The Brandery

The Brandery is a seed stage startup accelerator that leverages the expertise of the Cincinnati region, namely branding, marketing, and design. They believe that building your brand— and not just a product— is a way startups can be more resource efficient and increase their probability of success. In addition to an elite mentor list, startups will be paired with world-class creative agencies and have access to some of the biggest companies in the world, including Procter & Gamble, dunnhumby, and Kroger. The Brandery runs one, four-month accelerator program a year for 10-12 companies. The Brandery receive a 6% equity stake in each startup in exchange for $50k, a year of free office space, and over $200k in additional benefits.

Their philosophy is that if your start-up is consumer focused, you must be brand focused. That belief is at the core of The Brandery and why they launched their program in Cincinnati, Ohio. They feel that there is an amazing opportunity for consumer start-ups to leverage the fundamentals of brand building. At The Brandery, you will lay the foundation for your brand as you work with some of the best agencies in Cincinnati. Through their program, you will uncover meaningful consumer insights that will help you create your startup as a true brand. They do this in a supportive entrepreneurial environment, surrounded by your fellow startups and their team of mentors.

At the end of the program, each startup will have the opportunity to present their business plan to venture capitalists, angel investors, community supporters, and potential customers at their Demo Day.

If you are a UC student or entrepreneur you can get involved with The Brandery. Entrepreneurs can apply to The Brandery’s annual class. Students can also search job opportunities at The Brandery and Brandery companies.