What does it take to build a billion-dollar company? If you’re like most people, you probably assume it requires raising venture capital, building some sort of SAAS product, and scaling it to millions of users. The last thing you’d probably think of us is maxing out your credit cards to start a manufacturing company that produces supplements stocki…

With another year in the books and another one head, have you thought long and hard about what you’re hoping to accomplish in the next twelve months? Either way, today’s episode is for you. Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Learn More about Bunker Labs by visiting: www.BunkerLabs.org…

In this episode of the Transition, I catch up with Navy Veteran Lee Mills, Founder & CEO of Pixly, a visual documentation & collaboration platform for Construction, Insurance, Facilities and Field Service Professionals. In 2022, Lee won the Veteran Funds 100k Pitch Competition at the Military Influencer Conference. Since then, Lee and I frequently …

In this episode of the Transition, I sit down with Patrick Mate, Army Veteran and Founder of Patriot Jean Company, An Arizona-based American-made apparel company that produces 100% grown, sewn, and built Jeans. Manufacturing is a hard business, but that’s not stopping him. Although he’s still in the startup phase, Patricks invested over six-figures…

In this episode of the Transition, I share a simple framework to set you and your team up for success heading into the new year. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgOleh Bunker Labs, IRON Mike Steadman

Today on the Transition, I challenge conventional wisdom by challenging you to build a better mouse trap (i.e. build upon an existing product or service already in the marketplace) rather than trying to come up with market a new idea out the gate, especially if you’re a first-time founder or find yourself in a bit of a revenue lull. Apply for the n…

One topic that consistently comes up in my conversations with aspiring entrepreneurs is pursuing entrepreneurship through acquisition, a fancy way of saying buying a business as opposed to building one from scratch. There’s an old saying that, “There are multiple ways to skin a cat,” and as great as it is to start a business, buying one can be just…

In this episode of the Transition, I discuss how to survive and thrive during tough times using Jim Collin’s Framework of the Twenty Mile March. Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kgOleh Bunker Labs, IRON Mike Steadman

In this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Marine Corps Veteran and Chicago Bunker Labs Ambassador, Patryk Stanczak, Founder & CEO of GeekHeros, a digital marketing agency providing a plethora of services from website and logo design, to SEO support and beyond. I met Patryk a few years ago online and we finally caught up in-person at the Bunk…

In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran, Published Author, and Serial Entrepreneur, Mike Erwin, Founder & Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue. Founded in 2010, Team RWB is a nonprofit organization with chapters all across the country, that delivers consistent, local opportunities for veterans and the commu…

Today on the Transition, I talk about the importance of getting back to “why.” When you get caught up in the day to day of running your business, and all the blocking and tackling that comes with chasing revenue, managing your team, and dealing with your personal life, it can start to wear on you. It’s all fun and dandy the first few months, when y…

Today on the Transition, I discuss Blue Ocean Strategy, a method of thinking that allows you to identify uncontested market opportunities. Apply for the next cohort of Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship here: https://bunkerlabs.org/breaking-barriers/ Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg…

On today’s episode, we talk about mental health. Mike reflects on recent events in his life, how they impacted him, and what the reality of managing mental health looks like for many of us. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gm…

For first-time founders, it’s easy to fall in love with your idea and build a company that places you as the hero of the story. Jim Collins, renowned business author and famous for his books, Good To Great and Built To Last, believes that in order to build an enduring company, you have to be willing to do the hard work of building a company that do…

Do you ever feel there’s never enough time in the day to get things done? I know I do, but one thing that’s been helpful for me, is carving time to build an ideal workweek. So for this episode of the Transition, I walk through my ideal work week template and how I structure my time, and share guidance on how you can do the same in your own business…

On this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran, Leadership Coach, and Serial Entrepreneur, Sean Patton, Founder of Stronger Leader Stronger Profits, which helps companies increase their profitability by developing stronger leaders. I met Sean last year when the Bunker Labs Crew flew into Nashville, TN for a team fly-in. After hearing…

I tell people that it takes at least three years or so to fully transition, but that's not based on any peer-reviewed data only my personal experience after spending 10 years in the military, five including my time at the Naval Academy Prep School and Annapolis, followed by five in the Marine Corp, for ten years total. Today’s guest, Jessica Van De…

In the following episode of the Transition, I break down how to achieve marketing momentum in your business that attracts high-quality leads, by walking you through the following frameworks: The 1-Page Marketing Plan and the Weekly Marketing Cadence. I use my company, IRONBOUND Media, as a case study on how to effectively implement them Order my bo…

When I’m not hitting the heavy bag at the IRONBOUND Boxing Academy in Newark, you can find me under a barbell at my CrossFit gym, doing squats, bench presses, and other strength training exercises, something I’m picked up playing football in high school and carried with me into the Marines. While doing research on how to incorporate running into ba…

Today on the Transition, I revisit quarterly planning, and how to set yourself for success over the next 90 days, using objectives and key results. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg…

This week on the Transition, I’m bringing to you another interview conducted in-person at the CEO Circle Fly-In Powered by JP Morgan & Chase. Joining me this time is Ben Lang, Founder & CEO of Native Chats, a multilingual messaging platform specializing in real-time text translation that enables people to communicate across 100+ languages. Ben’s a …

In the military we have a saying that the enemy has a choice. Doesn’t matter how great you think your product or service is or you think it’s for, until you go to market, it’s an educated guess at best. From there, it’s your responsibility to identify whether you’re going to stick to the plan, such as selling craft beer via a subscription service m…

In this episode of the Transition, I share my morning routine and why it’s important for you to have one, regardless of how challenging your circumstances may seem. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg…

I’m breaking from script today in order to share a time-sensitive interview with Steve Harrison, Lead Associate of Corporate Development at USAA, where we discuss the upcoming USAA Pitch Competition, an opportunity for military-connected entrepreneurs to receive up to 50k in non-dilutive capital and the potential for future investment from USAA. Th…

In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Marine Corps Veteran and former Veterans in Residence Alumni Captain, Omar Fuentes, CEO and Co-Founder of accel-EQ, Digital Healthcare Platform that automates medical documentation using machine learning and artificial intelligence, in order to increase efficiency and eliminate wasted time, …

I recently met up with two female veteran entrepreneurs to discuss their sales and marketing efforts. One thing I immediately pressed them on was the importance of activating their existing network and key relationships. During the process, I realized that what was an obvious insight to me, wasn’t so obvious to them, which is why for today’s show, …

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and no one is better positioned to Ignite it than the veteran entrepreneurial community, which is why for Today’s show I sit down with fellow Marine and Bunker Labs CEO, Blake Hogan to discuss America’s Business Mission, a call to action for Ameican Business Owners, veteran or otherwise, to …

This week on the Transition, I sat down with Army Veteran Haotian Bai, President and Founder of Patriot Conceptions, an LA based surrogacy agency dedicated to providing exceptional service to surrogates and intended families. I met Bai through NYU’s Veterans Future Labs, where I gave a talk on branding. We connected afterwards and since then, we've…

This week on the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran and Veterans In Residence Alumni, Simon Karmarkar, Founder & CEO of Refund Wiz, a smartphone mobile e-filing tax return app. His company also offers MasRefund, an app designed specifically for the Spanish-speaking community. As a trained and certified Tax Specialist, Simon noticed a glaring ga…

I’m stoked for the following episode of the Transition where I chat with U.S Veteran and Coffee Entrepreneur, Mike Mckim, Founder of Cuvee Coffee, a nationally recognized Austin-based, coffee brand known for roasting exceptional, ethically sourced, sustainable coffee. Cuvee is made up of a roastery and distribution arm, including online and wholesa…

Today on the Transition, I’m joined by fellow Marine and Bunker Labs Ambassador Brand Childers, Founder of Freelance Corporal, an App whose aim is to help military service improve their financial literacy, combing a budget calculator with their EAS countdown, projecting how much savings a service member could get out of the military with. After ser…

In this episode of the Transition, I share some inside scoop on how I’m approaching Lead Generation, Flawless Acceleration,utilizing the Hawke Method, and how you can apply it on your own venture as well. I also use today’s episode as an opportunity to cover branding essentials for going to market. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter …

In this episode of the Transition, I talked about the difference between raising capital and going to market with a tech product vs a traditional small business. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Watch Marc Andressen’s …

In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran and CEO Circle Alumni, Chris Anthony, Founder & CEO of Teamworx Security, software company building a better way to manage cyber incident response in defense, cyber, critical infrastructure, and emergency management. Teamworx is the world's largest secure online forum that conne…

I’m pumped for the following episode of the Transition, as I finally get to sit down with fellow Marine and Bunker Labs New Orleans Ambassador, Taylor White, CEO and Co-Founder of Countable, which provides Financial Operations and Planning for Startups & Small businesses, empowering entrepreneurs with the financial team they need for growing busine…

In this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran and Bunker Labs OG, A- Jay Orr, Founder and CEO of Simple Plan IT, which helps business leaders manage the digital risks that threaten the existence of their business, taking the confusion out of IT & proving to business leaders that investing in new technology can be practical, effectiv…

In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by my good friend and Army Veteran, Mike Nemeth, Founder of Emblem Athletic, an apparel company that provides custom athletic apparel to athletes, teams, and organizations. I’ve had a chance to witness Mike scale his company from a handful of employees to almost 30+ and one of inc 500’s fastest…

Entrepreneurship is hard, it requires guts, sacrifice, and the willingness to endure, which is one of many reasons why Today’s guest, Brandon Shelton, is bullish about investing in veteran-led startups. Brandon is an Army Veteran, as well as the Founder and Managing Partner of Tasks Force Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in se…

In the following episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Air Force Veteran turned Venture Capitalist, Derren Burrell, Founder and President of Veterans Venture Capital, a veteran-owned growth-equity investment fund & firm focused on veteran businesses. On the show, Derren and I discuss why he believes veterans make great entrepreneurs, the investm…

Today, I’m joined by Robert Kissner and Rianna Khan, from the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IONA University, which is now providing free one-on-one business coaching and technical assistance to veteran and military spouse owned small businesses. On the show, Rob and Rianna discuss their offerings and how the community can t…

I respond to a listener’s question requesting advice as he prepares for his transition in 2024. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Apply for The Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Workshop Series here: https://bunkerl…

In this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran and Executive Coach Charlie Gilkey, Founder of Productive Flourishing, which helps creators, business owners, and leaders thrive, through award-winning tools and services. Additionally, Charlies is also the author of “The Small Business Lifecycle: A Guide for Taking the Right Steps at th…

On this episode of The Transition, I share a framework to help you drive revenue now. There’s no magic pill for revenue, but what you can do is build a repeatable process that puts you in the best possible position to get it. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Ent…

On this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Bunker Labs Ambassador Courtney Zaugg, Founder & CEO of Plaka Associates, an Indiana based economic developing consulting firm that collaborates with innovators in economic development to design entrepreneurship-led strategies that shape talent, community, and industry ecosystems. She’s also the Co-F…

Do you know your brands category? Specifically how customers are positioning you in their mind? If not, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Apply for The Breaking Barriers in Ent…

We’re kicking off the New Year with Army Veteran and Bunker Labs Ambassador, Vic Hill, CEO of Hillvision, a boutique, family-owned holding firm that features a diverse portfolio of companies, including real estate, technology, and media, just to name a few. Vic recently secured a 100k pre-seed investment for his tech startup, My Ruck, an API servic…

Today, we’re celebrating a huge accomplishment here at Bunker Labs, and that’s 100 Episodes in the book for The Transition. I’d like to personally thank each and everyone of you for tuning into this show, and supporting our efforts to build the next generation of veteran military spouse entrepreneurs. I’d also like to give a special shoutout to our…

On this episode of the Transition, I talk about why spreading yourself too thin is holding you back and what to do about it. Be sure to subscribe to the Transition Newsletter on Substack here: https://bit.ly/37Bb8Ne Checkout “The Official 2022 Bunker Labs Holiday Gift Guide” here: https://bit.ly/3U1bvpZ Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” h…

Today on the Transition, I sit down with Army Veteran and Expert EOS Implementer, Chris Hallberg, Author of The Business Sergeant’s Field Manual: Military Grade Business Execution Without The Yelling and Pushups. Although we’ve already done a crash course on EOS in a previous episode, which is short for The Entrepreneurs Operating System first coin…

On this episode of the Transition, I’m joined by Army Veteran and CEO Circle Alumni, Miles Murray, Co-Founder of Locoal Charcoal Company, A Waste to Energy climate technology company with a mission to change the way the world looks at waste. Utilizing their proprietary mobile containerized fluidized gasifier, Locoal positively impacts the world by …