Disney Plays Host for Digital Start-Ups

LOS ANGELES â€" The Magic Kingdom is letting 10 technology start-ups inside its walls as part of an effort to find new digital growth.

The Walt Disney Company on Wednesday announced a partnership with TechStars, which tries to accelerate early-stage companies by pairing entrepreneurs with established executives. Ten start-ups focused on media and entertainment ideas will receive $120,000 and work with Disney leaders for three months starting June 30. At the end, Disney and TechStars may take a stake in one or more of the companies.

Committed to offer advice are Robert A. Iger, Disneyâ€s chief executive and chairman, and leaders from Disney units like Pixar, Lucasfilm, ESPN and Imagineering, which handles design for the company’s theme parks. Disney Accelerator, as the program is called, comes as Disney’s digital unit revamps its online and mobile video-game operations.

“We are an innovative and forward-thinking company, but there is also real value in being friendly to outside ideas,” said Kevin A. Mayer, Disney’s executive vice president for corporate strategy and business development. “We want Disney Accelerator to be a part of how we profitably and defensibly grow our business.”

Mentoring for start-ups â€" either through TechStars or competitors like Y Combinator! â€" has become popular at a wide range of companies outside of Silicon Valley, but large media companies have been relatively standoffish. Mr. Mayer said that, before Mr. Iger’s tenure, Disney was “a bit more proprietary in our thinking.”

Examples of successful companies that have sprung from accelerators include Dropbox, the file-storage service, and Airbnb, which lets travelers rent accommodations in private residences.

Disney’s only major restriction on applicants, in the words of a spokeswoman: “Please, please don’t send us scripts.”

Correction: February 12, 2014

An earlier version of this article incorrectly rendered a quote from Kevin A. Mayer. He said, “We want Disney Accelerator to be a part of how we profitably and defensibly grow our business,” not “defensively grow our business.”