Rory Graman

Allow me to introduce you to the phenomenon that is Rory Graman. This guy’s a straight-up legend in the startup world, but his story is wild ’cause it’s got all these layers, military, tech, finance, you name it.

So, Rory’s from the W21 YC batch, right? That alone tells you he’s got that hustle. But what really makes him stand out is his background. Before jumping into startups, he was a US Navy SEAL for over 12 years. Yeah, a real deal military guy. He was all about reconnaissance, surveillance, using tech for essential intel, that kind of high-stakes shit. That experience? It’s what fuels his entire approach to building stuff now. He’s got that no-nonsense, get-shit-done attitude that only someone who’s been through that kind of grind can have.

Then, after the Navy, he jumped into the startup scene. First, he co-founded Charge Running, a super cool app that connects runners around the world for live virtual races and training sessions. It’s all about community, real-time connection, pushing people to be better, faster. That shows he’s into making tech that brings people together, no bullshit. But he didn’t stop there.

His biggest move now is Conveyor Labs, a fintech/web3 company that’s all about decentralizing crypto trading. Think trustless, non-custodial platforms that help professional DeFi traders crush it with low costs and automation. This guy is really betting on the future of finance, and he’s doing it with that military-grade discipline and tech-savvy edge. Building a decentralized platform? That’s not easy, it’s complex, technical, and requires a deep understanding of both the tech and the market. That’s Rory.

What’s dope is that his whole process screams one thing: he’s obsessed with building things that matter, that push boundaries. From serving in the Navy, where he mastered intelligence and precision, to creating communities in running, to now innovating in crypto, he’s driven by a desire to solve real problems with tech. And he’s not just about the hustle; he’s about creating value, having an effect, and moving the space forward.

He’s also super committed to the community, he’s hosted events supporting veterans, like the ‘wear blue: run to remember’ virtual 5K. It shows he’s about giving back and staying connected to his roots.

Bottom line? Rory is the kind of founder who’s been through the toughest shit, learned how to operate under pressure, and now he’s taking that grit to the frontier of finance and tech. He’s a mix of discipline, innovation, and community focus. No cap, this guy’s gonna keep crushing it because he’s built different, a real soldier in the game of startups and tech.