迪斯尼跳上加速器魔法马车

    大约在2012年年底的时候，科技行业掀起了加速器项目热潮。自Y孵化器（Y Combinator）成功催生热门企业Airbnb和Dropbox之后，上千个初创公司加速器项目在美国如雨后春笋般涌现出来。这些项目成为了年轻初创企业的训练营，而学费便是公司的一小部分股权。但是问题在于，对初创企业真正有帮助的加速器项目究竟有多少？

    无论如何，企业界还是希望创业行动包含加速器。商业巨头包括耐克（Nike）、卡夫食品（Kraft，现已更名为亿滋国际——译注）和微软（Microsoft）都创建了相应的加速器项目，为的是从具有创新精神的青年创业主那里吸取灵感，同时在这一过程中向他们提供资源。我们姑且称之为潜移默化的创新吧。现在，加速器大军中又出现了一家新面孔：迪斯尼公司（Disney）宣布推出自己的加速器项目，项目总部将位于洛杉矶。

    迪斯尼企业策略和业务开发执行副总裁凯文•梅耶说：“我们意识到，最好的点子不可能都诞生于公司内部。我们吸纳的对象是那些具有新颖点子的人，否则，这些点子根本不可能进入行业的视线。”

    为此，迪斯尼选择了与加速器项目最知名运营商之一的TechStars开展合作，后者所运营的加速器项目已经遍及7个城市。TechStars之前也与其他公司合作过，例如它曾与卡普兰（Kaplan）、巴克莱银行（Barclays）、Sprint 、R/GA和耐克就加速器项目开展过合作。【然而，耐克数字体育创新高级总监里奇•恩格博格（在《卫报》（Guardian）去年召开的Activate New York会议上称，耐克2014年的项目可能会采取不同的形式。】

    对于获选进入项目的10家左右的企业，迪斯尼将向每一家豪掷12万美元，同时还可另外提供10万美元的可兑换债券。借助这个交易，迪斯尼将持有这些公司6%的股权，具体持股比例会随着企业是否举债而变化。（相比之下，大多数加速器提供的资金都少于5万美元。加入Y孵化器的企业之前可从Y孵化器合伙投资人YCVC那里获得6位数的初创资金，但是YCVC去年将注资数额下调到了8万美元。）

    迪斯尼董事长兼首席执行官鲍勃•伊格将担任迪斯尼加速器初创公司的导师，同样，迪斯尼很多部门的高管也会担此重任。导师的部分工作就是帮助年轻的初创企业了解迪斯尼这样的大型公司。如果创业主们打算与大型传媒公司合作，这是他们的必修课。梅耶说：“游泳池很大，我觉得一不小心的话就容易溺水。”

    任何与迪斯尼业务有关的初创企业都可以提交申请，而且没有发展阶段的限制。梅耶说，迪斯尼唯一不缺的东西就是剧本。

    梅耶负责掌管迪斯尼的并购和投资活动。过去的8年中，迪斯尼公司开展了约50笔收购交易，包括收购初创企业Tapulous和Playdom。他表示，迪斯尼将考虑投资和收购加速器项目中的初创企业。迪斯尼希望从投资中获得回报的意图十分明显，但它最感兴趣的还是初创企业带来的活力和创新思维。梅耶说：“活力和创新思维本身就会为公司带来财务收益，尽管这些衡量起来有一定的难度。”

    迪斯尼内部已成立了几支专注于创新的团队。迪斯尼互动实验室（Disney Interactive Labs）为公司打造数字产品，Disney Imagineering负责设计和开发工作，同时与大学开展合作。迪斯尼企业研发工作室同时也是一个创新中心。除此之外，这家公司还于一年前举办了一个“开发人员日”活动。期间，各位创始人竞相向迪斯尼高管谏言献策。最终，迪斯尼投资了其中的三家公司。

    梅耶表示，加速器项目是“开发人员日”活动的延续。加速器项目将于6月30日开始，申请截止日期为4月16日。（财富中文网）

    译者：翔

    Sometime around late 2012, the tech world hit peak accelerator. Following the success of Y Combinator, which spawned breakout hits Airbnb and Dropbox, thousands of startup accelerator programs sprung up across the country. These programs act as a boot camp for young startups in exchange for a small chunk of equity, but it is questionable how many of them really help.

    No matter, corporations want in on the startup action. Conglomerates from Nike (NKE) and Kraft (KRFT) to Microsoft (MSFT) have created programs as a way to learn from innovative young founders while providing them resources in the process. Call it innovation by osmosis. Add another one to the list today: Disney has announced its own accelerator, to be based in Los Angeles.

    "We realized that not all of the best thinking can possibly come from inside the enterprise," says Kevin Mayer, EVP of corporate strategy and business development at Disney. "We're bringing in folks with fresh points of view that wouldn't otherwise be in our sphere."

    To do this, Disney paired up with TechStars, one of the most well-known accelerator operators, with programs in seven cities. TechStars has set a precedent for corporate partnerships, working with Kaplan, Barclays, Sprint, R/GA, and Nike for their accelerators. (However, the Nike program may take a different form in 2014, according to Ricky Engelberg, senior director of innovation for digital sport, speaking at Guardian's Activate New york conference last year.)

    Disney (DIS) will invest a generous $120,000 to each of the 10 or so startups it chooses for the program, with an option for another $100,000 in convertible debt. The deal gives Disney a 6% stake in the companies, which can fluctuate depending on whether they take the debt. (For context, most accelerators offer less than $50,000. Participation in Y Combinator previously offered startups six-figure sums via Y Combinator's partner investors, YCVC, but YCVC lowered its offer to $80,000 in the last year.)

    Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger will act as a mentor to the Disney Accelerator startups, as will top Disney executives across its many divisions. Part of the mentors' jobs will be to help the young startups navigate a large corporation like Disney, which is something they need to learn if they plan to work with big media companies. "It's a big swimming pool and you can drown, I guess, if you're not careful," Mayer said.

    Disney seeks applications from any startup related to any of Disney's businesses, at any stage. The only thing it doesn't want is scripts, Mayer said.

    Mayer leads Disney's M&A and investment activity. The company has done around 50 acquisitions over the last eight years, including startups like Tapulous and Playdom. Disney will consider investments and acquisitions of the startups in the accelerator, he said. The company obviously hopes to see a return on its investment, but is most interested in the injection of energy and fresh thinking that startups bring. "That in itself will provide a financial return to the company, though it's less easily measurable," he said.

    Disney already has a few in-house teams focused on innovation. Disney Interactive Labs builds digital products for the company, Disney Imagineering does design and development work and partners with universities. And Disney's corporate R&D lab also serves as a center of innovation. Beyond that, the company hosted a developer day a year ago, where founders pitched ideas to Disney executives. Disney ended up investing in three of those companies.

    This program is an extension of the developer day, Mayer says. The accelerator starts on June 30, and applications are open until April 16.