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Disney Accelerator helps start-ups like littleBits develop innovative products and experiences

This Thursday, the start-up companies selected to participate in the 2016 Disney Accelerator program will present their businesses to an audience of industry leaders and Disney executives on “Demo Day.” Alumni of the Disney Accelerator program have achieved great success, including Sphero which designed the app-enabled BB-8 droid toy.

One of the companies selected for 2016, littleBits, will debut its latest product of color-coded, magnetic, and reusable electronic building blocks. This new product, which will empower children to create and design their own fun inventions with technology, is a culmination of months of collaboration with the Disney Accelerator team.

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“Disney Accelerator has allowed us to work with some of the world’s most innovative start-ups who are developing products, experiences, and technologies that will help shape the future of entertainment,” said Kevin Mayer, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Their entrepreneurial spirit, combined with Disney’s experience, make for a powerful combination—and we are excited to partner with many of them as they continue their journeys.”

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Ayah Bdeir, CEO and founder of littleBits

CEO and founder of littleBits, Ayah Bdeir, regarded her company’s acceptance into Disney Accelerator as an important milestone for littleBits and an exciting opportunity to learn from The Walt Disney Company’s vast network of media and entertainment properties.

“There is so much for us to learn from Disney,” said Bdeir. “Disney is one of those companies that crosses the boundaries of space and time, transcending languages and generations; bringing people of all ages and nationalities together. Disney has also renewed its commitment to heritage and diversity, striving to foster a rich diversity of voices, perspectives and experiences across its products and companies. But most importantly, and more meaningfully, Disney is a company about bringing more imagination, magic, and fantasy to the world. We could not be more honored to work alongside these creative innovators who share our desire to bring more magic into the universe – whether it’s on screen or built with Bits in your own two hands.”

There have already been many amazing Disney-inspired inventions created with littleBits’ technology by the Disney and littleBits community prior to Thursday’s Demo Day. See the magic for yourselves:

A music-playing Aladdin Lamp cosplay prop

A Frozen-themed snow globe that plays 8 bit music from Frozen and blows snow around Olaf

Honey Lemon’s bag that dispenses chem balls and lights up from Big Hero 6

Tune in after this Thursday to find out which start-ups Disney Accelerator will support in this upcoming year, and check out which start-ups they invested in during last year‘s Demo day.

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