“The Original Disrupter in Kids’ Media”
By 
Above: Big Bird’s new BFF
It has already been a big year for Sesame Street, which as of January is brought to you by the letters H, B, and O.
But the well-known children’s program is now adding something new and seemingly odd to the mix: venture capital. Sesame Workshop, a preexisting nonprofit arm of the Sesame Street organization, is partnering with Collaborative Fund to create Sesame Venture.
In the partnership, Collaborative Fund will provide early-stage startups with up to $1 million. Sesame Venture plans to invest in companies focused on education, media, family development, social and cultural development, food, health, and wellness. The funded startups will be able to take advantage of networking opportunities and useful data provided by Sesame Workshop.
“Sesame Street was the original disrupter in kids’ media, and we have a 45-year history of being a creative workshop dedicated to breaking new ground,” Sesame Workshop CEO Jeffrey D. Dunn said of the partnership. “We are in the midst of an extraordinary time in the history of how digital technology can change the education, health, and welfare of kids around the world.
“History suggests that much of that change will spring from new companies. By partnering with some of these startups, Sesame Workshop can help grow the next wave of kid-focused innovation and improve the lives of children everywhere.”
I look forward to the introduction of Poochie as the new Sesame Street character in the next season.