SpykeFire: Pioneering Autonomous Fire Detection in Challenging Environments
David Buttrey, a Nashville native, a co-owner of SpykeFire, joined by two other Nashville natives among the company’s leadership and early supporters of founder and Veteran Todd Melcher and 30 year CA Fire Captain Robert Rowe.
This connection underscores how Nashville’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem is fostering advancements in public safety technology beyond its traditional industries.
In the realm of fire safety technology, SpykeFire stands out with its innovative approach to protecting high-risk and remote locations. The company, accessible at www.spykefire.com, has developed a groundbreaking solution that addresses limitations in traditional fire detection systems, particularly in areas where infrastructure is limited or maintenance is impractical.
SpykeFire’s flagship product, the SPYKE, is a fully autonomous fire detection matrix designed for diverse applications, from commercial kitchens and high-rise buildings to offshore oil platforms and isolated worksites.
At its core is patented Shape Memory Alloy technology, a smart material that “remembers” its original shape and mechanically actuates upon reaching preset heat thresholds. This innovation allows the device to detect fires and trigger an immediate satellite IoT and/or cell based alert without relying on external power, batteries, wiring, or local networks – making it truly self-contained and maintenance-free over its 10-year lifespan.
The technology’s innovativeness lies in its complete independence from traditional power sources and connectivity, overcoming vulnerabilities like battery failure, power outages, or network disruptions common in conventional systems. By harnessing the unique properties of Shape Memory Alloys for reliable, heat-activated mechanical response combined with satellite communication, SpykeFire delivers highly accurate, global-scale detection in environments where other solutions fail.
What distinguishes SpykeFire from conventional fire safety providers is this emphasis on simplicity, reliability, and global accessibility. Traditional systems often depend on electricity, internet connectivity, or regular servicing, rendering them unsuitable for remote or harsh environments. In contrast, SPYKE devices are rugged, corrosion-resistant, and provide near-global coverage via satellite (excluding only the North and South Poles). This autonomous design ensures constant readiness without the vulnerabilities of powered infrastructure.
The company’s mission centers on reimagining fire detection to deliver protection where it was previously too costly, complex, or impossible to implement. By creating a “self-contained safety matrix,” SpykeFire enable proactive risk mitigation in underserved sectors, potentially saving lives and property in scenarios where seconds matter.
As a pioneer in battery-free, satellite-linked fire alerting, SpykeFire positions itself at the forefront of public safety innovation. Its technology assists organizations in enhancing fire preparedness without added operational burdens, aligning with growing demands for resilient, low-maintenance solutions in industries like energy, construction, and hospitality.
Looking ahead, SpykeFire aims to expand the reach of autonomous detection, further bridging gaps in global fire safety coverage.
Through continued refinement of its patented technology, the company seeks to set new standards for reliable protection in an increasingly connected yet infrastructure-variable world.
Festival Frameworks: Advancing Festival Production Through Virtual Design
Amid Nashville’s thriving creative and entertainment sector, Festival Frameworks emerges as an innovative consultancy transforming event planning with technology-driven precision. Founded by Nashville native David Buttrey, the firm specializes in advanced CAD-based virtual simulations that enable efficient, cost-effective festival design for global clients.
Buttrey, a Loyola University New Orleans graduate, launched Festival Frameworks based on decades of hands-on experience across festival roles, including executive producing major events like Tortuga Music Festival and Afropunk. His career identified key inefficiencies in traditional planning – such as last-minute logistical issues and budget overruns – prompting a tech-focused solution to preempt challenges.
The core innovation lies in applying CAD technology, typically used in architecture, to festival production. Festival Frameworks creates detailed 2D and 3D models simulating entire events, incorporating stages, audio-video-lighting, barricades, tents, signage, vendor booths, fencing, entrances/exits, emergency routes, power distribution, restrooms, and vendor schedules on virtual venue representations. This accelerates stakeholder alignment, reduces on-site rework, and controls costs by eliminating surprises.
What sets Festival Frameworks apart is Buttrey’s extensive expertise in diverse, challenging environments. He has designed and produced festivals on Fort Lauderdale beaches (Tortuga Music Festival), alpine slopes (Snowbombing Canada in Sun Peaks), desert expanses akin to Coachella or Burning Man, open fields and race tracks (Grid.life camping events), and dense urban settings (Afropunk in Atlanta parks or Manhattan-based productions). International projects span Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Johannesburg’s museums and courthouses, and designs for shows outside Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Handling budgets from $100,000 to $75 million-plus, this versatility allows proactive adaptation to environmental hurdles, distinguishing the firm from competitors reliant on standardized approaches.
The service offering is straightforward: customized CAD-driven site maps and virtual frameworks for events of any scale. Clients gain immersive pre-visualizations to test scenarios, fostering collaboration and smoother execution.
Festival Frameworks leads by pioneering CAD for immersive festival planning, elevating industry standards for precision and efficiency. Buttrey’s contributions to events like the award-winning Tortuga Music Festival (recognized in industry outlets) and Afropunk underscore this pioneering role.
Special projects highlight capabilities, including Enchant Christmas multi-city series and international productions demonstrating scalable, themed logistics.
Looking forward, the firm aims to integrate emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality, positioning Nashville as a hub for sustainable, tech-enhanced event production.
Mangrove
Nashville has emerged as a national fintech powerhouse, ranking among the top cities for tech job growth and hosting innovative programs like Project FinTech at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. The city’s dynamic ecosystem, supported by collaborations with Vanderbilt University, attracts venture capital and fosters startups bridging traditional finance with digital assets. Mangrove.ai exemplifies this local ingenuity while contributing to national advancements in secure AI trading.
Founded by Timothy Darrah, a U.S. Army veteran, former NASA Fellow, and Vanderbilt PhD in Computer Science, Mangrove.ai prioritizes human intent in AI-driven finance.
Co-founder David Buttrey brings proven expertise in customer growth, marketing, and large-scale operations, as an executive who sold over 1,000,000 event tickets globally with TMT based businesses and managed teams with over 2,000 reports.
Backed by first investor Tim Hite – former Senior Counsel for the House Financial Services Committee and FINRA, contributor to FIT21 a monumental U.S. crypto market structure bill that passed the house in May 2024, and current Head of Policy at Exodus – the company aligns with evolving U.S. regulatory frameworks.
Mangrove.ai’s mission is to empower Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and wealth managers with seamless, AI-powered digital asset management. Having raised $425K to date, the company is in pre-beta stage, with a full beta release scheduled for February 2026.
This positions Mangrove.ai at the convergence of crypto adoption, AI innovation, and regulatory clarity.
The platform addresses key challenges:
RIAs face rising AUM demands for crypto exposure amid outdated systems, 24/7 market volatility, and regulatory uncertainty.
Mangrove.ai’s solution is an AI-powered co-pilot providing visibility, control, and a unified interface for digital assets with non-custodial security. It distinguishes itself as purpose-built for RIAs, leveraging AI intelligence, first-mover advantage, and strategic partnerships.
The flagship AI Copilot transforms natural language prompts – like “Create a momentum-based strategy for Ethereum with stop-loss protections” – into executable plans featuring real-time analysis, pattern recognition, adaptive algorithms, volatility thresholds, scenario simulations, and historical backtesting.
For RIAs, it enables compliant, portfolio-level optimizations with built-in guardrails to prevent errors and ensure alignment with client profiles.
Core offerings include an AI-assisted strategy builder, native risk controls, multi-wallet support, and safeguarded live deployment, empowering users to trade confidently in volatile markets, including tokenized real-world assets.
The opportunity is substantial: a $144T+ market with $7T potential crypto exposure, where 56% of RIAs are increasing allocations within 12 months and 72% are adopting AI tool within the next 36 months. Registered Investment Advisors have lagged in digital asset adoption, but legislation like FIT21 and the GENIUS Act provides clarity, accelerating a shift akin to the internet’s birth – where every entity will need strategies for management, trading, monitoring, insurance, and treasury. Mangrove.ai delivers tools that bring clarity and security to this transition amid rising institutional interest.
Leadership strength includes board member Caroline Williams, recognized in Nashville Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40 and other honors; Darrah’s NASA Fellowship and NSF awards; and Buttrey’s operational acumen. Community initiatives, such as Darrah’s Vanderbilt presentations, and the RIA-focused platform bridge traditional and digital finance. As Nashville evolves into a tech powerhouse, Mangrove.ai anchors resilient innovation for individuals and advisors alike.
