Disney Accelerator
AcceleratorPre-Seed–Growth
Find your way into Disney Accelerator
Investment thesis
The Disney Accelerator focuses on growth-stage, venture-backed startups whose innovative technologies and business concepts complement The Walt Disney Company's portfolio and align with current Disney business priorities, particularly at the intersection of technology and entertainment. Each cohort includes roughly five companies identified through outreach across the Disney and broader startup ecosystem. Selected companies typically receive an investment, access to co-working space at Disney's creative campus, and mentorship from senior Disney executives, with the goal of developing new entertainment experiences and products. The program runs annually, beginning mid-year and concluding with a Demo Day.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Disney Accelerator went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 23 of 24 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×11Media & Entertainment ×8Creator Economy ×7Hardware ×7Consumer ×4Gaming ×4SaaS ×4Deep Tech ×3
HQs:United States×8Sweden×2United Kingdom×1India×1Vietnam×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 14 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×72 founders×43 founders×14+ founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 18 founders with education data
Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×3University of Cambridge ×3Novosibirsk State University (NSU) ×2Princeton University ×2Stanford University ×2The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 15 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×4Computer Science ×3Engineering ×3Finance & Accounting ×2Humanities ×2Physics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 18 founders with career history
Stanford University ×2
Portfolio companies · 24 tracked
alumni founders can tell you what the program is really likeBy year:2025 · 12018 · 12015 · 13 dated
Promethean AI is an AI platform that serves as customizable infrastructure for digital asset management and workflow automation in creative and enterprise environments.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareGaming
Andrew Maximov(Founder)in
Co-investorsRoosh Ventures
Animaj is a media company that creates and develops children's entertainment franchises using AI-powered production and digital-first distribution.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
Gregory Dray(Founder)in
Co-investorsBootstrap EuropeDaphniKima VenturesLeft Lane CapitalResonance VCXAnge
.png)
AudioShake develops sound separation technology that splits audio into component parts for media, entertainment, and speech workflows.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSan Francisco, US
Jessica Powell(CEO & Co-Founder)inLuke Miner(CTO & Co-Founder)in
BoardAlexander Hartz(Director)in
Co-investorsCoho DeeptechOrigin VenturesPrecursor VenturesShine CapitalThomson Reuters VenturesBACKGROUND CAPITAL+2 more
Bambuser provides a video commerce platform that transforms static e-commerce experiences into interactive, shoppable video content for brands.
E-commerceMarketing TechRetail TechSaaS
Maryam Ghahremani(CEO)in
Co-investorsHarmony PartnersWellstreet
CAMP operates family entertainment venues combining immersive themed experiences, hands-on activities, and toy retail in physical locations.
Consumer
Nikki Kaufman(Founder)in
Co-investorsBLH Venture Partners, LLCBullpen CapitalLerer HippeauMaywic Select InvestmentsReshapeZigg Capital+4 more
DramaBox is a streaming platform offering short-form serialized drama series (mini-episode movies) across genres such as fantasy, romance, and sci-fi.
ConsumerGamingMedia & Entertainment
ElevenLabs is an AI research and product company that builds voice generation and audio processing platforms for creating human-like voice interactions with technology.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyEnterprise SoftwareSaaSLondon, GB
Mati Staniszewski(Founder & CEO)inPiotr Dabkowski(Co-founder)inHannah C(Founder)Mateusz Jakub Staniszewski(Co-founder)in
BoardJennifer Li(Director)in
Co-investorsAir Street CapitalAlkeon InnovationAndreessen HorowitzAntiAspire11BroadLight Capital+29 more
Flickplay is a platform that makes character IP portable and monetizable across user-generated content, social, and real-world experiences, letting fans carry characters across loyalty programs, games, and creator tools.
Creator EconomyGamingMedia & Entertainment
Co-investorsAbstract VenturesGOAL VenturesLightspeed Venture PartnersMuse CapitalThe Fund
Haddy operates a U.S. microfactory that uses AI-powered large-format robotic 3D printing and integrated milling to manufacture parts for defense (drone hulls and components), entertainment (props and set pieces), marine and construction (components and cement/concrete molds), and custom furniture and lighting.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareRoboticsSaint Petersburg, US
JOHN B. ROGERS, JR.(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardWILLIAM G. CAPERTON, IV(Director)VICTOR WESTERLIND(Director)
CakhiaTV is a free online platform for live football (soccer) streaming offering matches from major global tournaments including Premier League, Champions League, World Cup, and domestic leagues, with Vietnamese-language commentary and supplementary features like match schedules, standings, and highlights.
ConsumerMedia & Entertainment
Co-investors5Lion VenturesEvolution VC PartnersRelevance VenturesCityRock Venture PartnersClimentum CapitalGaingels+5 more
__Twitter.png)
Illumix builds infrastructure for spatial AI, combining computer vision, multimodal AI, and edge deployment technologies for both consumer and enterprise applications.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareRoboticsPalo Alto, US
Kirin Sinha(Founder & CEO)inMarianne Dang(Founder)in
Co-investorsLightShed VenturesLightspeed Venture PartnersMaveronRaptor GroupSony Ventures CorporationMakers Fund+3 more
Inworld AI provides a full-duplex audio streaming platform that enables real-time conversational AI interactions with intelligent turn-taking, function calling, and multi-model routing capabilities for developers building conversational applications.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsMountain View, US
Ilya Gelfenbeyn(Founder)inKylan Gibbs(Founder)inMichael Ermolenko(Founder)in
Co-investorsBitkraft Esports VenturesBrave CapitalCRV (Charles River Ventures)Dentsu VenturesFirst Spark Ventures, LlcIntel Capital+11 more
Liminal Space designs and manufactures LED display systems and spatial technology for out-of-home entertainment venues, creating immersive visual experiences.
HardwareMedia & EntertainmentLos Angeles, US
Nathan Huber(Founder)inRyan Pardeiro(Founder)in
Co-investorsComcast VenturesCove Fund
Lockerverse is a platform for creators, athletes, and organizations to build monetized fan communities through membership tiers, fundraising campaigns, exclusive content and live streams, and branded merchandise stores.
Creator EconomyE-commerceSaaS
Co-investorsW ventures
Miko builds child-safe AI robots and companion products designed to support kids' learning and creativity while giving parents controls over safety, screen time, and data.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEdTechMumbai, IN
Sneh Vaswani(Founder)in
Co-investorsChiratae VenturesIvyCap VenturesTrifecta Capital AdvisorsiHeartMedia
Mojo Vision develops micro-LED technology, positioning it as a platform for AI infrastructure and next-generation displays.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductors
Nikhil Balram(Chief Executive Officer)inMike Wiemer(Chief Technology Officer)inG. Aaron James(General Counsel)in
BoardSteve Jurvetson(Founder)in
Co-investorsARC Angel FundArgonautic VenturesBold Capital PartnersFlucas VenturesFusionFuture Ventures+15 more
Powering vertical content for Snapchat
Creator EconomyLos Angeles (Venice), US
Dan Altmann(Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer)inEric Posen(Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer)Daniel Archer(Co-Founder & Founding Engineer)in
BoardAllen DeBevoise(Director (Founder & Managing Partner, Third Wave Digital, which led Naritiv's Series A))Daniel Leff(Director (Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Waverley Capital); joined board approximately November 2015)in
Co-investorsLuminari CapitalMucker CapitalWavemaker PartnersWaverley CapitalAlpaca VCGreylock Partners
Nuro develops the Nuro Driver, a Level 4 self-driving system combining automotive-grade hardware and AI software that can be integrated into personally owned vehicles and commercial fleets.
AI & Machine LearningMobility & TransportationRoboticsMountain View, US
Dave Ferguson(Co-Founder & Co-CEO (also referred to in press as Co-Founder & President))inJiajun Zhu(Co-Founder & Co-CEO)inAndrew Chapin(Chief Operating Officer)inMike Mancini(Chief Financial Officer)James Owens(Chief Legal & Policy Officer)Andrew Clare(Chief Technology Officer (as of September 2024))in
Co-investorsUberArc AngelsBaillie GiffordBasis Set VenturesBow CapitalConnetic Ventures+13 more
Obsessar (Napster) builds AI agents and "crews" that companies deploy as pre-built or custom specialists trained on their own policies, products, and playbooks, with identity, memory, actions, and governance.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHardware
Co-investorsAsimov Venturesblue 9 capitalWXR FundThe Venture Reality Fund
PlayOn Sites is a website platform for schools that integrates athletic programming, streaming, ticketing, and scheduling into a unified hub for athletic directors, coaches, and fans.
Media & EntertainmentSaaSSports Tech
David Rudolph(Founder)in
Co-investorsBIP VenturesGray VenturesBIP CapitalCrossover
Red 6 develops augmented reality flight training technology for military aviators, enabling pilots and autonomous systems to train together in simulated threat environments.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechHardware
Daniel Robinson(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsAlpha EdisonIronGate Capital AdvisorsKluz VenturesMoonshots CapitalOctave Ventures LlcLockheed Martin Ventures
StatusPRO creates immersive virtual reality sports gaming experiences, primarily for the NFL, that let players and gamers practice athletic skills and compete in authentic game scenarios.
GamingHardwareMedia & EntertainmentSports Tech
Andrew Hawkins(Co-founder)Troy Jones(Co-founder & CEO)
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesGV (Google Ventures)Limited VenturesDigerati InvestmentsJDS SportsTitletownTech
Attentive provides a multi-channel customer engagement platform that includes email, SMS, RCS, push notifications, and AI-powered lifecycle orchestration for direct-to-consumer brands.
AI & Machine LearningDirect to ConsumerMarketing TechBarcelos, Braga
Pedro Araujo(Founder)Luis Braga(Founder)Daniel Araujo(Founder)Brian Long(Founder)in
BoardYannick Oswald(Director)Cristina Fronseca(Director)
Co-investorsBain Capital VenturesBeyond CapitalBling CapitalCoatue ManagementEniac VenturesFelicis Ventures+16 more
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Eleven Labs · bebee.com · Sep 5, 2026
Illumix · castleplacement.com · Jul 9, 2026
Nuro · Nuro (company blog/press) · Jun 17, 2026
Inworld AI · businesswire.com · Jun 10, 2026
Animaj · ascendants.in · Mar 12, 2026
Mojo Vision · trysignalbase.com · Mar 7, 2026
Miko · siliconindia.com · Jan 29, 2026
Tone · thesaasnews.com · Nov 13, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Disney Accelerator made?
- Disney Accelerator has 24 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Disney Accelerator invest at?
- Disney Accelerator invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Disney Accelerator focus on?
- Disney Accelerator focuses on Crypto & Web3, Gaming, Media & Entertainment.
- Who does Disney Accelerator co-invest with?
- Disney Accelerator most often shares deals with Lightspeed Venture Partners, LG Technology Ventures, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), among 131 tracked co-investors.
Similar investors
Viola is an Israeli technology investment group managing over $7 billion in assets, operating multiple independent investment arms spanning venture capital, growth equity, credit, and fintech.
FirstMark Capital is a venture capital firm that backs founders and accelerates them through a platform providing access to networks, customers, and top talent.
Cultur3 Capital is a Web3-focused venture firm that backs founders building blockchain-native communities, DAOs, and cultural projects, supporting teams from first cheque to last and helping produce events for its portfolio companies.
Smile Group is an internet firm operating across Asia that invests in, builds, and partners with founders pursuing ambitious, disruptive ideas.
AppWorks is a Taiwan-based venture capital firm and accelerator founded by former founders, backing tech startups across Greater Southeast Asia since 2009.