In this episode, we talk with Dean Wegner - Army Veteran and Founder of Authentically American, which is a premium apparel brand that proudly manufactures all of their products in the USA. We talk about finding your niche and building a brand, how you can leverage free publicity to bring your vision to life without a large advertising budget, and the unexpected opportunities (like running a business that makes military uniforms) that can lead you in the direction you’re meant to go. If you love the brand and mission, head over to www.authenticallyamerican.us and use code FOUNDER for 25% off of your purchase.

Veteran Entrepreneur Talks

Ep 18: Dean Wegner, Army Veteran & Founder of Authentically American

True Made makes delicious, low sugar condiments that you can find in places like Whole Foods & HEB. They are on a mission to cut the refined and artificial sweeteners out of your diet and replace them with real veggies! We talk with Abe about the lessons he’s learned about fundraising, growth and marketing in the first 5 years of his business, how he turned a family pain point into a business opportunity, and the amazing journey that took him from the Navy to Qatar to a plastics factory in Bulgaria and (ultimately) to launching his own business.

Ep 17: Abe Kamarck, Navy Veteran and Founder & CEO of True Made Foods

In this episode, we talk with Stuart Grazier - active duty Navy pilot and the founder of Storehouse 310 Ventures, which is a turnkey real estate company based in Milwaukee, WI. We talk about how he went from investing $5,000 in a dirt lot in Alabama to building a company that flips 3-4 houses per month, the importance of having a strong “why” for your company, and the challenges of building a business while on his 18th year of active duty (spoiler: he wakes up at 4 am).

Ep 16: Stuart Grazier, Active Duty Navy & Founder of Storehouse 310 Ventures

In this episode, we talk with Navy Veteran Rod Lewis, Co-Founder of Baby So Right. We talk about what it’s like to start a baby product company with no prior experience in baby products, the importance of hiring people with specialized skills (especially in marketing & PR), and the role that research and persistence play in the early stages of building your business.

Ep 15: Rod Lewis, Navy Veteran & Co-Founder of Baby So Right

In this episode, we talk about the importance of being able to operate with scarce resources, the role that passion and commitment play in entrepreneurship, and what it’s like to launch a healthcare technology business with zero experience in technology or in healthcare!

Ep 14: Jaden Risner, Navy Veteran & Founder of Family Proud

In this episode, talk about how a combat injury unexpectedly put Clayton on the path to entrepreneurship, how a competitive approach to business has led to fulfillment & success, and the fact that risk will always exist in business (and life) and isn’t a reason to not get started or jump in 100%. We also talk about starting a whiskey distillery with your entire family - on the side!

Ep 13: Clayton Hinchman, Army Veteran & CEO of Ignite

In this episode, we talk about how Nick & Drew turned a 3rd generation family business into a fresh, modern brand, what it’s like to move from idea to execution in less than 60 days, and their goal of building a respected company that incorporates fun, fulfilling work and time with friends.

Ep 12: USMC Veteran Nick Wyatt & Army Veteran Drew Everett, Founders of Apex Gear Co

In this episode, we talk with Army Veteran Stephanie Lincoln, Founder of Fire Team Whiskey. We talk about creating a digital product from scratch, the importance of not being so precious with what you’ve created that you don’t make critical changes, and the value that you can capture from others who have walked the path before you.

Ep 11: Stephanie Lincoln, Army Veteran & Founder of Fire Team Whiskey

In this episode, we talk about the importance of taking small, incremental steps when starting a business, how a marketplace can allow you to grow faster with lower risk, and what its like to open your doors one week before the country shuts down in response to a public health crisis.

Ep 10: Jonathan Bradshaw, Army Veteran & Owner of Household 5 Soaps

In this episode, we talk with Marine Corps Veteran Joey Mac Dizon, Founder & Owner of The Mobile Cigar Lounge and Co-Owner of Belleau Wood Cigars, which will open in June of 2020.  We talk about the importance of putting your ego aside and becoming a life-long learner, what it’s like to have the entrepreneurial bug before you have a business idea, and why you should look forward to the struggles and failures of starting your business (hint: you’ll learn something!).

Ep 9: Joey Mac Dizon, USMC Veteran & Founder of The Mobile Cigar Lounge

In this episode, we talk with Marine Corps Veteran Lisa Bodenburg, Owner of Liberty Fitness.  She’s an elite athlete motivational fitness coach and nutritionist.  We talk about how she turned a lifelong passion for fitness into a purposeful, mission-drive business, the importance of niche-ing down and speaking directly to your ideal customer, and why you should start listening to other people who see potential in you.

Ep 8: Lisa Bodenburg, Marine Corps Veteran & Owner of Liberty Fitness

In this episode, we talk with Navy Veteran Brian Olivier.  He’s the founder of GluConfidence - a company that provides all-natural, convenient nutrition solutions for people with Diabetes.  We talk about the perils of launching a physical product (with no manufacturing experience), the importance of aligning your personal mission and values with your business goals, and how to silence that voice in your mind that sows doubt and fear and holds you back from moving your business forward.

Ep 7: Brian Olivier, Navy Veteran & Founder of Gluconfidence

Justin Nassiri is a Navy Veteran, the founder of Storybox and the creator of Beyond the Uniform. We talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will give you honest feedback, the pain and struggles of building and growing a business that has evolved over 10+ years, and the difficulties that come along with being the sole decision maker in a business.

Justin Nassiri: Navy Veteran, Founder of Storybox & Creator of Beyond the Uniform

James Bower is an Army Veteran and the owner of Veteran Bargains, a website dedicated to finding savings for those who have served our country. We talk about sales, and how the sales process applies to every facet of your business (and personal life!). We also talk about the incremental approach to building a business and how you can find 300+ extra hours a year to work on your business.

Episode 5: James Bower - Army Veteran, Owner of Veteran Bargains

Episode 4: Phil Duong, Founder of Maco and The Wingman Foundation Phil is a USMC veteran who flew Ospreys on active duty and continues to serve in the reserves. He is the founder of Maco - a gifting and care package platform for servicemembers. He is also the founder of The Wingman Foundation, which is the first and only gold-star non-profit in the Naval Aviation community LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF YOU: Need the inspiration/push to move from idea to execution Need to be reminded why veterans make fantastic entrepreneurs Are fundraising or getting ready to fundraise Have a tendency to be too hard on yourself when your business doesn’t meet the external definition of “success” KEY TAKEAWAYS: Raising a friends & family round is really tough; they’re you’re biggest supporters but you feel a huge sense of responsibility when they invest in your idea You have to be able to separate your professional success (or failure) from your personal identity and worth as a person; they aren’t one and the same It takes moral courage to launch a business and say “I’m going to be the one to solve this problem”; the military gave you that - use it! A circle of trusted advisors who are willing to give you honest feedback is critical. And so is the willingness and ability to listen to what they say, even if you disagree! Entrepreneurship is cumulative - its comprised of countless successes and failures, which all add to your knowledge and preparedness   Visit www.veteranownedcollective.com/podcast for complete show notes, to include a list of resources mentioned during our talk.

Episode 4: Phil Duong, Founder of Maco and The Wingman Foundation

More veterans than ever are choosing to pursue entrepreneurship. Each week, we sit down with a veteran entrepreneur to talk about the transition from military service to building a business. Tune in for resources, useful tips, and inspiring stories about veterans who are crushing it in the business world. The Veteran Entrepreneur Talks (VET) podcast is run by the Veteran Owned Collective, a private community for veteran business owners. www.veteranownedcollective.com

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Veteran Entrepreneur Talks

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