Jeremy Sanders was interested in accelerating a business career he’d already begun. Before he graduated from college with a degree in finance in 2025, he had already founded a marketing agency that worked with startups in e-commerce, consulting, biotech, and healthcare. He then co-founded a fintech startup that provides a secure payment platform for contractors, and interned on two wealth management teams backed by insurance companies in New York City, where he completed his undergraduate education.

Given his experience with various facets of business, what drew him to a summer program after graduation? “Accelerator is different,” says Jeremy, who investigated the program after seeing an Instagram ad. “It has provided me opportunities to gain real-world experience in solving problems for large companies in sectors I previously had little to no experience with.”  

In addition, the California native was drawn to the opportunity “to build a network in one of America’s fastest growing cities” and to take part in graduate-level class sessions. “The connections I made here have given me a professional footprint in Nashville that I can leverage.”  

He also made unexpected connections with Nashville’s cultural history. During his first week in the program, Jeremy went to a legendary bluegrass venue, The Station Inn, and wound up meeting the band, including a two-time Grammy Award-winning performer, after the show. It’s one of his favorite memories from the program.

Another unexpected connection: “I was surprised,” he says, “by how much time we spent learning from Owen professors, who are some of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and talented I have ever met. They are very approachable and genuinely care about the students' success.”

By the time Accelerator ended, Jeremy felt that the program was well-named, helping him speed his way down his chosen path. “It has boosted my strategic thinking skills and business acumen in countless ways, giving me new approaches to solving problems within my current business and future endeavors,” he says. “I’ve learned how consulting works, I’ve rapidly strengthened my presentation skills, and I’ve become more confident in my abilities.

“This was easily the best summer program I’ve ever done. There are times I feel I’ve learned more and gained more valuable experience in a matter of weeks than in five years of undergraduate education.”