Oculus recently opened applications for its annual Launch Pad program, a developer mentorship that provides funding and resources to people from underrepresented backgrounds.
Oculus Launch Pad was created to “ensure diversity of thought in the VR ecosystem,” and focuses on women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and people from other underrepresented backgrounds, the company says in a recent blog post.
Potential applicants can sign up here through May 20th, and select one of three categories—360 degree film, VR experiences, and VR games.
Launchpad starts this year as a two-day boot camp held at Facebook/Oculus HQ in Menlo Park on June 23rd and 24th, and will be open to a max of 100 developers. Oculus is also providing participants with ongoing remote coaching, feedback on their work, and also the opportunity to compete for 2018 Oculus Launch Pad Grants to develop their prototype and launch a full experience on the Oculus Store.
Over the course of its two-year existence, Launch Pad has helped “over 200 aspiring VR content creators” including financial grants totaling more than $900K. This will be Oculus’ third Launch Pad.
Previous projects to receive grants from last year’s Oculus Launch Pad include I AM A MAN: VR Experience from Derek Ham, VR video Avaloki from Priyam Parikh, VR MOBA Conjure Strike from Andy Tsen. Check out the full list of last year’s grant winners here.