The Capital Region AR VR Accelerator has announced strategic collaborations with the Sacramento Kings, McClatchy New Ventures Lab, Clark Pacific, and Moneta Ventures to spearhead innovation and business growth in the exploding augmented reality and virtual reality sectors.
Collectively, the collaboration intends to help create an environment and pathway for success for start-up and early-stage AR and VR companies, particularly for those interested in locating to or establishing a presence in the Capital region.
The first component of the collaboration will be the 2018 AR/VR Pitch-Fest, occurring on August 29 at Golden 1 Center — home of the Sacramento Kings, located in the heart of downtown Sacramento.
The event is part of the recruitment process for a Fall 2018 Accelerator cohort that will include between 5 and 10 start-up and early-stage AR and VR companies.
“As early augmented and virtual reality adopters, we understand the power that immersive technology can have with our fans and guests,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Technology Officer and Pitch-Fest judge Ryan Montoya. “We’re looking forward to showcasing emerging innovations at Golden 1 Center, supporting the development of new tech, and providing our insight along the way.”
“We often talk about immersive storytelling as a part of journalism’s future, but there’s no reason it can’t be in the present. Accelerators like this push the medium forward with better technology, distribution and monetization models that are now within reach,” stated Meghan Sims, Head of McClatchy New Ventures Lab and Director of Strategic Video Initiatives, McClatchy.
Lokesh Sikaria, Founder and Managing Partner at Moneta Ventures, said “We are excited to see the unique and innovative businesses that emerge from the Capital Region AR VR Accelerator. With AR/VR predicted to be a $50B+ industry in the next 3 years, the accelerator is poised to graduate companies into a rising tide of investment and growth in the industry. Moneta Ventures looks forward to assisting these entrepreneurs in founding disruptive businesses and establishing the Sacramento region as a strong hub of innovation in this space.”
2018 AR/VR Pitch-Fest on August 29
The 2018 AR/VR Pitch-Fest will feature presentations by up to 20 start-up and early-stage augmented reality or virtual reality companies to panels of judges representing angel investors, venture capitalists, regional and major corporations, health care institutions and governmental entities who have an interest in the AR/VR industry space in a variety of industry verticals.
The top presenting company will gain entry into the 2018 cohort of the Capital Region AR VR Accelerator and be featured at the first home game of the Sacramento Kings 2018–19 season.
Companies featured at the Pitch-Fest will learn more about the details of the Fall Accelerator and have the ability to interact with members of the Selection Committee, investors, and mentor teams and advisors which will give them a leg up on the selection process. Representatives from the Sacramento Kings, McClatchy New Ventures Lab, Clark Pacific, and Moneta Ventures will serve as panelists and judges at Pitch-Fest and be part of the Selection Committee for the Capital Region AR VR Accelerator.
The Pitch-Fest will also include panels of industry experts who will talk about hot trends in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality and provide insights on what lies ahead in the remainder of 2018 and 2019.
How to be a Presenting Company at the AR VR Pitch-Fest
AR and VR start-up companies interested in being considered to be a presenting company at the AR VR Pitch-Fest can fill out the online application or simply submit an executive summary and/or fundraising deck via email.
AR VR Accelerator — 2018 Fall Cohort
The Capital Region AR VR Accelerator is an 11-week intensive program for start-up and early-stage VR and AR companies.
The Accelerator program is unique in that it provides a blend of on-site and virtual components, an infusion of capital, custom-tailored mentor teams, a focus on creation of a mutually-aligned milestone plan for each selected company, and a primary emphasis on growing key influencer relationships (investors, team and board members, customers, advisors/mentors, strategic partners and media representatives) that can directly accelerate success in achieving business objectives.
In addition to serving on the cohort Selection Committee, representatives from the Sacramento Kings, McClatchy New Ventures Lab, Clark Pacific and Moneta Ventures will participate as guest faculty, mentors or advisors of cohort companies who are focused on their areas of corporate business development and/or investment interests.
READ MORE ON HAPTICAL
LIKE THIS ARTICLE?
Please help Haptical continue bringing you quality content. Support us on Panteon and do your Amazon shopping by first visiting bit.ly/shophaptical
Sign up to Haptical. Get weekly VR/AR news and reviews collected for you.
Disclaimer: We publish affiliate links. If you purchase a product by using these links we may receive a small commission to support our service. We are an independent publisher committed to bring the latest trends, products and services on Virtual and Augmented Reality.
