Brandery names Alexander as new GM

The Brandery has named Cincinnati-based startup mentor and angel investor Tony Alexander as its new general manager.

Mike Bott stepped down from the position earlier this week at the Over-the-Rhine-based accelerator for startup companies.

Bott joined the Brandery in 2012 after working for Procter & Gamble managing the company's digital marketing in North America for its billion-dollar Olay brand. He is taking a position at Blue Chip Venture Co. and will remain an investor and mentor for Brandery companies.

The change in leadership comes as Brandery plans to welcome its sixth class of startups in mid-June and move into its new shared office space in Over-the-Rhine with other members of Cincinnati's startup ecosystem.

The Brandery, which operates at 1411 Vine St., works with select startup companies each year and provides them with mentoring, business development assistance, co-working space, access to potential business opportunities and in-kind services. In exchange, Brandery takes an equity position in the companies and provides cash through convertible debt. The accelerator has a specialty in working with consumer marketing and branding companies as a result of the depth of expertise and corporate partnerships in Greater Cincinnati.

"The new companies arriving in 2015 will find great leadership in Tony and a fantastic supporting team to help them accelerate to their goals," said J.B. Kropp, Brandery co-founder and board member. "Each year, we work to provide our companies with additional advantages that will ensure their success.

"Having an experienced entrepreneur like Tony at the helm will ensure the Brandery companies are provided every opportunity to succeed."

Alexander is co-founder of Traveler's Joy and SimpleRegistry, two gift registry websites. More recently, he helped start SmartyTags, a barcode analytics platform. He is also a Brandery board member and has been a startup mentor since the organization was founded in 2010.

"The decision to join the Brandery team as the organization's second GM was primarily driven by my passion to serve the local startup ecosystem and my desire to create something special in Cincinnati," Alexander said. "I'm excited to jump into this role and look forward to all the great companies, mentors, and investors we can bring to Cincinnati in 2015 and beyond."

James Fisher, co-founder and chief executive of Cincinnati-based startup Roadtrippers, called Alexander an "incredibly popular, nice guy" who has key connections around the region, but also outside of it. Although Alexander is based in Cincinnati, he has spent extended time working from New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, China, Florence, Italy, London, England, Nairobi, Kenya and Tbilisi, Georgia.

Fisher said Alexander was the second investor in his company, which operates as a road trip planner for travelers and graduated from the Brandery in 2011. The Over-the-Rhine firm officially launched in 2012 and now has 30 employees.

"He will really help companies and get in the weeds," Fisher said. "With him, he thinks like an entrepreneur. The other thing is that he's a great product person and has a great eye for design. It's always really helpful to have that from the top level."

Alexander will be supervising the Brandery's big growth plans expected in the next few years. He has a business degree from Miami University and previously worked at Accenture managing enterprise resource planning implementations for Fortune 500 companies.

Modulus – a 2012 Brandery grad – was acquired by Progress Software in June 2014, which Alexander said represents a successful "exit" for the growing firm that manages digital applications and web sites for companies. With other firms on the verge of exits in the next couple years, he said it's important to replenish that talent with entrepreneurs around Cincinnati but outside of it as well.

Alexander said one big measure for determining the Brandery's success will be the ability of its portfolio companies to attract as much venture capital as they desire to reach their goals. A second critical metric is how many company founders decide to remain in Cincinnati and build their business in the region at-large.

"The next step in that process is to find super talented people and convince them to come to Cincinnati and build their business here," he said.

The Brandery will soon announce the startups that will be part of its sixth class and this year participants in the four-month program will get $50,000 instead of the $20,000 typically made available each year.

Also, the organization is adding housing provider to the growing list of ways it helps startup companies flourish. It has leased 14 two-bedroom apartments at 1123-1125 Walnut St. being developed by Urban Sites to serve as housing for the founders of companies participating in its four-month program.

In a few months, construction is expected to wrap on the "startup innovation hub" being developed in Over-the-Rhine. The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. is leading a nearly $17 million project to redevelop adjoining buildings at 1311-1315 Vine St. to serve as office and restaurant space. Cintrifuse, The Brandery and CincyTech will occupy office space.

Brandery companies have raised more than $65 million in funding and the organization has been a critical part of Cincinnati's emerging startup ecosystem.