About the Founder Program
Applications are open year-round, and selected teams are invited to join as space becomes available. Invited ventures are required to sign a participation agreement before move-in and provide proof of liability insurance. Resources are available to assist with obtaining the required insurance, if needed.
The Founder Program and the Wond’ry do not take equity in the companies we support and there is currently no charge to participate in the program. Founder is open to faculty, students, staff, and alums of Nashville-area universities or colleges.
- Completed the Wond’ry’s Sullivan Family Ideator Program and/or the Builder Programs NSF I-Corps, or have clear evidence to show customer discovery has been undertaken.
- An official legal entity must have been established prior to applying.
- Ideal ventures can demonstrate evidence of product-market fit (have current paying customers or in-progress or completed pilots).
To inquire about any program, book an appointment with Kyle Caruso.
Launch Incubator Space
After the successful grand opening of Launch, the Wond’ry’s incubator space for startups, in 2022, the Wond’ry’s Founder program has continued to provide ventures with resources, connections, mentorship, and funding opportunities for entrepreneurs. With support and access to top-quality resources including mentorship, a dedicated workspace, opportunities to participate in investor events, invitations to start-up workshops and exclusive speaker series, Founder intends to prepare ventures to contribute to the growth and climate of the Nashville entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Current Ventures:
Affinity Entertainment
Affinity is an industry-leading entertainment management group with over 4 years of experience in the Nashville market. Affinity is a talented unit comprised of music lovers, musicians, and industry professionals. They are a family centered around this simple idea: Music Matters.
Augment Health
Augment Health's diagnostic monitoring platform focuses on treating 7 million US patients with urinary issues following neurologic injury or disease. Their platform addresses issues with access to care and diagnostic reliability facing urology clinics today.
Brace Cap
Revolutionizing care and comfort in the orthodontic industry, Brace Cap's patented covered ligature ties prevent common orthodontic injuries and wounds. The innovative approach reduces the risk of injury and the frequency of unscheduled emergency visits, improving patient retention and scheduling capabilities for orthodontic clinics.
Clab AI
Clab AI is designed to empower students and counselors with personalized, AI-driven guidance through the college application process, ensuring each student maximizes their potential and opportunities for higher education success.
Couture Technologies
Couture Technologies provides AI-powered solutions that empower brands to provide memorable, engaging customer experiences, including a virtual try on experience, a body measurement service, an interactive lookbook, and 3D product visualizations at scale.
Diatech Diabetes
Diatech Diabetes is a medical device company addressing the need for infusion set failure detection with their SmartFusion™ system.
EndoShunt
EndoShunt is developing a life-saving traumatic hemorrhage control shunt which allows trauma surgeons to pause the clock on their patients bleeding out.
Eupalinos, Inc.
Eupalinos, Inc. is a medical device company specializing in bioengineering polymer-based materials for restoring blood flow. The company’s core technology is patented hydrogel that facilitates the rapid growth of new blood vessels after injection, with sufficient speed and concentration to prevent limb loss in critical ischemia models.
Fathom
Fathom is a blockchain-enabled startup that removes barriers to employment by making it easy to prove what you know and can do in the world of work.
Happenstance
Happenstance is a contemporary bourbon brand that speaks to the modern consumer. Double-distilled and aged four years in New American Oak Barrels, the Founder’s Edition straight bourbon whiskey incorporates today’s most sought out flavors, including a complex combination of vanilla, hazelnut, toasted oak, honey, and toffee notes.
Radical Shoots
Radical Shoots provides high-quality, locally grown microgreens to the Nashville market including 50+ local restaurants. Radical Shoots is committed to advancing sustainable agricultural practices and increasing consistent access to local, nutritious foods in Middle Tennessee.
TuneHatch
TuneHatch is a web-based platform that uses predictive analytics and streamlined processes to help independent venues and music artists book more profitable shows and help fans find the shows they’ll love.
VenoDynamics
VenoDynamics is developing a temporary balloon catheter designed to optimize hemodynamics in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. The device aims to improve patient symptoms, reduce hospital duration, and decrease hospital readmissions. Additionally, they are actively working on the development of software and a monitoring system for future clinical trials.
With the Band
With the Band is a premiere fan engagement company that enables every artist to fully engage with their fan base through the use of the company's app and website.
Alumni Ventures:
Arms Cyber
ARMS Cyber provides cybersecurity for the U.S. Department of Defense and large enterprises. Their proprietary technology offers moving target defense techniques to mitigate the damage from zero-day cyber attacks.
Atmos (Acquired by WAP Sustainability)
Atmos is a software solution that empowers ESG reporting, disclosure, and improvement at the corporate and board level. They work with Public Small Caps and Large Private companies to help them begin their ESG/Sustainability journey, maintain compliance with vendors, and develop strategies around their data. This company was acquired by WAP Sustainability in Spring 2024.
Bloom
Founded by a doctor-patient duo, Bloom Birth Control is a natural birth control app that identifies a woman’s unique fertile window through tracking a biomarker. Bloom is based on a clinically proven, scientific method which has been found to have similar efficacy to the birth control pill (99% effective with perfect use).
Baseline
Baseline is a journaling and mood tracking platform designed to assist the user to better understand their brains and improve their mental health.
Finally Skincare
Finally is developing a skin assessment platform that analyzes the molecular makeup of an individual’s skin to match them to ideal products and/or ingredients for their skin’s unique biochemical makeup.
Leddin Group
Leddin Group has developed the comprehensive Leadership Lab Learning System. At the heart of the Leadership Lab Learning System is the 5 Practices of Impactful Leaders course, popularized by Dr. Patrick Leddin’s book, The Five-Week Leadership Challenge, a Wall Street Journal best seller.
Phase Capital
Phase Capital invests in and supports early stage biotech companies across the US. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, we are focused on building the local biotech ecosystem, strengthening bridges between Nashville and other cities, and collectively building a more connected biotech ecosystem.
Resera
Resera is a social enterprise symbolic jewelry manufacturer and brand that employs survivors of domestic violence and homelessness to craft each piece. Their unique combination of mission and technology makes it possible to deliver powerful stories of impact and transformation customers want without compromising design and quality.
Zeno Power
Zeno Power is on a mission to provide clean, plug-and-play power anywhere in the universe. To do that, they are commercializing next-generation radioisotope power systems that convert the heat from recycled nuclear waste into a years-long supply of clean power.
Venture Highlights
Venture Highlight
Vanderbilt-initiated startup Zeno Power receives $15M
Zeno Power, a startup initiated through the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, is one of 11 American companies to receive funding from NASA to develop technologies that could support long-term exploration on the Moon and in space for the benefit of all.
Venture Highlight
TuneHatch Inc. named among 2023 NEXT Award Finalists
The 2023 NEXT Awards was be hosted at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Monday, October 23. There were three winners in each category, and TuneHatch Inc., was nominated and won within the Sports, Music, and Entertainment Startup Category.
Venture Highlight
Fathom Partners with the Department of Labor and National Science Foundation
Venture Highlight
Techstars Workforce Development Announces 2024 Class of Pioneering Startups
Venture Highlight
EndoShunt receives prestigious recognition at Harvard President's Innovation Challenge
EndoShunt was recently recognized as Harvard’s most impactful life sciences innovation in the Harvard President's Innovation Challenge. EndoShunt is a novel surgical tool for controlling abdominal bleeding, allowing surgeons to place a temporary, length-adjustable shunt within the major abdominal vessels.
