Azure & DevOps Podcast

David Starr: Azure Cloud Marketplaces - Episode 311

Aug 19, 2024

David Starr, a Principal Solutions Architect at Microsoft, brings over 20 years of experience to the conversation. He discusses the evolution of Azure Marketplaces and innovative AI publishing strategies, offering insights from his tenure at GoDaddy. Agile methodologies like Scrum play a key role in software development leadership, and Starr shares successful examples of partnerships within the Azure Marketplace. He also navigates complex AI pricing models and advocates for the integration of AI in both software distribution and online learning.

39:46

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David Starr

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Cloud marketplaces like Azure Marketplace simplify software purchasing, enhancing product visibility and providing seamless access for users.

Automation in product publishing significantly improves operational efficiency, allowing vendors to update software seamlessly and enhance user experience.

Deep dives

The Importance of Cloud Marketplaces

Cloud marketplaces, such as Azure Marketplace, serve as platforms where software solutions are sold and integrated with cloud services. They allow third-party partners to reach a broader customer base without needing extensive sales pipelines, making them especially beneficial for smaller organizations. The marketplace simplifies the purchasing process for users, enabling them to provision software solutions like databases with just a few clicks. This streamlined access enhances the visibility of products and fosters dynamic sales channels while allowing companies to remain focused on their core offerings.

Intro

3min

Evolution of Cloud Marketplaces and Career Progression in Software Engineering

4min

Agile Transformation and Azure Marketplaces

12min

Innovative AI Model Publishing on Azure Marketplace

2min

Navigating Azure's AI Pricing and Tokenization

16min

Navigating Marketplace Integration: Key Steps and Resources

3min

Transitioning to Online Learning and AI in Azure Marketplace

2min

David Starr is a Principal Solutions Architect at Microsoft, focusing on Azure and cloud marketplaces. With over 20 years of experience, he has led software development initiatives, held architectural responsibilities, built high-performance teams, and fostered technical learning. He is passionate about delivering great software, designing cloud-scale solutions, and quality-focused engineering practices.

He has contributed to or led several team initiatives that enable and accelerate the Azure Marketplace, such as the Marketplace FastTrack Copilot using Azure Open AI, the SaaS Accelerator, the Data Sales Accelerator, and the .NET and Java SaaS fulfillment libraries. Additionally, he is the program owner for Mastering the Marketplace, a comprehensive learning platform for Microsoft partners and customers.

Topics of Discussion:

[6:09] Agile methodologies, Scrum, and software development leadership.

[6:38] Working with Agile Alliance and Scrum.org.

[7:50] What David learned working for several years at GoDaddy.

[9:49] Using Azure Marketplace to sell software and services, with examples of successful partners and their experiences.

[15:20] Who has full admin rights on MongoDB?

[17:49] Pricing models for AI models in Azure Marketplace.

[21:56] AI cost estimation and model selection.

[29:40] Azure Cloud Marketplace and AI advancements, with insights on how to get started with product development.

Mentioned in this Episode:

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