Now in its 10th year of operations, the Disney Accelerator has announced its 2024 cohort. The accelerator, which is based in Glendale, works with early-stage companies in the consumer media, entertainment and technology sectors.

This year’s cohort has five companies, including Sawtelle-based PrometheanAI LLC, an artificial intelligence company that provides a suite of tools for virtual-world creation and digital-asset management.

The program kicked off this month and will conclude in late May with a Demo Day at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. Companies in the Disney Accelerator receive mentorship and guidance from executives at The Walt Disney Co., access to co-working space at Disney’s creative campus and, typically, investment. The accelerator previously capped investment in individual companies within its programs at $120,000, but this investment ceiling was removed in 2016.

Other members of the accelerator’s cohort this year include San Francisco-based AudioShake and New York-based ElevenLabs – both audio-technology companies working with AI – Mountain View-based robotics and autonomous vehicle company Nuro Inc. and Miami-based sports technology platform StatusPro Inc. 

An accelerator spokesperson said that all of its companies this year are focused on exploring how emerging technologies can “be used as tools to foster human creativity and imagination and help shape the future of media and technology.” Bonnie Rosen, general manager of the accelerator, said that Disney has always been a leader in understanding and embracing technological shifts. 

“The Disney Accelerator allows us to continue this legacy of innovation and the responsible use of technology in service of storytelling,” Rosen said. “As we kick off the 10th year of the program, we are joined by leading companies that share our belief in the unmatched power of human creativity and imagination, exploring new ways to bring Disney magic to fans everywhere.”

More than 60 companies have gone through the program since it opened in 2014, including Epic Games Inc., Santa Monica-based web3 social app FlickPlay, game-based learning platform Kahoot! and technology and media company Illumix Inc. Epic Games participated in the Disney Accelerator in 2017, receiving an undisclosed investment from Disney in the process. Disney this month announced it would be investing about $1.5 billion to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games.

“This all builds on Epic Games’ participation in the 2017 Disney Accelerator program, which seeks to impact the future of technology and entertainment,” Disney said in a statement.