange sessions with specific industry and user-group tracks.  A variety of stakeholders from the cloud ecosystem like domain specialists, IT experts, solution providers, start-ups, business leaders and many more will come together in this time to discuss opportunities posed by Microsoft cloud for their specific needs.  Attendees will also participate in hackathons, fun activities, contests and deep-dive demos of the Microsoft Azure Platform.

In addition, a Tech Expo at the Microsoft Azure Conference will showcase the latest solutions from Microsoft and partners.  Azure Night, a 12-hour marathon activity, will feature demos and hacks.

Members of the cloud ecosystem in Pune are excited with the largest cloud conference coming closer to them.

Capt. Saurabh Ranjan, Principal, Cognosys Technologies said, “Azure Conference will allow us to interact with experts and gain insights that will allow us to provide our customers with tailored solutions to help them gain a competitive edge over their peers. Cognosys team is excited to go live with this initiative at the Azure Café.”

Rishi Agrawal, Executive Committee Member of SEAP, Co-founder and COO, BlueFin Corporation India Pvt. Ltd said, “This six week mega-initiative planned by Microsoft shows the company’s commitment to help the tech-community make the leap to the cloud seamlessly.  We expect the sharing and learning at the Microsoft Azure Conference and Azure Café to be unparalleled.”

Mahesh Mitkari, Vice Chairman for Computer Society of India- Pune chapter and UG lead for Pune User Group said, “Microsoft Azure Conference is a significant initiative by Microsoft for the IT industry in Pune.  This city has a large student community, a robust IT ecosystem and a growing manufacturing and business economy.  Microsoft Azure Conference will help integrate the IT ecosystem that will help a large number of these businesses quicken their move to the cloud.”