The list of participating investors and mentors for OFFICE HOURs, Startup Grind 2013 has expanded to more than a dozen leading startup minds, including Adeo Ressi, CEO of the Founder Institute, Michelle Scarborough, partner of Smart Ventures and Chair of Canada’s National Angel Capital Association and New Delhi investor Rajesh Narayan, Partner at Opdrage Venture Partners.

Also participating from the FI network will be Blumberg Capital EIR Misha Chella and Golden Gate Ventures Jeffery Paine with more to come.

Startups qualifying for OFFICE HOURs will receive Advanced Standing at the Brandery, one of the top ranked accelerators in the United States. And a point of differentiation in the review process for TiEQuest, the annual business venture competition that features investments of up to $1,000,000 to top teams and various cash prizes and in-kind services from sponsors exceeding $150,000 in value for contest winners. In 2012, TiEQuest attracted more than 225 entrepreneurs from 51 cites across North America.

One of the top ranked seed accelerators in the United States has decided to grant advanced standing to Cdling Rated startups.

“We’re always looking for new ways to find the highest potential startups for our accelerator,” says Mike Bott, General Manager of the Brandery. “We think that Cdling Rated Referrals will be a great additional datapoint to help our team identify the best possible companies for our program.”

The Brandery is a seed stage venture accelerator, which has been ranked as one of the top 15 programs in the United States the past two years. They run a three-month-long program in Cincinnati, Ohio focused on turning your great idea into a successful, brand-driven start-up.   Leveraging the regional strengths of design and marketing, The Brandery aims to give startups an edge in both user experience and user acquisition.  Started in 2010, they have graduated 25 companies.  The 2013 cohort will include 10 companies, with each receiving $20,000 in seed funding, mentorship, and the opportunity to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. More details can be found here.