Introducing the Meta Quest Lifestyle App Accelerator

Nearly every week, creative developers launch Meta Quest apps in new categories that show the world how mixed reality can go beyond gaming and give people new reasons to put on their Meta Quest headsets.

As part of the Meta Quest 3 launch, Zac Reid demonstrated how mixed reality on Meta Quest can help people learn to play instruments with his app PianoVision, which was followed by new apps like Paradiddle by Emre Tanirgan targeting other instruments. Developers are also experimenting with new ways to empower people to cook, read, shop, and make chores fun on Meta Quest. While these are just a few examples of the early successes in this space, there are still many more Lifestyle categories to explore – such as Fashion, Beauty, Design, DIY, Arts & Crafts, and more – that make use of our latest innovations in MR, hand tracking, and AI.

To push the future of novel mixed reality-based Lifestyle applications forward, we’re excited to announce our new Meta Quest Lifestyle App Accelerator—where Meta will provide grant funding and mentorship to developers, in partnership with venture partners who are committing to nurturing the ecosystem of Meta Quest founders - a16z, Anorak Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, Boost VC, and Lightspeed. The Meta Quest Lifestyle App Accelerator is designed to spur the development of prototype consumer experiences that help people explore their interests and communities around them, pursue their passions, build new skills, and enhance their favorite activities. Whether you are new to mixed reality development or are part of a seasoned development team, we want to see how your ideas can enrich people’s lives and help kickstart your company to do so.

With Meta Quest 3 & Presence Platform – which includes cutting-edge innovations in MR, hand tracking, and AI – we believe several categories in Lifestyle are ripe for innovation. Below are some examples we encourage you to check out and consider, but are by no means exhaustive. In fact, we are excited to see what new categories of innovation and consumer experiences you create to delight audiences and help people do more with Meta Quest:

Selected participants will receive grant funding across three paid milestones during the six-month program to prototype their concepts with small teams. In addition to grant funding, teams will receive mentorship and coaching from Meta, peer learning opportunities, and VC mentorship. Teams in countries where Meta Quest is supported are also eligible to receive up to three Meta Quest 3 dev kits. All dev teams will also keep full ownership of their IP, code, assets, design, and distribution rights.

As you’re putting together your pitch deck, be sure to include the following at a minimum:

We’re looking for founders who want to build companies dedicated to MR apps in Lifestyle categories that drive engagement with Meta Quest users. Whether your company has a long track record of publishing apps or is just getting off the ground, our Meta Quest Lifestyle App Accelerator could be a great fit if you’re working on a brand-new Meta Quest lifestyle app that is big enough to be a standalone business.

If your company is Series B or later, this isn’t the right program for you. We’re also not considering applications for marketing activations, B2B apps targeting schools or professionals, video games, media consumption, fitness & wellness, or sports at this time.

At least one member of each dev team must have a technical background and at least one year of professional experience developing with Unity and/or Unreal Engine. Each team is limited to a single pitch application. You don’t have to be located in the US to apply—just in a location where we’re able to pay you.

While you don’t need to be incorporated to apply, successful applicants must be a legally recognized business entity (Inc., LLC, Pty, Ltd., etc.) prior to beginning the project. We’re only considering for-profit companies looking to build a business on Meta Quest. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with decisions expected in December 2024. Late applications will not be considered. All submissions are considered final, and applicants will receive a confirmation email indicating receipt.

Click here for full terms and conditions, including eligibility requirements. Click here for the FAQ.

Applications are open now through October 15, 2024. We can’t wait to see what you’d like to build!