Cincinnati's first-ever consumer marketing startup accelerator wants to make a deal with you entrepreneurs out there: $20,000 in startup funding in exchange for a 6 percent equity stake in your brand new company.
The Brandery is offering funding, mentoring and partnerships to local consumer marketing businesses. The Brandery's founders are Cincinnati digital marketing executive David Knox and serial entrepreneur J.B. Kropp, vice president of channel development at social media branding firm Vitrue.
The Brandery is now accepting applications for its 12-week program that will include that 20K grant upon completion. The founders also will set up meetings between entrepreneurs, potential partners and customers.
Once the program ends, the real works starts with a demo day that gives companies the chance to pitch to the press, angel investors, brand marketers and leading venture capitalists.
"The power of The Brandery is the collaboration between people and companies in our community," says Knox, brand manager of global branded entertainment at Procter & Gamble. "Entrepreneurs will benefit from a wide range of talented people in consumer marketing here as well as globally."
The Brandery is looking for tech-based, consumer businesses including Internet, media and entertainment companies. Companies can begin applying for the accelerator program immediately at Brandery.org. Deadline for submissions for this first session is Aug. 11, 2010. Five companies will be selected for the first session which will begin in late August.
CincyTech, a public-private venture development group, is funding those $20,000 grants through its Imagining Grant funds aimed at growing companies through the investment stage.
"Our hope is to create a whole new pipeline of startup companies that focus on consumer marketing, to complement our portfolio of companies in information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing," says CincyTech President Bob Coy. "Our mission is to grow jobs in thriving industries."
Source: CincyTech
Writer: Feoshia Henderson