Though the program just launched in 2014, the Walt Disney Company has already advanced onto its second cycle of startups through the Disney Accelerator program powered by Techstars, a global ecosystem empowering entrepreneurs with 18 accelerator programs worldwide.
The program has announced its selection of 10 companies to participate in the three-month mentorship and investment program. These participants will receive up to $120,000 in investment capital and an opportunity to display their developed products with a Demo Day to conclude the program on October 6, 2015.
“Last year’s Disney Accelerator exceeded our expectations on many fronts,” said Kevin Mayer, Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “We are excited to roll up our sleeves again this year and help these cutting-edge startups achieve their goals.”
2015 Disney Accelerator Program Participants
*Decisive: “Decisive is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that uses real time data to enable advertisers to optimize mobile ad creative and targeting based on user engagement.”
*EMOTIV: “EMOTIV is a bioinformatics company that uses electroencephalography (EEG) to track mental performance, monitor emotions, and control virtual and physical objects with thoughts.”
*FEM Inc.: “FEM Inc. has developed a personalized video engagement platform based on neuroscience and psychology that maps the emotional dimensions of how and why content resonates.”
*HYP3R: “HYP3R enables businesses and brands to identify influential customers at their locations and engage them in real time, when it matters most.”
*imperson: “imperson provides an artificial intelligence platform enabling fans to have conversations with their favorite movie and TV characters.”
*Littlstar: “Littlstar aggregates industry leading virtual reality content with its device agnostic discovery and distribution platform.”
*MakieLab: “MakieLab lets kids bring toys to life by building their own customizable 3D-printed toys through creative games and apps.”
*Open Bionics: “Open Bionics is a robotics company creating affordable 3D-printed bionic hands for amputees, researchers and makers.”
*Pundit: “Pundit lets creators host audio Ask Me Anything (AMA’s) with their Twitter network, transforming the talk radio experience for the social media age.”
*StatMuse: “StatMuse is developing an artificial intelligence platform to help sports fans explore data using simple, natural language.”
In addition to receiving funding and mentorship from Disney’s top executives including Chairman and CEO Robert A. Iger and leaders from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ESPN, Walt Disney Imagineering and more; each company will be connected with venture capitalists and Techstar entrepreneurs, investors and executives.
According to the press release describing the 2014 class, “All of the startups have either raised capital, been acquired or become profitable since the end of the Accelerator and many of the participating companies have launched products and programs in conjunction with The Walt Disney Company.”
For more information on the Walt Disney Company’s Accelerator Programs, please visit http://DisneyAccelerator.com.
