• by Larissa Faw , August 10, 2017

Verizon Ventures, in partnership with R/GA, has selected several startups to participate in their Media Tech Venture Studio. 

The participants were chosen based on product innovations that align specifically with Verizon’s strategic objectives.

Among the companies, Ad Lightning is designed to eliminate "bad ads" and maximize revenue for publishers and ad platforms; cognitiveVR enables brands, marketers and researchers to extract insights from virtual and augmented reality experiences; and ScoreStream is a crowdsourcing platform for local sports content.

The selected companies will work with Verizon Ventures and Verizon’s digital media businesses on product and technology projects, as well as R/GA’s strategic marketing, consulting, branding, design and technology teams.

The program, hosted in a coworking space in New York City’s Flatiron District, will also enable the companies to interact with product leaders from Oath, Go90, VDMS, FioS, Verizon Open Innovation and Verizon Wireless.

They will also leverage Verizon’s and R/GA’s networks of investors, mentors, and global brand leaders.

The program will conclude in mid-November with an invite-only demo event, where each startup will have the opportunity to present to industry leaders, investors and press.

“Verizon is continuously looking for ways to stay ahead of the media innovation curve and the changing ways consumers interact and engage with content,” stated John Doherty, SVP of corporate development, Verizon and head of Verizon Ventures.

“Partnering with R/GA Ventures and the new class of startups in the Media Tech Venture Studio allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the digital media revolution,” adds Doherty.