Alumni Ventures

VenoStent, Inc. is a clinical-stage tissue engineering company based in Nashville, Tennessee, with an additional office in Houston, Texas. Founded in 2017, it specializes in the development of bioresorbable smart polymers designed to enhance vascular surgery outcomes. The company’s primary product, SelfWrap, is a perivascular wrap that functions as an external stent, providing mechanical support to veins and promoting outward growth. This innovative technology aims to reduce complications at the vein-artery junction in dialysis patients, particularly by minimizing vein collapse and improving the usability of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). By utilizing a new class of shape-memory polymers that do not require sutures, VenoStent's approach reduces surgery time and lowers the risk of infection, ultimately enhancing the quality and length of life for patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Dextrous Robotics is a robotics company established in 2019 and based in Memphis, Tennessee. The firm specializes in developing AI-enabled robots designed for warehouse operations. These robots assist in various tasks, including loading and unloading pallets, trucks, and containers, as well as material picking, sorting, and storage. By providing advanced automation solutions, Dextrous Robotics aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of logistics processes for its clients.

Artiphon, Inc. is a Nashville-based company founded in 2011 that specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative musical instruments aimed at making musical expression accessible to everyone. The company’s flagship products, the INSTRUMENT 1 and Orba, have achieved significant success, raising over $1 million in pre-orders on Kickstarter and garnering accolades such as TIME Best Invention of the Year. These smart instruments allow users to create music through intuitive gestures like tapping, sliding, and waving, and can seamlessly switch between various instrument sounds, including guitar, violin, piano, and drums. The founder, Dr. Mike Butera, holds a Ph.D. in Sound Studies and has a background as a multi-instrumentalist and educator, which informs Artiphon's design philosophy. The team consists of professionals from notable companies such as SpaceX and Yamaha, and the company has garnered investment from industry leaders, including Warner Music Group and TechNexus. Artiphon aims to empower a new generation of musicians by fostering creativity and community through its products.

Alto Solutions, Inc. operates an online platform that facilitates the management of self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The company offers various IRA products, including Alto IRA, which allows users to invest in alternative assets such as private equity, venture capital, real estate, loans, and cryptocurrency. Its Checkbook+ IRA provides customers with check-writing control, enhancing the management of real estate investments. Additionally, Alto CryptoIRA connects users directly to Coinbase for cryptocurrency trading. The platform features a user-friendly dashboard for managing accounts and investments, and assists investors in determining their eligibility for different types of investments while identifying financial trust companies for asset custody. Serving a diverse clientele that includes wealth managers, registered investment advisors, real estate owners, and entrepreneurs, Alto Solutions aims to democratize access to alternative asset investing. Founded in 2015 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, the company was previously known as Saltvest, Inc.

Artiphon, Inc. is a Nashville-based company founded in 2011 that specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative musical instruments aimed at making musical expression accessible to everyone. The company’s flagship products, the INSTRUMENT 1 and Orba, have achieved significant success, raising over $1 million in pre-orders on Kickstarter and garnering accolades such as TIME Best Invention of the Year. These smart instruments allow users to create music through intuitive gestures like tapping, sliding, and waving, and can seamlessly switch between various instrument sounds, including guitar, violin, piano, and drums. The founder, Dr. Mike Butera, holds a Ph.D. in Sound Studies and has a background as a multi-instrumentalist and educator, which informs Artiphon's design philosophy. The team consists of professionals from notable companies such as SpaceX and Yamaha, and the company has garnered investment from industry leaders, including Warner Music Group and TechNexus. Artiphon aims to empower a new generation of musicians by fostering creativity and community through its products.

Alto Solutions, Inc. operates an online platform that facilitates the management of self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The company offers various IRA products, including Alto IRA, which allows users to invest in alternative assets such as private equity, venture capital, real estate, loans, and cryptocurrency. Its Checkbook+ IRA provides customers with check-writing control, enhancing the management of real estate investments. Additionally, Alto CryptoIRA connects users directly to Coinbase for cryptocurrency trading. The platform features a user-friendly dashboard for managing accounts and investments, and assists investors in determining their eligibility for different types of investments while identifying financial trust companies for asset custody. Serving a diverse clientele that includes wealth managers, registered investment advisors, real estate owners, and entrepreneurs, Alto Solutions aims to democratize access to alternative asset investing. Founded in 2015 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, the company was previously known as Saltvest, Inc.