Anthill Ventures, an investment and scaling platform for early-stage startups, today announced that its accelerator program called Anthill Studio in partnership with film production and distribution company, Suresh Productions, has strategically partnered with Viacom18. This partnership will enable Anthill Studio to provide additional market-access opportunities to the startups of Anthill Studio.

Anthill Studio is an accelerator program focused on technology startups in Media & Entertainment. The program will scout for startups building products for Media & Entertainment industry using technologies such as AI/ML, AR/VR, IoT, Big Data, Blockchain and others. The areas of focus include filmed entertainment, TV, gaming and digital media industries.

Viacom18 is one of the biggest media networks in India and is committed to nurturing the Indian startups. With that intent, Viacom18 launched a dedicated Startup Engagement Program, VStEP, in October last year. 

“For our program, Anthill Studio, Viacom18 will act as a catalyst to create the desired ecosystem for startups by providing easy access to the media & entertainment market” said Prasad Vanga, Founder & CEO, Anthill Ventures.

Viacom18, through VStEP, as a Market-access partner will be providing startups with business & technology mentorship, along with an opportunity to scale by collaborating with them on prototypes, strategic partnerships and other commercial opportunities.

“Our partnership with Anthill Ventures, will bring disruptive innovations to media businesses. We are looking at tech innovations especially in the areas of AI, ML, Automation for our TV, Films and digital business”, said Achint Setia, Senior Vice President, Viacom18 Digital Ventures and Head, VStEP.

Anthill Ventures’ unique ability is to invest, rapidly scale early-stage companies, subsequently enabling them to raise funding within 12 to 18 months. Its team spread across Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Singapore enables the startups with an extensive global network of Venture Capitalists, Private Equity firms, Family Offices, and Luminaries in the technology industry. Anthill Venture primarily focuses on exciting tech startups in verticals such as Fintech, HealthTech, Life Sciences, Media and Entertainment and Smart Cities.

In May, Anthill Ventures announced its investment inUniti, a Swedish urban mobility electric car startup. And this month, the firm has partnered with Deven Choksey, a luminary in the public stock market. Through this partnership, Deven will invest an undisclosed amount in Anthill Ventures and as a member of Anthill's Investment Committee (IC) lend his expertise in screening incoming opportunities.

The Viacom18 Startup Engagement Program – VStEP is an initiative by Viacom18 to collaborate with growth stage Startups to step forward together in the fast-evolving world of Media and Entertainment. VStEP is a pilot-driven program wherein select Startups will get to work with internal business units of Viacom18 and jointly deliver innovation pilots across various business operations, verticals and functions.