Microsoft Ventures to invest in cloud, security, machine learning startups

Microsoft is creating a small early-stage investment group that is targeting startups in the cloud, security and machine-learning markets. The new group is taking over the old "Microsoft Ventures" name. The entity formerly known as Microsoft Ventures, which was owned by the Developer Evangelism team, has been rebranded to "Microsoft Accelerator." The Microsoft Accelerator will continue to aid startups with technology and consulting through Microsoft's existing seven accelerators worldwide, officials explained in a May 30 blog post announcing the Ventures make-over. The head of the new Microsoft Ventures group is Corporate Vice President Nagraj Kashyap, who joined Microsoft from Qualcomm earlier this year.