Yesterday, local technologists got a chance to meet with Brian Gorbett, Software Architect & the lead guy for Startups in the Central Region for Microsoft Inc. Brian's trip to the city had a couple of underlying reasons besides the good food and he talked to the group about what the software giant wants to do for our tech community.  He expressed the need to explore and find out what's going on in the city in regards to our tech movement.  Microsoft sees New Orleans as an untouched gem that can help tech businesses get to the next level of sustainability.

We've already seen some real signs of a relationship with Microsoft earlier this year when the company announced that it was bringing it's BizSpark program to the city so others could benefit from it.  The Microsoft BizSpark program provides software, support, and visibility to emerging software companies and tech startups.  According to BNet, Microsoft picked LaunchPad NOLA as a program facilitator for the New Orleans area because of its unique connection to technology-based startups.

Brian also talked about how Microsoft wants to help boost our tech community through local events and key partnerships while making sure that the company does not bulldog it's weigh around and smother locals with their brand.  Alot of great ideas where thrown his way but the one underlying factor was that this movement, this boost, and this push needs to be by the community that helped build the foundation with help from private and public organizations.  The feeling was that if one thing succeeds then we all succeed.

I got a chance to sit down with Brian to talk to and listen to what he had to say.  I wanted to find out if this was just a meet and greet for the company to promote their services, tools, or sell us something.  I was presently surprised to find out that it was not and that he had come to New Orleans with an open mind and a truly genuine gameplan.  When I asked him, "What is it about the New Orleans tech community that made Microsoft want to embark on this relationship" he replied by saying "It's the people".  More openly he told me that its evident that the people involved in this community have more stake into what goes on than other larger cities he travels too.

Before he left, we were able to squeeze in a couple of quick interviews.  Check out these videos clips where we asked him, What was the purpose of his trip?  Got him to tell us a little bit more about the BizSpark program, and What is Microsoft's commitment to New Orleans?