Today, the Walt Disney Company announced that it is now accepting applications for Disney Accelerator program for its third year. The program has brought us companies such as Sphero, Naritiv, Emotiv, and Stat Muse. Here is the full press release and details on Disney Accelerator:
The Walt Disney Company announced today that it is accepting applications for its third Disney Accelerator, a program designed to accelerate the growth of startup companies from around the world. Ten exceptional startup companies will be selected for a three-month mentorship and investment program that will immerse them in the media and entertainment business. The program begins this summer and concludes with a Demo Day in October 2016. Applications are due April 10, 2016.
“The past two years of the Disney Accelerator have led to incredible innovation and success between The Walt Disney Company and our participating startups, helping to establish the Disney Accelerator as the premier media and entertainment accelerator,” said Kevin Mayer, Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “We look forward to further shaping the future of our industry through this unique program.”
The Los Angeles-based program is open to both early and venture-backed technology startups with a vision for making an impact on the future of media and entertainment. The Disney Accelerator provides participating companies investment capital, access to co-working space at Disney’s creative campus and mentor support and guidance from top Disney executives, entrepreneurs, investors and other notable business leaders from the entertainment and technology communities.
Since the Disney Accelerator started in 2014, companies from across the United States, Europe and Asia have participated in building the future of media and entertainment with technologies as diverse as robotics, artificial intelligence, wearables, messaging and virtual reality, for example:
— Sphero, based in Boulder, Colorado, joined the Disney Accelerator in 2014 and developed the successful BB-8 droid in collaboration with Lucasfilm during the program. Sphero’s BB-8 sold out the day it was released and was dubbed the ‘Best Star Wars Toy Ever’ by Forbes. Since completing the program, Sphero raised an additional $45 million in venture capital, bringing their total financing to $80 million.
— Los Angeles based Naritiv, the first media company born on Snapchat, was created during the 2014 Disney Accelerator, and recently secured $3 million in Series A funding. Naritiv’s total network on Snapchat currently generates more than 16 billion views per month and has delivered more than one billion total branded views to date.
— EMOTIV, a 2015 Disney Accelerator company, is the developer of the Insight wireless headset, which measures brain fitness and emotions. EMOTIV’s Insight was recently featured on ABC Television’s ‘The Bachelor.’ With offices in Australia, Vietnam and San Francisco, EMOTIV has sold hardware and software to 70,000 developers and researchers in 120 countries and has already built a profitable business.
— StatMuse entered the Disney Accelerator in 2015 as a three-person team and launched a public beta of its interactive sports stats platform powered by natural language search on Demo Day. Now a team of 12, StatMuse is currently providing ESPN with statistical content for the NBA season and closed $10 million in Series A financing in January 2016.
For more information and to apply go to DisneyAccelerator.com.
Full Line-Up of Celebrities for Disneyland 60 Special on ABC:
Last night, the final line-up of stars that will appear during the The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60 special that will air on February 21 from 8-10 p.m. on ABC. The show had previously announced that it will be hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Derek Hough. Other appearances that were previously announced were Harrison Ford, Sir Elton John, Josh Gad, Tori Kelly and Kermit the Frog, Jessie J, Kelsey Ballerini, Witney Carson, Maddie Ziegler, Pentatonix, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel.
Here is the remaining list of stars:
- Alfonso Ribeiro
- Ariel Winter
- Bryce Dallas Howard
- Eric Stonestreet
- Ginnifer Goodwin
- Dame Helen Mirren
- Hilary Duff
- Jason Bateman
- Jessica Alba
- Jimmy Kimmel
- John Stamos
- Julie Bowen
- Kerry Washington
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Kristen Bell
- Lupita Nyong'o
- Neil Patrick Harris
- Nolan Gould
- Pink
- Priyanka Chopra
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Sarah Hyland
- Sofia Carson
- Ty Burrell
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
It has already been announced that Harrison Ford will reveal details on Star Wars Land for both coasts in Disneyland and in Disney's Hollywood Studios during the special.
"Zootopia" Monorail Wrap Debuts at Disney World:
Just a few weeks ago, Monorail Black at Walt Disney World returned to normal after it had the Star Wars wrap to promote "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Today, Monorail Orange got a wrap of its own to promote Disney's "Zootopia" that hits theaters March 4, 2016.
Photos Credit to: The Walt Disney Company, Attractions Magazine, and @DallasORL
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