Clubhouse Accelerator Program To Fund 25 Original Audio Projects From 40 Creators

Clubhouse’s Creator First accelerator program will fund 25 original audio projects from its inaugural class of 40 creators.

The invite-only audio platform, whose latest funding round valued it at a staggering $4 billion, said it received thousands of applications from creators after announcing its accelerator would provide monthly stipends plus production support and brand deals for those whose projects were selected.

Clubhouse’s final class was narrowed from those thousands to, earlier this month, just over 50 potential project pitches. The creators behind those 50 projects then fully produced pilot episodes, which Clubhouse used to select final class members.

“Now it is time to move forward from pilots to series,” the platform wrote in a blog post introducing the class. “The individuals and teams behind these shows will continue to enjoy financial, logistical and promotional support from Clubhouse as they ramp up their rooms through the summer.”

Rooms, Clubhouse’s now oft–copied

core function, are audio chat spaces where creators can give solo presentations, collaborate with other makers, or chat with fans or strangers, all while an audience listens in. All of the projects from Creator First’s inaugural class will air in members’ individual Rooms on a set (as yet unannounced) schedule.

Some of the selected projects include:

• Be Well, Sis from Cassandre Dunbar, a weekly show bringing diverse women together for discussions about eveyrthing from Black maternal health to imposter syndrome;
• The Food Porn Trading Desk by Elie Ayrouth, featuring a panel of top internet foodies and their creations
• The Global Lowdown by Alissa Miky and Michael Rosenzweig, an English- and Japanese-language series tackling global news with the goal of helping listeners learn a new tongue;
• and Radio Play by Tyron Hoisten, a modern-day version of scripted radio dramas.

While Clubhouse has hosted one-off or short-term programs with celebrities, high-profile public figures, and creators before, these 25 series make up its first official slate of ongoing original content.

You can see the complete class roster here.