6 ms·

Disney Accelerator

161 points by nickmain 13y ago

checker659 13y ago
Is the whole world welcome to apply? Couldn't find any mention on the FAQ.
- dawson 13y ago
  Yes https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192 https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192
- asperous 13y ago
  According to their official twitter, "Yes - applicants from anywhere worldwide will be considered." https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192 https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
amitparikh 13y ago
Note that the $120k funding is broken into $20k cash and the option for an additional $100k convertible debt note.
- jknightco 13y ago
  I think that's the standard for Techstars these days: http://www.techstars.com/program/faqs/ http://www.techstars.com/program/faqs/ Looks like its $18k cash and $100k convertible.
  - ixmatus 13y ago
    Convertible or priced (we did a convertible note). The 100k is optional. It was for us at least.
    - alecsmart1 13y ago
      Can you please explain what convertible debt note means?
      - uniclaude 13y ago
        There is a good explanation there: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/07/convertible-note-seed-financings/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/07/convertible-note-seed-finan...
- pg 13y ago
  Is there a valuation cap on the convertible note?
speeder 13y ago
Kidoteca (my company) will apply, not because of the funding (although we are lacking money, our investments are larger than what they are willing to invest...) But because the mentorship and IP access might be very interesting for us. :) This is the first accelerator that caught my CEO attention (he for example have no intention of joining Y-Combinator) EDIT: Why the downvote? :(
- bradhe 13y ago
  > because the mentorship Who are the mentors?
  - james33 13y ago
    http://disneyaccelerator.com/mentors/ http://disneyaccelerator.com/mentors/
    - gus_massa 13y ago
      The first mentor in the list is: > Robert A. Iger; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger How many times a week can you visit him? How many times a week can any of the teams visit him? I guess the fist half of the list is there only for politic reasons, and the real list of mentors begins at "Friends of Disney"
      - theplaz 13y ago
        I interned at Disney last summer and met with 1-2 of the people on the list (after cold emailing them). I think many of the upper management of Disney are super-sharp. It's interesting to see such a broad list of execs. I'm guessing not all are super excited about this (due to 100% participation), but I think the majority would be engaged. I would add that you probably would not want to visit more than weekly - I work at a big tech company and the CEO (who is famously hands on and detail oriented) and SVPs only meet with key projects 1-2x/month tops.
zach 13y ago
I'm totally in on this. This is an amazing development for the LA startup community. As an LA native (it made the radio news here on Wednesday), I'm very curious where in the Los Angeles area this is. Santa Monica/Venice is the startup juggernaut of this area, but media startups tend to run farther afield and I don't know if Disney even has any offices there (maybe ESPN?). I would think, given the realities of the startup world, advisors and investors in particular, not to mention LA traffic, it would have to be on the Westside, right? Also extremely curious how the IP access works out. Time from, say, a Disney Consumer Products artist to create new art is a big deal (and not cheap). And could DA companies put Disney characters in the iPhone app they're going to sell or is this just to make an effective demo?
- hippee-lee 13y ago
  I think Disney has an office in the Burbank area. Co-worker has mentioned he used to contract for them in that area.
- callmeed 13y ago
  Most Disney Studios/Interactive people are in the Burbank/Glendale area. I agree it'd be smart to offer everyone some co-working space in Santa Monica.
- mullingitover 13y ago
  Most likely at the Glendale Creative Campus.
- jshen 13y ago
  I really hope it isn't on the westside. I want some options for tech work that don't require me to buy a house on the westside or drive 1 1/2 hour one way for my commute.
  - tommu 13y ago
    Agree completely. Do it properly and LA will not have the kind of class war affecting NorCal. Forcing people to work out of the most congested and expensive parts of LA is going to compound the misery. Why anyone thinks it's a good idea to base themselves West of the 405 is beyond me. I sincerely hope they base this out of Burbank/Glendale which gives ready accessibility to Pasadena, East LA, Hollywood and further North without commute hell.
pdenya 13y ago
Oh man, I love this idea. Disney IP access for a startup could be huge.
- wcfields 13y ago
  Yeah, $120k (even if only ~20k$ is cash), is a drop in the bucket compared to the WHOLE IP catalog.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
- leoc 13y ago
  Probably they'll have you over a barrel if you're successful enough to need further funding and an extension of your rights to the relevant Disney copyrights though...
- 001sky 13y ago
  Disney IP access for a startup could be huge... A huge disappointment & strategic error. This thinking is LIke founding a company based on another company's API. Look at people that bet on twitter that way. Fools game, really. after all, Hollywood
- nitrogen 13y ago
  A mere bandage on the gaping wound that Disney inflicted on the public domain.
doctorfoo 13y ago
Square Enix a few days ago did a similar thing, with access to a few (old) IPs. I wonder if this is a trend?
spodek 13y ago
Disney seems like a great place for a young copyright lawyer to learn how to sue creative people, eventually to graduate to Monsanto and the like. Or to become a lobbyist to extend copyrights ad infinitum. I'm sure this program connects with other parts of the organization, but that's the impression I have of the company. I feel like this post might lead one of them to think of suing me.
- callmeed 13y ago
  You should apply to this program with a "Free 3D printing of Disney toys" service :)
  - hayksaakian 13y ago
    from a less cynical POV: this might just be the ONLY way to do your hypothetical idea. if you're in Disney's accelerator, I'm sure that comes with better access to their copyrights.
    - Stratoscope 13y ago
      Indeed it does. > Each participating team will receive: > $120,000 in investment capital > Access to stories, characters, resources and relationships from across The Walt Disney Company, such as The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ESPN, ABC, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Consumer Products, and Disney Interactive
      - sitkack 13y ago
        I didn't have the finger energy to type it, but this call to action struct me as an organization that is sitting on golden franchises with a vacuum of ideas.
- interzone 13y ago
  Get over yourself.
- 13y ago
aresant 13y ago
Somebody please incubate Monkey Island 3, done in the original Lucasarts style. But seriously, the potential access to Disney IP is awesome - I wonder how they will structure that.
nfoz 13y ago
Wow that f6s applications thing is obnoxious. No, I will not sign in with linkedin or facebook, until I read what we will need to fill out on the application form. So get your popup out of my face... thanks.
Thiz 13y ago
I'd like to see a pixar's animated movie about Wilbur and Orville as they struggle to make the first flight a reality in their bycicle shop, some plane modeling, hard times, lack of funding, sparkled with some love stories and jelousy between the brothers about whose to be the first pilot and get all the honors. At the end Orville wins, Wilbur takes the pic, their girlfriends leaving NC on a steam ship breaking their relationship and as they watch the plane take off they turn the ship back, jump off and run to them for a happy ending. I don't want any money, I just want to see that movie in a theater with my kids.
- sitkack 13y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_Foundation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_Foundation all the tools are available for amateurs to complete a movie like this. http://www.blender.org/features/projects/ http://www.blender.org/features/projects/
skywhopper 13y ago
I like much of Disney's traditional creative output, but I think it's telling that the biggest featured content on that page is all pre-Disney creations from very-recent acquisitions of more innovative creators: Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Marvel.
shmerl 13y ago
Disney is a copyright freak. Let's see them releasing anything like Loom or other games they got from Lucas Arts DRM-free, and good luck with that. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtHMkPmmeLA https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtHMkPmmeLA
obamasupporter 13y ago
It's magical.
NIL8 13y ago
I hate seeing Yoda on their page. It's like seeing your ex with her new boyfriend.

Disney Accelerator

161 points by nickmain 13y ago

checker659 13y ago

Is the whole world welcome to apply? Couldn't find any mention on the FAQ.

dawson 13y ago
Yes https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192 https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192
asperous 13y ago
According to their official twitter, "Yes - applicants from anywhere worldwide will be considered." https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192 https://twitter.com/disneyaccel/status/434040445593608192

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

amitparikh 13y ago

Note that the $120k funding is broken into $20k cash and the option for an additional $100k convertible debt note.

jknightco 13y ago
I think that's the standard for Techstars these days: http://www.techstars.com/program/faqs/ http://www.techstars.com/program/faqs/ Looks like its $18k cash and $100k convertible.
- ixmatus 13y ago
  Convertible or priced (we did a convertible note). The 100k is optional. It was for us at least.
  - alecsmart1 13y ago
    Can you please explain what convertible debt note means?
    - uniclaude 13y ago
      There is a good explanation there: http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/07/convertible-note-seed-financings/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/07/convertible-note-seed-finan...
pg 13y ago
Is there a valuation cap on the convertible note?

speeder 13y ago

Kidoteca (my company) will apply, not because of the funding (although we are lacking money, our investments are larger than what they are willing to invest...) But because the mentorship and IP access might be very interesting for us. :) This is the first accelerator that caught my CEO attention (he for example have no intention of joining Y-Combinator) EDIT: Why the downvote? :(

bradhe 13y ago
> because the mentorship Who are the mentors?
- james33 13y ago
  http://disneyaccelerator.com/mentors/ http://disneyaccelerator.com/mentors/
  - gus_massa 13y ago
    The first mentor in the list is: > Robert A. Iger; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Iger How many times a week can you visit him? How many times a week can any of the teams visit him? I guess the fist half of the list is there only for politic reasons, and the real list of mentors begins at "Friends of Disney"
    - theplaz 13y ago
      I interned at Disney last summer and met with 1-2 of the people on the list (after cold emailing them). I think many of the upper management of Disney are super-sharp. It's interesting to see such a broad list of execs. I'm guessing not all are super excited about this (due to 100% participation), but I think the majority would be engaged. I would add that you probably would not want to visit more than weekly - I work at a big tech company and the CEO (who is famously hands on and detail oriented) and SVPs only meet with key projects 1-2x/month tops.

zach 13y ago

I'm totally in on this. This is an amazing development for the LA startup community. As an LA native (it made the radio news here on Wednesday), I'm very curious where in the Los Angeles area this is. Santa Monica/Venice is the startup juggernaut of this area, but media startups tend to run farther afield and I don't know if Disney even has any offices there (maybe ESPN?). I would think, given the realities of the startup world, advisors and investors in particular, not to mention LA traffic, it would have to be on the Westside, right? Also extremely curious how the IP access works out. Time from, say, a Disney Consumer Products artist to create new art is a big deal (and not cheap). And could DA companies put Disney characters in the iPhone app they're going to sell or is this just to make an effective demo?

hippee-lee 13y ago
I think Disney has an office in the Burbank area. Co-worker has mentioned he used to contract for them in that area.
callmeed 13y ago
Most Disney Studios/Interactive people are in the Burbank/Glendale area. I agree it'd be smart to offer everyone some co-working space in Santa Monica.
mullingitover 13y ago
Most likely at the Glendale Creative Campus.
jshen 13y ago
I really hope it isn't on the westside. I want some options for tech work that don't require me to buy a house on the westside or drive 1 1/2 hour one way for my commute.
- tommu 13y ago
  Agree completely. Do it properly and LA will not have the kind of class war affecting NorCal. Forcing people to work out of the most congested and expensive parts of LA is going to compound the misery. Why anyone thinks it's a good idea to base themselves West of the 405 is beyond me. I sincerely hope they base this out of Burbank/Glendale which gives ready accessibility to Pasadena, East LA, Hollywood and further North without commute hell.

pdenya 13y ago

Oh man, I love this idea. Disney IP access for a startup could be huge.

wcfields 13y ago
Yeah, $120k (even if only ~20k$ is cash), is a drop in the bucket compared to the WHOLE IP catalog.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
leoc 13y ago
Probably they'll have you over a barrel if you're successful enough to need further funding and an extension of your rights to the relevant Disney copyrights though...
001sky 13y ago
Disney IP access for a startup could be huge... A huge disappointment & strategic error. This thinking is LIke founding a company based on another company's API. Look at people that bet on twitter that way. Fools game, really. after all, Hollywood
nitrogen 13y ago
A mere bandage on the gaping wound that Disney inflicted on the public domain.

doctorfoo 13y ago

Square Enix a few days ago did a similar thing, with access to a few (old) IPs. I wonder if this is a trend?

spodek 13y ago

Disney seems like a great place for a young copyright lawyer to learn how to sue creative people, eventually to graduate to Monsanto and the like. Or to become a lobbyist to extend copyrights ad infinitum. I'm sure this program connects with other parts of the organization, but that's the impression I have of the company. I feel like this post might lead one of them to think of suing me.

callmeed 13y ago
You should apply to this program with a "Free 3D printing of Disney toys" service :)
- hayksaakian 13y ago
  from a less cynical POV: this might just be the ONLY way to do your hypothetical idea. if you're in Disney's accelerator, I'm sure that comes with better access to their copyrights.
  - Stratoscope 13y ago
    Indeed it does. > Each participating team will receive: > $120,000 in investment capital > Access to stories, characters, resources and relationships from across The Walt Disney Company, such as The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, ESPN, ABC, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Consumer Products, and Disney Interactive
    - sitkack 13y ago
      I didn't have the finger energy to type it, but this call to action struct me as an organization that is sitting on golden franchises with a vacuum of ideas.
interzone 13y ago
Get over yourself.
13y ago

aresant 13y ago

Somebody please incubate Monkey Island 3, done in the original Lucasarts style. But seriously, the potential access to Disney IP is awesome - I wonder how they will structure that.

nfoz 13y ago

Wow that f6s applications thing is obnoxious. No, I will not sign in with linkedin or facebook, until I read what we will need to fill out on the application form. So get your popup out of my face... thanks.

Thiz 13y ago

I'd like to see a pixar's animated movie about Wilbur and Orville as they struggle to make the first flight a reality in their bycicle shop, some plane modeling, hard times, lack of funding, sparkled with some love stories and jelousy between the brothers about whose to be the first pilot and get all the honors. At the end Orville wins, Wilbur takes the pic, their girlfriends leaving NC on a steam ship breaking their relationship and as they watch the plane take off they turn the ship back, jump off and run to them for a happy ending. I don't want any money, I just want to see that movie in a theater with my kids.

sitkack 13y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_Foundation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blender_Foundation all the tools are available for amateurs to complete a movie like this. http://www.blender.org/features/projects/ http://www.blender.org/features/projects/

skywhopper 13y ago

I like much of Disney's traditional creative output, but I think it's telling that the biggest featured content on that page is all pre-Disney creations from very-recent acquisitions of more innovative creators: Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Marvel.

shmerl 13y ago

Disney is a copyright freak. Let's see them releasing anything like Loom or other games they got from Lucas Arts DRM-free, and good luck with that. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtHMkPmmeLA https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtHMkPmmeLA

obamasupporter 13y ago

It's magical.

NIL8 13y ago

I hate seeing Yoda on their page. It's like seeing your ex with her new boyfriend.