What types of businesses are best suited for the Disney Accelerator program?
Disney Accelerator is looking for technology-powered startups from around the world with innovative ideas for products and services in the consumer entertainment and media space. We are looking for consumer entertainment experiences, not enterprise services – innovations that will transform entertainment and media. No scripts, screenplays or ideas for attractions, please.
How will the final ten companies be chosen? What are the criteria?
Disney Accelerator is looking for focused, well-rounded companies with great teams, strong, thoughtful ideas, and the ability to execute.
What if my company is not an expert in entertainment or media experiences?
Disney Accelerator is focused on bringing a world of resources to entrepreneurs, to help you do more, faster. We will provide design and technical assistance, guidance, and mentorship on your products, prototypes, and sales pitches, but each company in Disney Accelerator must be capable of building their own business.
MENTORS
What networking and educational opportunities will be provided during the three months?
We will organize a variety of one-on-one and group discussions with mentors, entrepreneurs, angel investors, legal experts, venture capitalists and investment bankers, as well as others in a variety of forums.
What resources will Disney provide to Disney Accelerator?
Disney will provide access to industry executives, key decision makers, and mentors to help startups create the future of entertainment and build great companies of their own. Disney also will support the Accelerator with facilities, visibility, and proactive engagement around business opportunities that emerge from this program.
Will all the mentors come from Disney?
No. They will include entrepreneurs and investors with a breadth of experience building businesses in technology and entertainment from Techstars’ extensive global network of mentors.
LOCATION
Where is the Disney Accelerator?
The Disney Accelerator office will be located in greater Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment industry. We will announce the specifics of the program’s location shortly. Stay tuned!
Do the companies that participate have to stay in the Los Angeles area when the program ends after three months?
No. Companies are free to move to any location they wish after the program.
FUNDING
What type of investment capital do companies participating in Disney Accelerator receive?
Each company participating in the program receives $20,000 in funding upon acceptance, and access to an additional $100,000 convertible debt note at their sole option. Thus, $120,000 in investment capital is available to each and every company immediately upon acceptance into Disney Accelerator.
LEGAL
How detailed does my idea need to be in the application?
In this initial application process, we ask applicants to describe the market opportunity, the team, the idea, and how you plan to execute it.
Will the information in my application be treated as confidential?
Please do not submit any business plans, trade secrets, or “secret sauce.” Your application must include only non-confidential information. All information disclosed to us in your application will be considered non-confidential public information. Disney will only treat information as confidential if the information is covered by a formal, written confidentiality agreement signed by Disney prior to disclosure.
Does Disney own the intellectual property (IP) developed by my company during the Disney Accelerator program?
IP developed by a participating company is retained by that company.
Anything else I need to know from a legal perspective?
Your application to the Disney Accelerator program doesn’t create a contract or other relationship between us, other than your agreement to this site’s Terms of Use, and you won’t receive any compensation for your application.
