Nationally-ranked startup accelerator gener8tor announced Wednesday the launch of gBETA Musictech, a new program for music-technology startups created in partnership with Capitol Music Group.
The new accelerator will be based in Los Angeles and housed in the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. Madison-based gener8tor regularly runs gBETA programs in a half-dozen cities throughout the Midwest, including Minneapolis. The creation of gBETA Musictech marks the first time that the accelerator has ventured outside the region to establish a new gBETA program.
gBETA Musictech will operate under gener8tor's standard gBETA model: the program will last seven weeks and require no fees or equity from participating startups. The five companies selected for the inaugural accelerator will work closely with industry experts, investors and successful entrepreneurs to develop strategies to grow, gain customer traction and pitch investors.
Three additional startups in the music-tech field will be selected to participate in an existing gBETA program in one of the following cities: Beloit, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee or Minneapolis. These companies will receive the same mentorship and programming without traveling to Los Angeles.
The gBETA Musictech program will be led by Adrienne Palm, who also serves as director of gener8tor's gBETA Northeast Wisconsin program.
Gener8tor has been expanding into the creative economy in 2018 with its first music and art programs. Earlier this year, the accelerator partnered with Radio Milwaukee to launch an accelerator in the city for local musicians. Called Backline, the goal of this new program is to strengthen Wisconsin's music scene. Gener8tor's Milwaukee-based artist accelerator, Fellowship.art, is expected to kick off its first class in late September.
Gener8tor is now accepting applications for gBETA Musictech, and is looking for startups specializing in the following areas of the music industry: sourcing, recording, production, distribution, marketing, touring licensing and streaming.
"We couldn't be more excited about this new partnership with industry icon Capital Music Group," gener8tor co-founder Joe Kirgues said in a release. "We're thrilled to begin working with the startups helping us cross the chasm into these new ecosystems, and are ready to support them with both our networks."
