Disney’s Accelerator Program Announces Startup Participants

Disney recently announced the 11 startup companies selected to participate in the Disney Accelerator program.

The Disney Accelerator, powered by Techstars, is a first-of-its-kind program for The Walt Disney Company that is connecting innovative companies with Disney, and giving them access to the creative expertise and resources needed to help them develop new entertainment experiences and products.

The 11 companies chosen for the program are entrepreneurs and visionaries, including ChoreMonster which is a web and mobile platform that makes chores fun for kids; Codarica which serves as children's first interaction into the world of code with the help of characters; Sphero fuses digital and physical play by creating robots that you controls with a smart device; and SnowShoe makes simple pieces of plastic that interact with touch screens to create a bridge between physical items and digital content.

The other companies are are: Buzzstarter, Cogo, Jogg, Sidelines, Twigtale, Tyffon, and Ubooly.

Over the course of the 15 week program, the Disney Accelerator will provide the 11 startups with the tools and support they need to expand their visions.

Disney executives also serve as mentors in Disney Accelerator and each startup receives up to $120,000 in investment capital to develop their companies.

The program starts with a meeting of the teams and mentors including Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger in addition to leaders from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ABC, ESPN, and Walt Disney Imagineering.

At the end of the program in September each company will present to industry leaders and Disney executives during Demo Day.

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