MakieLab, a London-based startup spearheading the rather unique business of 3D printing and selling custom dolls, has officially closed up shop, handing over part of its assets to Disney. According to TechCrunch, Disney acquired MakieLab’s tech and assets as early as July last year.
MakieLab’s official Facebook page published a post on the 18th of February, confirming that it is no longer an independent entity. However, it did not go so far as to disclose the new “owner,” of the enterprise, giving the reason of a non-disclosure agreement.
After getting accepted into Disney’s startup accelerator, the company already facilitated a partial relocation to the US. MakieLab wrote:
Makies technology and platform has been successfully acquired by a fantastic U.S. media behemoth, who we hope will do something wonderful with it very soon. We tried to continue on the Makies world-takeover independently, but the dream had to end, for all sorts of 2016 – ewww -reasons. We hope our new owner can achieve what we couldn’t on our own for you. Thank you, new owner, you are our only hope!
According to two sources who hold inside knowledge of the deal, Disney has actually acquired MakieLab’s “technology and platform”. Although it has not been revealed how much money was exchanged as part of the deal, one source claims that some cash did find its way to the founders. It is unclear (as well as unlikely) whether or not seed investors such as Sunstone Capital or Lifeline Ventures experienced much of a return to speak of as part of the organization shuttering.
Something that definitely points to Disney being the official acquirer is the LinkedIn profile of MakieLab CEO and founder Alice Taylor, which now reads Director, StudioLab at The Walt Disney Studios.
