The Walt Disney Company is seeking growth-stage startups who can ‘dream big’ in the fields of entertainment and tech for the 2020 Disney Accelerator. Applications are due by April 3, 2020.
The Disney Accelerator, designed to accelerate the growth of innovative companies, is now accepting applications for the three-month mentorship programme.
10 startups will be selected for the 2020 Disney Accelerator, which will connect the companies with the creativity, imagination and expertise of Disney.
2020 Disney Accelerator, which begins in July and concludes with a Demo Day in October, provides participating companies with access to Disney’s leadership team.
Accelerator programme concludes with Demo Day
Game-based learning platform Kahoot! joined the accelerator in 2017. More than 200 million games were played on Kahoot! by 1.2 billion players in 2018.
“It was truly inspiring to interact with dozens of Disney senior creative and business leaders to openly discuss their unique business priorities and brainstorm collaboration opportunities,” said Eilert Hanoa, CEO of Kahoot!
“The sheer size and scope of such an opportunity sets this accelerator apart and the Walt Disney Company is an impressively dynamic, creative and open-minded organization by any standard,” added Hanoa.
Sphero, which creates programmable robots, was part of the inaugural accelerator and has created various robotics toys with Disney, including the BB-8 droid toy.
Companies get access to Disney’s leadership team
The 2020 Disney Accelerator is now accepting applications for the three-month mentorship program that will connect innovative growth-stage startups with the creativity, imagination and expertise of Disney: https://t.co/SO3Geo2A3M
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 3, 2020
Epic Games joined the accelerator in 2017 and has since worked with Industrial Light & Magic to develop groundbreaking LED stage production technology for The Mandalorian.
“We created the Disney Accelerator six years ago to explore the incredible innovation that could occur between the Walt Disney Company and companies working on the forefront of technology,” said David Min, VP of Corporate Innovation, the Walt Disney Co.
“Not only has the Disney Accelerator become the premier and longest-running media and entertainment accelerator in the industry, but the program has also launched a number of products, experiences, and cutting-edge technologies.
“We look forward to discovering new companies and technologies through this year’s program that will continue to position Disney as a leader in today’s dynamic media environment.”
Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator, powered by Techstars, is also accepting applications from startups for the next programme, which starts on July 13.
