The Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s growth-stage accelerator — 19 companies scaling what works.
Chase Michalek has founded multiple companies since 2019, including one sold to a PE-backed buyer. Now he’s building a veterinary surgery platform — independent, surgeon-led surgical centers to compete with corporate-owned animal hospitals. He’s scaling to multiple locations and needs systems to match.
A few seats over, a man who was homeless, got into recovery, and taught himself construction from Google searches and used books is running a permit expediting company he built over nearly a decade. He came to the EC because he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.
This is InFlight, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s accelerator for companies with traction. Nineteen companies. They’re generating revenue, serving customers, and hitting the operational questions that come with growth: how to hire, how to systematize, how to stop being the bottleneck. Industries range from healthcare and food & beverage to real estate, consulting, veterinary care, insurance, plant design, immigration law, and social impact.
Below is every company in the program — who they are, what they’re building, and where to find them.
The Companies
Apex Home Investors
Founder: Dwayne Williams II | LinkedIn Website: apexhomeinvestors.com
Partner with Apex Home Investors to unlock your property’s value and support long-term affordable housing solutions.
Avenue.co
Founder: Heather Utzig | LinkedIn Co-Founder: Matthew Utzig | LinkedIn Website: avenue.co
Healthcare company that coordinates education, tags, and equipment — with a new addition of a WAAS and Professional Passport.
Buddie’s Pork Rinds & Lemonade
Founder: Jaqushia Buddie | LinkedIn Website: cracklequench.com
A local, handcrafted snack company offering premium pork rinds and bottled lemonades loved by markets, shops, and communities.
Builder Assist
Founder: Justin Crandall | [LinkedIn TBD] Website: builderassistllc.com
Facilitates the process for acquiring building permits, lot research, and other administrative tasks in real estate development and construction.
Camellia Chocolates
Founder: Christine Cole | LinkedIn Website: camelliachocolates.com
Camellia Chocolates is Columbia, Tennessee’s first chocolate factory, handcrafting delicious chocolate bars, cozy drinks, and inspired treats from cacao beans. Craft Chocolate for All.
Data Inspire
Founder: Charlie Apigian | LinkedIn Website: datainspire.io
Data Inspire helps businesses think different with data and reimagine processes with AI through strategic advisory, education, and practical AI application development.
DIAR Collective
Founder: Ashley Nowak | LinkedIn Website: diarcollective.com
DIAR is a creative agency with a focus on brand partnerships and campaign curation that drive authentic collaboration, strategic alignment, and long-term impact.
Envela Insurance
Founder: Ken Hampton | LinkedIn Co-Founder: Bob Grohovsky | LinkedIn Website: envelainsurance.com
Producer-driven insurance platform delivering scalable growth through technology.
Global Hola
Founder: Vohn Ryan Precioso | LinkedIn Website: globalhola.com
Global Hola helps growing businesses scale with ethical, high-quality global talent through structured outsourcing, operational excellence, and systems designed for sustainable growth.
Glow
Founder: Liz Edwards | LinkedIn Website: jointheglow.com
Glow is a boutique consulting agency helping content creators design, launch, and manage impact initiatives that align with their brand, audience, and long-term vision.
Kymatic Tulpa Creations
Founder: Alejandro Gallego | LinkedIn Website: kymtc.io
Web3 Development and Cryptoassets Management Agency. Multi-chain digital distribution, tokenization infrastructure, and e-commerce ecosystems.
MRPABENSON IT Consulting
Founder: Paul Benson | LinkedIn Website: mrpabenson.com
A Fractional CTO who offers professional services and strategic IT leadership supporting healthcare organizations.
Multiplier
Founder: Mukta Kasturia | LinkedIn
An analytics firm that empowers businesses to measure and maximize ROI through data-driven insights and performance tracking.
Nashville Golf Cart Rentals
Founder: Stephen Delahoussaye | LinkedIn Website: nashvillegolfcartrentals.com
Nashville Golf Cart Rentals is Nashville’s premier golf cart and utility vehicle rental company, serving events, businesses, and recreation across Middle Tennessee.
Ombre
Founder: Joe Starnes | LinkedIn Website: ombrelab.com
We are a wellness company focused on gut health. We’re leveraging AI to simplify that complex topic and help people feel their best.
Plant Savvy
Founder: Savannah Toal | LinkedIn Website: plantsavvy.com
Nashville-based interior plant design studio that designs, installs, and maintains living plantscapes for commercial and residential spaces.
Robinson Immigration Law
Founder: Joseph Robinson | LinkedIn Website: robinsonimmigration.com
Robinson Immigration Law is a U.S. immigration firm providing strategic, business-focused visa and immigration solutions for employers, investors, and global talent.
Seniors Helping Seniors Nashville
Founder: Nicholas Deitmen | LinkedIn Website: nashvilleshs.com
Non-medical home care agency for seniors, with senior caregivers.
VSx Veterinary Surgery
Founder: Chase Michalek | LinkedIn Website: vsxvet.com
Specialty veterinary surgery platform partnering with board-certified surgeons to build and operate high-quality, independent surgical centers nationwide.
What’s Next
If you’re building a company and ready for support, attend an upcoming EC event to see what we’re about → ec.co/events
Want to stay in the loop? Join the EC or sign up for the 4-1-1 newsletter — we share events, founder wins, lessons from the building, and applications for the Fall 2026 cohort → https://ec.co/#ec-411
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