Unlocking the Guest Journey: Engaging Universal Park’s diverse audiences through personalized experiences
Applications Now Open
ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE
Universal Parks delights its customers in edgy, thrilling and cheeky ways, bringing our favorite stories to life with unique experiences. Now, the team wants to personalize the full customer journey from pre-visit planning and exploration to on-premise activities to after-park engagements. Universal Parks is looking for enterprise-ready startups and their emerging technologies that lean into personalization and speak to their diverse audience, wowing them across mobile, online and in the park.
Example technologies or areas of focus could include: customer journey management, guest flow management, customer analytics and insights, recommendation engines (personalized marketing), agile learning loops and personalized learning to curate a best-in-class, inclusive experience for all guests.
An enterprise-ready startup with a product or service
in market or very close to it.
Your partner in anchoring or expanding your
enterprise client roster.
| Week 1 : | Applications Open (11/15) |
| Weeks 1 – 4 : | Evaluation & Diligence (Top Office Hours) (11/15 – 12/10) |
| Weeks 6 – 10 : | Startup Shortlist Selection, Notification & Prep for Final Pitch (12/20 – 1/14, includes holiday break) |
| Week 11: | Final pitch to Comcast NBCU business leaders (w/o 1/17) |
| Finalist(s): | Announced and awarded late January |
WHY THIS CHALLENGE IS IMPORTANT
After an exhausting year of altered life and virtual meeting fatigue, in-person events are booming and consumers are booking more, and longer, vacations (1) . For the Universal Parks guest, this means an escape from reality and a chance to re-engage with their favorite stories, pique their senses, and once again discover the human connection that has been missing. (2)
It’s expected that over 50% of the US population will be minority groups by 2042, and the socioeconomic gap is continuing to widen. Now more than ever, companies need a clear understanding of the broad distribution of demographics within their target populations, what they value and what makes them unique. (3) Giving representative audiences a voice builds trust, inclusion, and meaningful experiences. (4)
With increasing screen-fatigue and decreasing attention spans, consumers want to find answers and experiences that are personalized to their needs. It is no longer enough to have information at their fingertips, it needs to be easily accessible, accurate, relevant, and grab their attention.(5)
With most travelers in 2022 planning vacations that last at least 5 days (6), the desire to extend an escape beyond a simple weekend getaway is clear. This reaches into the planning phase, with 75% of travelers finding “the journey to a destination is more enjoyable when it feels like part of the trip” (7), blurring the lines between when the vacation truly starts or ends. A perfect, immersive experience includes every step from pre-planning, in park experience, to the after-trip glow.
Sign up here to receive our newsletter and updates on future LIFToff Challenges.
About Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs
Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, part of Startup Engagement at Comcast NBCUniversal, gives talented entrepreneurs access to Comcast NBCUniversal’s renowned network of partners, brands and mentors to foster rapid breakthroughs in connectivity, media and entertainment. Startup Engagement at Comcast NBCUniversal has entrepreneurial programs across the country, including three accelerators in Philadelphia and Atlanta, and offers educational resources and programming for companies at all stages of the startup journey. Our teams canvas the world for revolutionary startup founders and early-stage companies in connectivity, media, entertainment, and sports that can help enhance the products and services we provide. Visit ComcastNBCULIFT.com to learn more.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest high-speed internet, video, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe’s leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
LIFToff Unlocking the Guest Journey Challenge Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to the LIFToff Unlocking the Guest Journey (“Program”) provided by Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC (“Comcast”). By applying to the Program on behalf of a company, you and your company (“You” or “Your”) agree to be bound by these Terms.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to apply to the Program, your company must:
- be a corporation (not an LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other form of legal entity) incorporated in one of the states of the United States, unless otherwise agreed in advance in writing by Comcast;
- be an early to mid-stage financial technologies (FinTech) startup with at least a minimum viable product in beta testing or live in market;
- be focused on serving underrepresented communities seeking to build and maintain credit, secure access to capital, and build wealth; and
- be willing to provide additional information about You and Your business as requested by Comcast, and to sign additional agreements as requested by Comcast, including to accept an investment by Comcast or one of its affiliates if You are selected for an investment under the Program.
Submissions
You expressly acknowledge and agree that:
- any and all information, written or oral, that You disclose or provide to Comcast is not confidential and You waive all such rights to this information;
- Comcast does not receive Your submission in confidence and its disclosure by You does not establish a confidential relationship between You and Comcast;
- Your submission does not obligate Comcast to review Your submission, enter into any transaction with You, or make any investment in your company; and
- Comcast accepts no responsibility for the handling or return of Your submitted materials.
Please be aware that Comcast has a number of employees engaged in the development of ideas and business opportunities. We also rely on brokers, attorneys, and other qualified representatives to assist us in this regard. Also, Comcast may find that Your submission is not new, is in the public domain, or has already been investigated and considered by Comcast. For these reasons, You must understand that Your business and its idea may be already known to us, in whole or in part, prior to Your submission. Finally, Comcast does not seek, and will not accept, ideas for television programs or movies, or scripts of any kind.
Comcast’s Administration of the Program
Comcast shall conduct the Program and make all decisions regarding the Program and its participants, including You, in its sole and absolute discretion. Comcast’s decisions are final. Comcast reserves the right to modify these Terms or apply additional terms to the Program at any time. In that case, Comcast will use reasonable efforts to communicate the modifications or additional terms to You.
Representations and Warranties
You represent and warrant that you have the full power and authority to accept and be bound by these Terms, and that the acceptance of these Terms, and the performance of Your obligations hereunder, will not constitute a breach or default by You or otherwise violate your company’s organizational documents, any agreement to which You are bound or any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation applicable to You.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless, and upon Comcast’s request, defend, Comcast, its affiliates, and their directors, officers, employees, independent contractors and agents from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, taxes, expenses and costs, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and court costs, incurred by Comcast and such other persons through claims of third parties against Comcast based on or arising from Your breach of these Terms or Your participation in the Program.
Disputes
Any disputes that arise between Comcast and You regarding these Terms or Comcast’s use of Your submissions will be governed by Pennsylvania law (without regard to its conflict of laws provisions), and venue for any actions shall be in the Commonwealth or federal courts of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia County (and courts to which appeals from such courts may be taken).
Publicity
You agree not to issue a press release or any other publicity relating to these Terms or the Program (including Your participation therein) without Comcast’s prior written approval.