Brand-Yourself named a finalist for SXSW event

SYRACUSE — Syracuse–based startup Brand-Yourself is one of 56 finalists in the fourth annual SXSW Accelerator program.

Accelerator is part of the SXSW Interactive Festival, the technology focused piece of the sprawling annual SXSW event, which also covers film and music. The events will all take place in March in Austin, Texas.

The Accelerator companies will present their businesses to a panel of tech industry notables in front of a live audience, according to a SXSW Interactive news release. Winning companies will receive prize packages that include badges for the 2013 SXSW Interactive event, sponsor gifts, and exposure to the SXSW audience.

“The applicant pool for SXSW Accelerator is consistently high-quality and this year was no different, ensuring that the 56 finalists represent today and tomorrow’s most exciting technologies,” SXSW Accelerator Event Producer Chris Valentine said in a news release. “Being a part of Accelerator gives these exceptional companies a platform to showcase their innovations in front of an audience of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and press.”

Brand-Yourself.com provides a Web-based hub that helps users manage their online reputations and improve Google search results. The company was honored at the White House in November as part of an event recognizing young entrepreneurs.

The company incubated in downtown Syracuse’s Tech Garden as part of the Student Sandbox program in 2009 and is now a regular tenant. The firm won the $200,000 grand prize in the 2011 Creative Core Emerging Business Competition.

Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com