In December 2025, Disney announced a groundbreaking partnership with OpenAI, setting the entertainment and tech industries abuzz. As a female entrepreneur who’s spent years navigating the intersections of innovation and IP, this deal hits both my professional curiosity and my passion for strategic thinking. Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI, enabling the integration of its beloved characters across the Sora AI video platform and ChatGPT. Let’s unpack what this means and why it matters to you as a founder and innovator.
What the Disney-OpenAI Deal Includes
The agreement licenses over 200 Disney characters to OpenAI, including everyone from Mickey Mouse to newer icons like Elsa and Baby Yoda. Fans will now generate short videos within the Sora platform using Disney’s extensive catalog. Even better, some of these creations might find their way to Disney+.
For Disney, the deal isn’t just about leveraging AI to create better fan experiences, it’s positioning itself at the forefront of AI-powered storytelling. By committing to prominent tools like ChatGPT for internal employee use, they’re demonstrating how tightly linked automation and creativity have become in today’s economy.
OpenAI gains access to Disney’s influence and consumer trust, while Disney unlocks new opportunities to connect directly with younger, tech-savvy audiences. Learn more about the deal on TechCrunch's in-depth coverage of the partnership.
The Price Tag Explained
Disney’s $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI is a clear statement: they believe in the future of generative tools and their synergy with beloved intellectual property. That’s a bold move in a post-2020s market saturated with copyright lawsuits over AI’s cloning of IP. This deal avoids controversy by excluding the use of actor likenesses and voices, limiting creations to animated or drawn characters only.
For entrepreneurial women in Europe, this is a signalling opportunity. It shows how large brands partner with tech meaningfully without cutting corners. Observing how Disney integrates and monitors user-generated content on Disney+ can give you practical lessons in brand safety and audience engagement.
How Does This Affect Female Entrepreneurs in Europe?
Here are several takeaways for startup founders and freelancers in creative industries:
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Integrating Creative IP into Emerging Tech
Disney’s willingness to allow access to their prized intellectual property shows the value of innovation done in collaboration with content-first companies. If you’re working in tech or media, consider what relationships you can build to leverage existing IP. -
Content as a Service Gets a Boost
This deal expands the horizon for platforms that enable user-generated content. There’s room for you to explore niche-specific services that aid creators in developing content tied to their interests, whether it’s small-scale fan art or indie game modding. -
Collaboration is Central
Lawmakers and media producers are deeply concerned about regulation and ethical standards in generative AI. Despite competition, collaboration between tech firms and rights-heavy entertainment providers is proving possible, paving the way for startups to find their own middle ground in complex industries. This might mean you’ll need to build bridges with organizations that champion responsible practices. -
Custom AI: Not Just for (Big) Corporates
While it’s easy to think these tools only apply to Disney-sized companies, tools like ChatGPT or platforms such as OpenAI’s APIs are increasingly available to solo creators and small teams. You can create product prototypes for your startup, like I’ve done with Fe/male Switch’s AI tools, to test your ideas without spending corporate-level budgets.
Lessons to Learn from This Deal
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Think Long-Term
Disney isn’t playing the short game. They’ve layered their investment with future measures, such as obtaining warrants for additional equity in OpenAI. Female startups should think beyond their immediate output, invest in the future by aligning partners and resources accordingly. -
Protect Your IP but Don’t Stifle Innovation
As an expert in IP, I’ve witnessed a sea change in how creators manage intellectual assets. The Disney-OpenAI collaboration emphasizes trust over fear and control. Start reviewing your assets now. Can you partner with game designers, educators, or even software developers to put your IP to work ethically? -
Leverage Market Momentum
As founders, it’s crucial to foresee market shifts. Disney seized generative AI as an opportunity to flip risk into reward. Look where the market is heading, be it AR, blockchain, or regenerative AI, and figure out how your startup could benefit from these developments.
Common Mistakes to Sidestep as a Founder
- Overlooking Partnership Agreements: Licensing sounds straightforward, but aligning on ethical guidelines, acceptable use, and contractual penalties for misuse is critical when IP is on the table. Don’t ignore the fine print.
- Failing Forward: Integrating disruptive tech like AI often results in trial-and-error mistakes. Accept this as part of growth but protect yourself legally, like how Disney excluded talent likenesses and ensured their brand equity won’t dilute.
- Not Embracing Technology: If Disney, a century-old entertainment giant, has dived into emerging avenues like AI content generation, why not your startup? Don’t delay experimenting with tools that align with your DNA as an entrepreneur.
Practical Steps
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Explore Generative AI Tools Now
Don’t watch from the sidelines. Schedule time to understand OpenAI and its platforms. Projects like ChatGPT are free to explore. -
Audit Your IP
Whether you’ve created unique systems, digital art, or even blog content, your IP matters. Resources like WIPO offer step-by-step guides to protect your business ideas and creations. -
Get Inspired by Partnerships
I built my F/MS startup incubator with one goal in mind: enable women to think collaboratively across industries without losing their independence. Let the collaboration between Disney and OpenAI inspire you to think bigger.
Closing Insights
The Disney-OpenAI agreement is historic, but it’s also a blueprint for solopreneurs and startups dreaming big. This partnership didn’t happen overnight, it stems from expertise, mutual trust, and shared goals. For us, the lesson lies in unlocking untapped value through cross-sector collaboration while staying vigilant about the limits and possibilities of the tools we employ.
Take this as a cue to innovate responsibly, expand thoughtfully, and ensure you build bridges rather than islands. If Disney can see the future in AI storytelling, perhaps your startup can draw inspiration to design solutions the world didn’t realize it needed.
What do you think? Which insights resonate with your business? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me for discussions about navigating this dynamic world of tech and IP.
FAQ
1. What is the Disney-OpenAI partnership about?
Disney and OpenAI have signed a $1 billion deal where Disney's characters will be integrated into OpenAI’s Sora video platform and ChatGPT. This three-year agreement allows fan-generated AI videos featuring over 200 Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters. Read about Disney and OpenAI Partnership
2. What characters are included in the Disney-OpenAI deal?
The partnership includes characters like Mickey Mouse, Moana, Elsa, Darth Vader, Iron Man, and many others from franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar. Check out Disney's list of participating characters
3. How will the collaboration affect Disney+?
Disney+ subscribers will have access to some user-generated Sora AI videos featuring Disney characters, giving a new interactive element to the streaming platform. Learn about Disney+ enhancements
4. Why is Disney investing $1 billion in OpenAI?
This investment positions Disney at the forefront of AI-powered storytelling, aiming to engage tech-savvy audiences with interactive content while leveraging OpenAI's tools for internal processes. Discover Disney’s AI strategy
5. How will this deal address copyright concerns?
The deal strategically excludes the use of actor likenesses and voices, avoiding legal and ethical issues, and ensuring only animated characters are utilized. Explore copyright safeguards in the deal
6. When will fan-created videos with Disney characters go live?
The rollout is expected in early 2026, giving users the ability to generate content via the Sora platform. Learn about the rollout timeline
7. How will Disney employees benefit from this collaboration?
Disney will implement OpenAI’s ChatGPT internally, providing employees with AI-driven tools to improve workflows and develop new products. Discover internal benefits for Disney employees
8. What is the broader significance of this partnership for AI storytelling?
This collaboration marks a shift in how AI and entertainment companies can ethically and effectively license IP to innovate storytelling methods. Understand the broader AI storytelling implications
9. Will this deal influence other player partnerships in Hollywood?
Yes, Disney’s bold step is likely to inspire similar partnerships between AI firms and content producers, showcasing the productive use of AI in creative industries. See trends in Hollywood and AI collaboration
10. What tools can small businesses learn from this deal?
The partnership demonstrates the value of integrating IP with generative AI solutions like ChatGPT and Sora, which are also accessible to startups for their own creative innovations. Learn about tools for small businesses
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
