Accelerators targeting media companies

They include Matter, Yellow, The Information Accelerator and Disney Accelerator

For startups, there are numerous paths for getting their name out there. One way, which Vator has been covering recently, are startup competitions, but another popular method to get a foot in the door, as well as some funding and traction, are accelerators. These are programs that provide companies advice, guidance and various forms of support for startups in their early stages. They also often invest in the companies, for a certain equity stake.

Need a list of startup competitions, challenges, accelerators, etc. from around the world? Check out VatorX. You can find them, or list yours!

There are some very well-known accelerators out there, including Y Combinator and 500 Startups, which have made their names through various successful alumni. Those programs fairly general, accepting companies from a variety of different spaces. 

For some companies, it may help to join an accelerator that only focuses on their specific area. That's especially true for those in more specialized spaces, which will have their own unique challenges and regulations.

Here are some of the accelerators that are focused specifically on mentoring companies in the media space:

 

"We’re looking for scrappy entrepreneurs who are building the media platforms of the future. We’ll support them with investment and a five-month in-person accelerator program."

• Matter

Investment amount: You receive a $125K investment. $50K is cash to give you five months of runway to do needfinding with your customers, prototype your solutions, and build traction with your audience. $75K covers the accelerator services.

Program benefits:  Over the course of the program, you’ll immerse yourself in a collaborative culture based in design thinking to help you be more human-centered and prototype-driven. With the help of our community, you’ll fail fast to achieve product/market fit sooner. 

Portfolio companies: Personal Heroes, NextRequest, News Deeply, Enwoven

 

• Baltic Media Accelerator

"Providing media entrepreneurs with the tools to upscale"

Investment amount: Up to €10,000 grant funding

Program benefits:  

• Mentoring from successful media entrepreneurs and subject matter experts
• Foundation training modules covering topics including financial health management, intellectual property law, and digital marketing principles
• Bespoke support packages tailored to the needs of your team, ranging from market insights to custom-built software
• A series of workshops delivered by industry leaders and networking events
• Access to a business and advertising network and the opportunity for series A funding

Mentor makeup: Dmitri Surnin, Jana Pavelkova, Rita Rudusha

Portfolio companies: Not specified

 

• Chicas Poderosas New Ventures Lab

"The New Ventures Lab (NVL) is the first of its kind accelerator to support early-stage, women-led companies focused on independent digital media. Our first accelerator will take place in Brazil."

Investment amount: Not specified

Program benefits: Educational topics during both in-person and virtual sessions to include leadership, team development, staffing, revenue models, fundraising, venture capital, scalability, engagement strategies, distribution, budgeting, staffing, not for profit vs. for profit, digital tools, metrics and analysis, and more- as related to independent digital media investigative news organizations in Latin America.

Mentor makeup: We have selected key industry experts and practitioner from highly regarded independent media organizations throughout the world-who have agreed to dedicate their time and resources to the success of independent digital media in Brazil.

Portfolio companies: Agência Ajuri, Culturadoria, Especiales Editoriales, Malquerida

 

• Stibo Accelerator

"The Stibo Accelerator is founded by Stibo A/S, the owner of new industry software solution providers, CCI and Escenic. The initiative is aimed at inviting talented, creative students to write their Master Thesis together with Stibo and the company's network of partners, customers, suppliers and industry experts. The Accelerator supports the students by creating the optimal conditions for them to investigate new technologies and trends in the news industry."

Investment amount: The goal of the Stibo Accelerator is not to grab a part of your idea or company. If you are accepted in to the program it’s because we think the missing spice in your project could be exactly what the global Stibo network can provide.

Program benefits:  There are no contracts, no strings. Students writing their Master or Bachelor thesis with us still work for the University and have full freedom to take the research they are working on in any direction they choose. It’s their project – we just do everything in our power to make the projects amazing and closer to reality.

Portfolio companies: Not specified

 

• Yellow

"A launchpad for creative minds and entrepreneurs who are looking to build the next generation of great media companies." 

Investment amount: Investment of $150k for equity on founder friendly terms

Program benefits:  

• Commercial support and partnerships
• Mentorship from industry veterans
• Networking events with creatives and media luminaries
• Creative office space

Portfolio companies: None yet

 

• next media accelerator

"next media accelerator was initiated by the German Press Agency(dpa) and founded in 2015 in Hamburg by several independent partners in order to offer media related startups a place to succeed."

Investment amount: 

• 0€ in funding, 3% shares for NMA
• 25.000€ in funding, 5% shares for NMA
• 50.000€ in funding, 10% shares for NMA

Program benefits:  

• Network to the German publishing industry
• Contact to international investors
• Access to over 150 mentors
• Coaching tailored to your needs

Mentor makeup:  Heidrun Twesten, Marc Schwieger, Malte Goesche, André Basse

Portfolio companies: AdTriba, heysite, Playgorithm, Frameright, helloguide

 

• Comcast NBCUniversal Lift Labs Accelerator

"An immersive experience designed to elevate the next generation of media, entertainment, and connectivity companies." 

Investment amount: A $100,000 convertible note is automatically offered to all Techstars companies upon acceptance.

$20,000 in exchange for 6% common stock

Program benefits:  

• Access to Techstars resources for life
• Acceleration in a 90-day Techstars program with intense, hands-on mentorship from Techstars Mentors
• Connections to the Techstars Network of over 5,000 founders, alumni and mentors globally
• 400 perks worth over $1M
• Office space for three months
• Demo Day and other investor connections
• Equity Back Guarantee, the only one of its kind in the industry

Mentor makeup: Maggie McLean Suniewick, Sam Schwartz, Pank Patel, Michael Aaronson

Portfolio companies: alive5, Orai, Pium, eyecandylab

 

• The Information Accelerator

"The Information Accelerator is an initiative to fund, foster and support next generation news publications. As a leader in the subscription news business, The Information finds itself in the unique position to invest in great journalism. With that in mind, The Information launched The Information Accelerator in 2017. The essential criteria is that you must produce news of the highest caliber that can’t be found anywhere else."

Investment amount: Each participant of The Information accelerator recieves a $25,000 investment. 

Program benefits: Companies receive mentorship throughout the year and access to the team at The Information as well as a network of advisors.

Portfolio companies: Detour, The Ankler, Impactalpha, Daodu.Tech, Good Morning Italia

 

• Disney Accelerator

"The Disney Accelerator is helping today’s technology innovators turn their dreams for new media and entertainment experiences into reality."

Investment amount: Not specified

Program benefits: The Disney Accelerator provides participating companies with investment capital, access to co-working space at Disney’s creative campus and mentor support and guidance from top Disney executives, entrepreneurs, investors and other notable business leaders from the entertainment and technology communities.

Portfolio companies: Ambidio, Epic Games, Atom Tickets, Jaunt, littleBits

 

• Anthill Studio

 "Anthill Studio is a business accelerator program focused on technology startups in Media & Entertainment"

Investment amount: A chosen few stand to raise > $1 million at the end of the program

Program benefits: There is no cash grant that will be given to the startups. However you will get office space for the duration of the cohort free of cost. You will also get infrastructure credits from our partners and mentorship from global experts free of cost
In exchange for the acceleration, Anthill Studio will take equity in your company, depending on your current funding stage and valuation.

Portfolio companies: ComicFlix, NewsPlus, RecoSense, Rooter

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