Disney has quietly acquired tech and assets of MakieLab, a startup that 3D printed dolls

MakieLab, a London-dependent startup that 3D printed and offered personalized dolls, has formally shuttered, with a partial exit to Disney. TechCrunch understands that the U.S. leisure organization acquired MakieLab’s tech and belongings as early as July last calendar year, a tale that I have experimented with but failed to nail down ever due to the fact. Right up until now, that is.

In a write-up on MakieLab’s official Fb webpage posted on the 18th of February (embedded down below), the organization confirms that it is no for a longer period an independent entity but doesn’t fairly go as significantly as disclosing the new “owner,” citing a non-disclosure agreement.

The organization has previously partly relocated to the U.S. immediately after it received approved into Disney’s startup accelerator,

“Makies technological innovation and system has been efficiently acquired by a excellent U.S. media behemoth, who we hope will do one thing great with it extremely before long,” writes MakieLab.

“We experimented with to continue on the Makies entire world-takeover independently, but the aspiration had to stop, for all sorts of 2016 – ewww -factors. We hope our new proprietor can reach what we couldn’t on our very own for you. Thank you, new proprietor, you are our only hope!” it adds in what reads as a thinly-veiled reference to Disney’s Star Wars movie franchise.

You do not have to have to see phrases of the deal… These aren’t the acquirers you are on the lookout for.

In accordance to two sources with expertise of the deal, Disney is in truth the acquirer of MakieLab’s “technology and platform”. I’ve not been equipped to pin down how a lot income exchanged arms, nevertheless I’m instructed by a single supply that some income went to the founders. No matter if or not seed traders, this kind of as Sunstone Capital or Lifeline Ventures, noticed a lot of a return is unclear but would seem not likely.

And as if it was not evident plenty of that Disney is the acquirer, in accordance to her LinkedIn profile, MakieLab CEO and founder Alice Taylor is now Director, StudioLab at The Walt Disney Studios.