Hyderabad : Anthill Ventures, an investment and speed-scaling platform for early- growth stage startups, today called for applications for the second edition of its Anthill Studio Programme. Powered by Anthill Ventures and Suresh Productions, Anthill Studio is a three-month accelerator programme that provides media and entertainment startups with opportunities to access markets.

This year, Anthill Studio will shortlist up to nine startups in leading-edge technologies such as AI, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Blockchain, Visual Effects (VFX), Cloud Rendering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data and Analytics. The selected startups will benefit from the creative expertise and resources of both Anthill Ventures and Suresh Productions. They will also get an opportunity to work with more than 20 market-access partners through proof-of-concept (PoC) opportunities and potentially explore strategic partnerships to fuel growth.

The first edition that concluded in December received applications from more than 150 startups across the world. After a rigorous screening process, seven exciting startups—Rooter, ComicFlix, Scapic, NewsPlus, Saranyu, RecoSense, and Woodcutter—were selected. The first cohort of Anthill Studio enabled more than 50 PoC opportunities for the selected startups. In January this year, Anthill Ventures invested in Rooter and is closely working with three of its cohort startups to raise their next round of funding.

 

Prasad Vanga, Founder & CEO, Anthill Ventures, said, “The success of our startups leads to the success of our accelerator programmes. The first cohort of the programme witnessed seven amazing startups that brought in sharp technology solutions for the media and entertainment industry. We are excited to announce the second edition of Anthill Studio in partnership with Suresh Productions. With more corporate partners and investors on board, we look forward to scouting nine more power-packed startups to help them scale with speed.”

Rana Daggubati, Actor, Producer and Investor at Suresh Productions said, “We are thrilled with the kind of response that we received for Anthill Studio. The incredible success of the first cohort reinforces our focus to create the desired environment for startups by providing them with easy access to the media and entertainment market. Anthill Studio is a bridge between the entertainment and technology industries. We look forward to accelerating a new group of exciting startups for the programme with direct market access and live projects.”

 

Benefits that startups will get from the programme:

• Smart capital up to $1 million through Anthill Ventures Fund and the investor ecosystem.
• Access to diverse customer network through partnerships and PoC opportunities with corporates, content producers, brands, distribution channels and studio houses.
• Infrastructure support and services up to $500,000.
• Opportunity to work with subject matter experts, global business and technology mentors and coaches from both Anthill Ventures and Suresh Productions.
• Customised workshops and masterclasses covering product/market fit, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, sales and pitch clinics.

 

The call for applications for Anthill Studio is open, and the selection criteria will be:

• Media and Entertainment technology start-ups working in the film, TV, animation, ad tech, online video, gaming or sports industry
• Startups that have already built a disruptive product that is ready to be scaled.

Piyush, Founder & CEO, Rooter, said, “Anthill is differentiated from other accelerators in that they are very much focused on what the startup needs. Anthill’s sizeable global network of investors and experts in the sports technology space provided us with valuable guidance in numerous operational areas.”

 

Bethanavel, Founder & CEO, Woodcutter, said, “We are an early stage start-up and arriving at a better product-market fit was crucial for us. Anthill Studio is the right platform that enabled us to work closely with different stakeholders in the Media and Entertainment ecosystem through Anthill’s vast network of experts and corporates in India and abroad, thus accelerating our pace of learning and growth.”