PreFlight, Fall 2026

PreFlight · Fall 2026

Founders starting with an idea, ready to prove.

PreFlight is where a business starts before it is a business. These 15 founders joined Nashville Entrepreneur Center in Fall 2026 to test an idea, find a customer, and work out whether the thing in their head is worth building. Some arrived with a name and a product. Some arrived with a question.

15
Founders
11
Ventures named
7
Industries
8
At idea stage
Jennifer Amster
Jennifer Amster
ThroughLine

ThroughLine helps leaders turn complexity into clarity through a curated marketplace of trusted experts, proven tools, and AI-powered support for better execution.

Professional ServicesIdea StageGoodlettsville, TN
Chantay Banks
Chantay Banks
Prestige Imaging

Prestige Imaging is a state-of-the-art outpatient diagnostic imaging center dedicated to clinical excellence offering advanced imaging technology through MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray, ensuring patients receive the care they need when they need it most.

HealthcarePre-RevenueGallatin, TN
Tony Barbee
Tony Barbee
TJB

To sell a mobile phone accessory to connect to a product.

HealthcareIdea StageAliso Viejo, CA
Katherine Bomboy
Katherine Bomboy
Southern Fried Fuel™

Southern Fried Fuel™ is the Nashville’s first dedicated renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel distributor, building local supply, a regional brand, and verified carbon intensity feedstock provenance.

TransportationPre-RevenueNashville, TN
Magda Krych
Magda Krych
Unmapped

Unmapped designs patient education and experience infrastructure for radiology practices helping women navigate the dense breast diagnostic journey with clarity and confidence.

HealthcareIdea StageLebanon, TN
Dax Langford
Dax Langford
Exploring what to build

Exploring two concepts: a dog bar and daycare built around social gathering, and an AI tool that reads restaurant wine and cocktail menus for distributors, consumers and restaurants.

HospitalityIdea StageNashville, TN
Meredith Morris
Meredith Morris
Secret Burrito

Secret Burrito is Nashville's first membership QSR combining a public drive-thru, a private member lane, and an exclusive members private indoor dining room where founders, athletes, and community belong.

Food and BeveragePre-RevenueNashville, TN
Bryan Ogden
Bryan Ogden
Fanzpro

We connect Human Artists and human fans creating revenue for the artists

EntertainmentOtherNashville, TN
Done' Oglesby
Done' Oglesby
Exploring what to build

I am creating a fractional consulting business focused on assisting F&B/hospitality companies, creating practical, quick solutions for businesses in crisis.

HospitalityIdea StageNashville, TN
Jamie Polen
Jamie Polen
Exploring what to build

Augmented reality children's games customized for local businesses and third places.

Food and BeverageIdea StageNashville, TN
Tarak Robbana
Tarak Robbana
verbapost

VerbaPost is a prospecting campaign for financial advisors that replaces the seminar dinner. Advisors upload a list, we mail each person an invitation to record a family story, and their story arrives at a loved one’s door as a linen letter with the advisor’s name on it. The advisor gets a warm call instead of a cold one.

Professional ServicesPre-RevenueMount Juliet, TN
Samuel Sky
Samuel Sky
six7 industries

66 apps, one surface

Food and BeveragePre-RevenueNashville, TN
Alec Strzemp
Alec Strzemp
Exploring what to build

I am offering quick service, chef inspired, brunch style food to the employees thar run nashville. Hospitals, construction workers, universities, and local events.

Food and BeverageIdea StageNashville, TN
Kaleigh Wellhofer
Kaleigh Wellhofer
Gaited Community

Gaited is a professional platform for the equestrian industry, combining networking, a job board, and a marketplace for tack, consignment, and horse sales in one place.

OtherPre-RevenueFranklin, TN and Madison, WI
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams
SilvaLuxe Experiences

SilvaLuxe Experiences offers research-backed forest immersion and nature wellness for burned-out professionals and corporate teams, building toward a treehouse micro-resort on Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau.

HospitalityIdea StageMurfreesboro, TN

Most represented industries: Food and Beverage, Healthcare, Hospitality. Founders are listed alphabetically by last name. Descriptions are the founders’ own words, recorded when they joined the program, and reflect where each venture stood at the start of Fall 2026 rather than today. Interested in PreFlight? Read about the program.