ChoreMonster, a Web and mobile app that rewards children for performing their weekly chores, is among 11 firms selected to participate in Disney’s new technology accelerator program.
These young companies will participate in a 15-week program, powered by startup accelerator Techstars, in which Disney executives will serve as mentors. The firms also qualify for investments of up to $120,000 to help build, launch and market their products.
The accelerator program culminates in October with a Demo Day presentation to industry leaders, Disney executives and entrepreneurs.
“With Disney Accelerator, we are now bringing the creativity and imagination of Disney to early-stage startups in a way we have never done before,” said Disney Executive Vice President Kevin A. Mayer.
Mayer has been the behind-the-scenes figure overseeing key Disney deals, including its acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm. He was also a driving force in its recent acquisition of Maker Studios, which built its following on YouTube.
The accelerator marks a different type of bet on technology and entertainment by the Burbank conglomerate.
Among the companies selected for the program are Codarica, which introduces children to the world of coding through characters Cody Coder and Holly Hacker; Tyffon, a maker of entertainment apps such as ZombieBooth, which turns everyday images of people and pets into snarling zombies; and ShowShoe, a maker of plastic stamps that interact with touchscreens, making images suddenly appear within the digital environment.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
