Six companies will be taking part in this year’s Disney Accelerator scheme, a business development programme created to accelerate the growth of innovative companies across the globe. The 2022 cohort features companies that are exploring what the immersive experience may look like in the future, working with technologies like augmented reality (AR), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and artificial intelligence (AI) characters.
Participants are set to benefit from Disney’s expertise and creativity, as they receive guidance from Disney’s senior leadership team and a dedicated executive mentor. The scheme ends in the autumn when the six companies will take part in a Demo Day at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.
“For nearly a century, Disney has been at the forefront of leveraging technology to build the entertainment experiences of the future,” says Bonnie Rosen, general manager of the Disney Accelerator programme. “The Disney Accelerator is thrilled to be part of that legacy, and with our newest class of companies, we look forward to furthering our commitment to innovation and continuing to bring magical experiences to Disney audiences and guests for the next 100 years.”
It’s always interesting to see which technologies Disney chooses to invest in.
New technology to enhance guest experiences
This year’s chosen companies are:
- Flickplay: A Web3 social app that lets users find NFTs that are linked to real-world locations, allowing them to experience and share these using AR.
- Inworld: This enables users to create interactive, AI-driven characters for immersive experiences.
- Lockerverse: A Web3 platform that allows creators and brands to tell culture-defining stories and deliver unique access and experiences.
- Obsess: An experiential e-commerce platform where brands can create immersive 3D virtual stores on their websites and on metaverse platforms.
- Polygon: A scalable blockchain network that enables developers and enterprises to build Web3 experiences.
- Red 6: The AR company behind a patented headset and interface that works outdoors in dynamic, high-performance environments.
Last year’s Disney Accelerator participants included experiential retailer Camp, Miko’s cute robot learning companions and AI innovator Holler. The programme is part of Disney’s commitment to developing new technologies and storytelling methods that enhance the visitor experience across physical, digital and virtual worlds.
The environmental cost of NFTs and blockchain
In 2021, Cambridge University researchers estimated Bitcoin’s annual energy consumption to be more than that of Argentina. Together, Ethereum and Bitcoin consume almost as much energy per annum as the UK. Some NFTs are based on proof of work blockchain like Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, NFTs based on proof of stake blockchain like Tezos, are much, much less energy intensive. The Whitworth Art Gallery recently launched a “green NFT”.
Polygon is based on Ethereum, and has stated that it will be “going carbon negative in 2022”. Flickplay’s NFTs are also on Ethereum. Ethereum is currently working on converting to proof of stake, working towards a changeover it calls “The Merge” which is expected to happen later in 2022. After this, Ethereum’s website says “the energy consumed by the network will drop to <0.05% of its pre-merge amount”.
