Hawaii’s Award-Winning Accelerator Announces 2nd Cycle, Gets Broadband Hookup
Kailua-Kona, HI (PRWEB) July 22, 2015 -- Named one of the 50 most innovative accelerators in America by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Hawaii’s “GVS Accelerator” is announcing its second cycle.
A partnership between Global Virtual Studio (GVS), the Hawai’i Strategic Development Corporation (HSDC), the County of Hawai’i and the GTA Development Fund, the Accelerator aims to empower Hawaii’s creative entrepreneurs to launch their original transmedia franchises. The program is based out of Honua Studios in Kona on Hawai’i Island and will accept applications from August 1st through August 31st. This year individual entrepreneurs/producers may apply as well as startup teams - the former to be “match-made” with selected startup companies.
The program includes a $50,000 seed investment and access to entertainment and innovation industry insiders such as producer Ralph Winter ("X-MEN", "Fantastic Four" and "Planet of the Apes"), Academy Award nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy ("Gorillas in the Mist", "Tarzan" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"), Mike Frank (co-founder of Level 3 Communications) and Lance Priebe (creator and co-founder of Club Penguin). Last year the Accelerator selected 5 companies from more than 100 applicants.
Successful graduates of the program can now tap up to $250,000 in matching funds (in addition to the $50,000 seed funds for development) if they raise at least 25% of their follow-on budget in private equity and secure product distribution. The first round’s cohort is now in the follow-on fundraising phase with graduate Jumping Flea Productions currently in talks with MPower Pictures’ Steve McEveety ("Man Down", "The Passion of the Christ", "Braveheart") to co-produce "Jack London's Ko'olau the Leper". Production will be done entirely in the State of Hawai’i and will receive the 25% production and post production rebate for the outer islands.
Selected startups will soon have the benefit of the new cutting-edge broadband tools of GVS Connect, a spinoff startup of GVS that is pioneering a broadband pilot program in partnership with the HSDC that will utilize broadband connectivity, virtual collaboration and digital asset management. The connectivity will allow Honua Studios to connect to over 400 major studios and post production companies on a private and secure, dedicated line in partnership with Sohonet Media Network. GVS Connect will have hubs on both Hawai’i Island and Oahu, and will open up “self serve data transfer” services to the general public where up to 10GB of burstable connectivity will be accessible. GVS Accelerator Founder and “Chief Instigator” David L. Cunningham states, “We hope to pave a way for big data transfer in the islands which will open up new opportunities for Hawai’i entrepreneurs.”
The GVS Accelerator was chosen as one of the top 50 most innovative accelerators in the nation from over eight hundred accelerators in America by the SBA. This honor came with a $50,000 award that helped to build out a new sound recording studio and 7.1 surround sound screening room at the Accelerator’s Co-Work Space at Honua Studios. Other Program sponsors include Hawaii’s Creative Industries and Creative Lab, Hawaii International Film Festival, the High Technology Development Corporation, Big Island Gigs, and the Hawai’i Visitors & Convention Bureau.
If you are an entrepreneur in the creative industries and would like to apply to the Accelerator, please visit http://www.gvsaccelerator.com for more information.
GVS Accelerator Founder and international filmmaker, David L. Cunningham, will be at the ROC for an Accelerator Q&A open to the public, at 5pm this Friday, July 24th. ROC is at 1110 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, 96817.
For more information: http://www.gvsaccelerator.com
For press inquiries: accel(at)globalvirtualstudio(dot)com, 808-938-7227 or 571-274-5077
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Founded in 2014 by filmmaker David L. Cunningham, the GVS Accelerator is a Hawai'i-based initiative that empowers creative entrepreneurs to launch original, future-proof, impacting franchises for wide commercial audiences. The Accelerator Program is a joint effort between Global Virtual Studio (GVS), the County of Hawai’i, the Hawai’i Strategic Development Corporation (HSDC) and the GTA Development Fund.
David Bruce, GVS Accelerator, http://www.gvsaccelerator.com/, +1 (808) 938-7227, [email protected]
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