Manufacturing accelerator First Batch ready for Year 2

Konrad Billetz faced an engineering and manufacturing challenge when he entered The Brandery last year with his startup, Frameri. Billetz wanted to create a system that would allow customers to use one set of eyeglass lenses with multiple frames.

The Brandery, which specializes in helping technology startups with marketing and branding, had never accepted a manufacturer into its four-month accelerator, but Brandery co-founders were intrigued with Billetz's idea. Brandery co-founder J.B. Kropp connected Billetz to The Launch Werks, a manufacturing consultancy on Main Street, to help execute the idea.

Fast-forward a year. Frameri is taking orders from consumers, thanks in part to its partnership with The Launch Werks. The consultancy, meanwhile, is expanding its own four-month accelerator for entrepreneurs who need help manufacturing their products.

The accelerator, called First Batch, connects designers with the region's manufacturers in an efficient, cost-effective manner. It's also a way to keep graduating talent from the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) in the region. First Batch's second class will start in June.

"In the same way the branding ecosystem that grew up around Procter & Gamble can now feed off all these startups, our charge is to do the same thing for manufacturing," said Noel Gauthier, product developer at The Launch Werks and director of First Batch.

"The manufacturers that are here are light, fast, agile and high tech. When you're looking at where to start your company, you can not only get the tech and the branding done in Cincinnati, you can also have it made here."

Last year, First Batch worked with two industrial design students from DAAP. Adam Jonovski built what he bills as the shortest guitar on the market. DJ Corney's company produces high-quality wool clothing.

This year, First Batch plans to work with four entrepreneurs. The program will provide each designer with $8,000 to assist with manufacturing costs, and also provide working space at the Losantiville Design Collective on Main Street. The Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation is providing most of the funding. Design Impact provides operational support.

The entrepreneurs must have a working prototype. First Batch will then help them conduct market research, and identify manufacturers to develop various components of the product. By the end of the program, designers should have a sellable product and know how much it will cost to scale.

"Once you've made the product, you know how much 100 units will cost to make, and how much 1,000 units will cost to make," Gauthier said.

"You can take pre-orders, crowd fund, raise money, whatever you want, and show people an actual manufactured version and have accurate pricing. The end result is a manufactured unit with pricing to scale."

First Batch is also working out a partnership with The Brandery, the Over-the-Rhine consumer and marketing accelerator, which offers tech companies funding, space, branding expertise and access to mentors. The Brandery is currently taking applications for its fifth class, which is also starting in June.

Some Brandery applicants may be a better fit for First Batch or – like Frameri – develop a product partnership. First Batch applicants will also be exposed to The Brandery's network of more than 70 mentors from around the country.

"We're working on ways to not only showcase The Brandery's capabilities, but also First Batch and the city's capabilities," Gauthier said.