Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Clayton Trammell is a former Navy SEAL who completed nine tours overseas, Kathryn Rickmeyer writes in this recent article for TENNBEAT.

“During one of those deployments, Trammell took a bullet for our country. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his heroic act,” she notes, quickly adding, “But one of Trammell’s toughest battles was far from the Middle East. It was here at home. Like many ex-military, the former SEAL struggled to figure out his next mission. Transition programs offered employment opportunities, but he wasn’t interested in climbing the corporate ladder.”

So, in 2021, the Nashville native launched his own consulting firm named, appropriately enough, Trammell Solutions. Now, three years later, Trammell has partnered with MasterBorn, a Music City software company that has engineered three unicorns, to turn former naval special forces members into start-up founders.

The six-month accelerator, named Privateer Ventures, is a tip-of-the-hat to a term for a private ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy to engage in combat.

According to the website for the accelerator, it involves a three-stage process that starts with the business idea, business plan, and elevator pitch. Stage 2 involves developing the branding strategy, refining the business plan, and developing the all-important pitch deck. Stage 3 includes fundraising, networking, and implementation.

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