Veteran Ventures

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Mark Delaney , a veteran who has spent the last five years helping service members transition into the business world. Mark is the host of the Veteran Semi-Professional Podcast (over 230 episodes!), runs a weekly newsletter packed with resources for veterans, and has built multiple businesses - including acquiring a SaaS company. But before al...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Andrew Kratz, a former Force Recon Marine turned successful entrepreneur. After leaving the military without a clear plan, Andrew’s journey took him through real estate, a security detail for Morocco’s Crown Prince, and a stint teaching at his alma mater. Eventually, a love for climbing and a knack for business led him to co-found Triangle Roc...

What if the only thing holding you back is the voice inside your head? In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Nate Boyer , a man who has done it all - serving as a Green Beret , playing in the NFL despite never having played organized football before college, co-founding the nonprofit Merging Vets and Players (MVP) , launching 8Primal , a Texas-based meat company, and stepping into...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Josh Kohn, whose eclectic career path has taken him from infantry officer to investment banker at JP Morgan - all without an MBA or a finance degree. Josh’s story is a masterclass in taking risks, embracing failure, and creating opportunities through persistence and adaptability. Now the co-founder of Meridian Performance Systems , Josh is rev...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Lindsey Schiro, CEO of 51 Vets , an organization dedicated to supporting elite military veterans as they transition into finance, banking, and business. Lindsey shares her deeply personal journey from pediatric nursing to nonprofit leadership after her husband was injured while deployed in Afghanistan. Her firsthand experience with the challen...

Join us for one of our most insightful episodes yet with Rob Kirila, a retired Special Forces Colonel turned private equity leader. Key Highlights: Rob’s transition story: Why titles and money alone don’t lead to happiness. The importance of aligning with like-minded people and finding "your tribe." Building an ideal life: Crafting a blueprint that prioritizes values and purpose. How to...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael "Mick" Mulroy, a former Marine, CIA officer, and humanitarian leader, to explore his incredible journey from military service to shaping global policy and leading humanitarian missions. Mick discusses his experiences in the Marines and the CIA, sharing valuable insights on the organization’s role, structure, and opportunities for veterans conside...

This episode features a deep dive into the transition from military service to the business world with Hunter Mancini and Andy Fleischer. Hunter and Andy served together in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and are now thriving in business school, corporate leadership development programs, and entrepreneurial ventures. Somehow, these two are managing to do it all, while also balancing families and a *sligh...

In this special 21st episode of the Veteran Ventures Podcast , hosts Griffin and Jack celebrate a significant milestone—joining the top 1% of podcasts by surpassing 20 episodes! Reflecting on their journey, they dive into the key takeaways and recurring themes from their conversations with successful veterans who have transitioned to civilian life. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The intentiona...

In this episode of the Veteran Ventures Podcast , we sit down with Kris Sandor, a Naval Academy graduate and veteran turned tech entrepreneur. Kris’s impressive career spans roles as a Naval officer, a policy advisor, a McKinsey consultant, and the CEO of Citi Bike before its acquisition by Lyft. Now, as the CEO of Readyly, an AI platform revolutionizing the way citizens interact with local govern...

Join us as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Lee Mills, the founder of Pixly.ai , a cutting-edge SaaS platform for the construction industry. From his early days in the Navy to his current role as a tech entrepreneur, Lee shares: How his military service shaped his leadership and problem-solving skills. The unexpected challenges and triumphs of transitioning from service to civilian life...

In this episode of Veteran Ventures , we sit down with Andrew Steen, a former Army Ranger from the 75th Ranger Regiment turned entrepreneur. Andrew recently won over the Sharks on Shark Tank with his pitch for Laptis, a groundbreaking startup connecting patients with trusted substance use treatment. Andrew’s story is an inspiring testament to how veterans can leverage their military experience to...

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Sherbakov, a former enlisted Marine turned successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Mike shares his journey from humble beginnings as a first-generation immigrant to leading the Veteran Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in veteran-led startups to help propel America's future. Mike offers powerful insights into: Transitioning out of the military...

Unfortunately, mental health is one of the largest issues facing the US military. The problem is, many service members avoid seeking help out of fear that a diagnosis would jeopardize their career. Not to mention the fact that there often aren’t enough providers to meet the need for counseling across the force. Josh Otero is building a mental health trained AI chat bot to try and fix those problem...

Holden Lindblom enlisted in the Army as a fire supporter and served for four years (both in Italy with the 173rd and with the 101st) before deciding to pursue his degree. Through a unique path, he ended up graduating from Stanford and going on to chart his way through the business world, starting several companies. He currently is the founder of Vetrafi, a financial services company dedicated to p...

It's not often that a CO, XO, and 1SG get together to publicly reflect on their service together in the Army. This episode is an epic reunion and packed full of actionable advice on the military transition process. Max Pumfrey retired from the Army as a Sergeant Major, making great use of his Skillbridge program to land a great job at Honeywell in Kansas City. His extensive experience in the Army,...

Blake Hall is the founder and CEO of ID.me, the digital identity platform revolutionizing the way identity is verified and shared online. But before all that, he was an Army Ranger hunting high value targets throughout Iraq. We dive into his combat experience, how it laid the foundation for what he and his team at ID.me are building, and hear some of his crazy stories from the journey (including n...

After commissioning out of West Point and serving as an Armor Company Commander in the Army, Rob Fee transitioned out to become a financial advisor. But it wasn’t a straight path. He first did a Skillbridge program, working for his family’s insurance business. He discusses how a low risk experience learning what you DON’T want to do can be extremely helpful, and how it ultimately put Rob on the pa...

Mark Peer did something many would say is crazy: he left active duty in the Coast Guard after 17 years of service. Having started a real estate media company with his wife, he dove into the business full time and hasn't looked back. This conversation provides an inside look into Mark's very fresh perspective around deciding to leave the military and pursuing a lifestyle business. --- Connect with...

After serving as the captain of the skydiving team and commissioning out of West Point, Jordan Komm spent time in the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado and then in Georgia with the 75th Ranger Regiment. After 8 years in the Army Jordan transitioned out to become a real estate loan officer, where he found quick success. He then started a mortgage brokerage that he and his business partner now run,...

After serving in the Army as a Military Intelligence officer, Kelly Perdew went on to win season 2 of The Apprentice, invest in some of the world's most successful companies, and make entrepreneurship his life's mission. He is now the Managing General Partner of Moonshots Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in technology companies founded by extraordinary leaders. Key topics discussed in...

Brandon Reece is the CEO of Floodlight Consulting Group, specializing in helping water damage restoration companies grow their business and increase their profits. He is also the co-host of the Head Heart & Boots podcast, a popular show in the home services industry. He's a former Army NCO and paratrooper who has really found his niche in the civilian world and now has an absolutely world-clas...

Eric Upchurch served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), deployed to combat five times, and completed a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science. He has a passion for educating the military community on how to create long-term wealth through real estate investing, while personally investing across the country for the last seventeen years. He also serves as Co-Founder of Active...

From kicked out of the Air Force, to starting a distribution company in Hawaii that now has 150 employees and does $15MM a year in sales. Nick Smallwood's story is unbelievable. We discuss continually chasing your dreams, finding purpose after the military, and more. This conversation made us want to go out and change the world after and I think you'll feel the same. --- Connect with Nick:...

Image a lifestyle that you don't need a vacation from. Where you don't chase other people's definition of success, but you define your own. That's what we discuss in this episode with Maurice Philogene, a retired Air Force special agent, former management consultant, and master of living the "Try Life On" lifestyle. He's traveled the world, is a partner on a $250 mill...