Licensing International has announced the selection of five companies to participate in its Diversity and Inclusion Accelerator program, which aims to connect underrepresented, diverse entrepreneurs with the resources they need to build companies within the brand licensing industry.
The selected participants are pop culture statue and collectibles producer Bedrock Collectibles; streetwear brand Holy Joe; licensing agency Librex, which specializes in sports and fitness brands; production company and creative studio Park Star Media; and production and creative services studio Somos Arte.
Through the program, each participant receives access to monthly mentoring meetings with leaders in the industry, enrollment in Coursework in Licensing Studies to become certified as a Qualified Licensing Practitioner, and a yearlong Licensing International membership — which includes consultation services, networking and matchmaking resources, exclusive research access, and business savings, among other opportunities.
“Licensing International is committed to helping transform the existing entrepreneur licensing ecosystem into a more authentically inclusive environment,” said Licensing International’s President, Maura Regan. “Through our efforts, we hope to inspire, empower, and enable underrepresented founders to build successful brand licensing businesses.”
Licensing International launched the Diversity and Inclusion Accelerator initiative as a way to attract, develop, and retain the industry’s best and brightest from all backgrounds. Last year, Licensing International, along with the Institute on Gender in Media at Mount St. Mary’s University, conducted the first-ever global study of diversity in the brand licensing business community. The findings of that study as well as a diversity and inclusion toolkit can be found here.