Archive for Military

Persevering to Sucess: Life360

Some people might be familiar with the location app Life360. To many teenagers, it is the bane of their existence. Parents use the app to track their kid’s exact location. They can thank Chris Hulls for creating the app.

Chris Hulls: Creator of Life360

Originally, Hull started in the United States Air Force. During his service, the government established a website to help locate missing family members in disasters after Hurricane Katrina. The site was ineffective.

After Hulls pulled out of the military, he went to college and was accepted into Harvard Business School. He, however, decided not to go after a health issue. While undergoing treatment, Hulls remembered the ineffective government website and started thinking. He developed the idea for Life360 and bounced the idea off a few friends.

Hulls began by outsourcing the technological development in India. It ended up as a failure. He tried again after winning “Google’s Android Challenge”. From the competition, he won $300,000 which helped him make Life360.

Despite the app being created, Hulls almost failed again. He was dead broke: he lived in his mom’s house and was making $700 a month. The app had very few users. In the beginning, the smartphone had just been created. People did not know how to effectively use apps. He and his team managed to limp by for 2 years. After some improvements and a few years for the world to adapt to smartphones, business began to pick up. Now, Life360 has about 30 million active users according to a 2022 article.

Life360 still faces plenty of challenges. The app has caused lots of controversy. The Washington Post wrote an article on how parents use the app to track their children. Life360 also received backlash after Markup exposed the company for selling information to data brokers. This caused the company to adjust its policies, but Life360 continues to have 50 million users.

While Chris Hulls barely qualifies as a millennial since he was born in 1985, he is certainly an entrepreneur. He conceived an idea years ago and stored it in his memory. When he faced health issues, he used the time to think about his idea.

“What felt like a set back in my life was actually time to incubate an idea that inspired my career.”

He changed his life plan and developed the idea. Although he struggled in the beginning, Hulls persevered for years. Even after his success, Hulls continues to adapt and change Life360 to make it better.

What is Life360? | About Our Company & Our Mission

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/chris-hulls-of-life360-you-will-never-regret-trying/

Founder lessons (and silver linings) from Life360’s Chris Hulls – Bessemer Venture Partners (bvp.com)

Life360 is getting out of the business of selling precise user location data – The Verge

Evan Hafer: Founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company

Evan Hafer is a former Green Beret in the United States Army and also did contracts for the CIA. He grew up in Idaho in a family of loggers. Everyone in his family joined the military, did their time, and then returned home to work in the forest as loggers. He followed in the footsteps of his family and joined the National Guard but after years of teenage delinquency, he decided to go to college and graduated from the University of Idaho. After he graduated, he decided to return to the military where he climbed up the ranks over 20 years eventually becoming a Green Beret where he was involved in the invasion of Iraq. He eventually became a contractor and continued to serve in the military until he began to suffer from mental and psychological problems. One thing that took his mind off of the stress of war, however, is coffee. Throughout his tenure in the military, he became infatuated with coffee and began roasting his own coffee. After he left the military, he decided he wanted to tie his love for coffee into his love for the country. In 2015, Hafer founded Black Rifle Coffee along with two other veterans, Tom Davin and Matt Best. They founded the company with the goal of supporting veterans, first responders, and law enforcement. While Black Rifle Coffee supports those who serve the nation and fall into line with certain political views, they do not endorse one party or another. Black Rifle Coffee has made the commitment to only hire veterans based on their work ethic and discipline. Hafer also made sure when he was founding the company that every purchase of his coffee would give back to veteran organizations and funds. One thing I feel young entrepreneurs can take from Evan’s story is his dedication to what he loves. As someone who has veterans in their family, Evan’s dedication to them and giving back to veterans who need it through donations and the BRCC fund is something I can stand behind fully. Not only does his company make great tasting coffee and support a great cause, he also sets a standard for all young entrepreneurs.

BBMilitaryWifeLife

BBMilitaryWifeLife is an amazing company started by a wife and mother named Brook.  She was inspired to start this company after having a blog.  However, once she realized that she could combine her two passions of earrings and awareness for the military community, she came up with BBMilitaryWifeLife.  Consequently, this company takes worn military uniforms and turns them into treasured and beautiful earrings.

This is a unique company as I have never seen another company take uniforms and make jewelry from them.  Most of the time you see people repurposing military uniforms it is by making bags, scarves, and stuffed animals.  I believe that the idea of being able to wear a piece of a uniform is very cool and a new part of the market.

I find this company specifically inspiring because my sister and I came up with a business idea for the Venture Battle very similar to this company that reused military uniforms into dog bandanas.  Having invested time and done research into this particular market, I have a great appreciation for what Brook and her company are trying to do.  The idea of reusing military uniforms seems to be a great idea because not only do people that have family members involved in the military want these products, but also just patriotic Americans want to support a company that repurposes military uniforms.

T.Rex Arms

T.Rex Arms

Lucas Botkin was 19 years old when he first started designing. A volunteer firefighter and avid firearm user, Botkin began constructing custom equipment for his own personal use and firearm training. Through the encouragement of his parents, Lucas began to sell products on eBay. Later his fire chief asked Botkin if he would make him a Glock 17 holster for his own use. Lucas did so, and after finding out his chief was able to protect himself and family from a home intruder while using the specially designed holster, Botkin realized the impact he could have through his products.

From that point on T.Rex Arms was a go. It started small, with only Botkin filling and shipping orders out of his garage. However, within a few months, orders grew to the point where Lucas hired David Botkin and David Noor to help with the flourishing business. After more time and more growth, Lucas had a decision to make, to remain a small company more as a side job; or to take the business to the next level, hiring more employees and expanding their workspace. Botkin chose the latter.

Over the years, T.Rex arms has grown from the small, garage based business, to the highly profitable and successful company it is today. This success is due to Botkin’s creativity and focus, as while as T.Rex arm’s core message and goals. T.Rex Arms has made constant efforts to enable and encourage “citizen responsibility”; in other words the responsibilities by citizens of the U.S. to protect themselves and others. On top of this, the company has always stuck to its core competencies: choosing quality over quantity and always seeking to tear down what is useless and build up something useful. Through Botkin’s entrepreneurial vision and creativity, Lucas was able to break into a market with new innovations and create a well known and trusted social media presence. Because of these excellent qualities, Lucas truly embodies what it is to be an entrepreneur.

 

Drones: From the Public to the Government

When most people consider starting their first business, most think of the simpler methods of drop shipping, Amazon selling, or some hands-on job like landscaping among other things. This is largely due to the simplicity and minimum risk associated with these ventures.  However, George Matus was no ordinary 15 year old kid. From a very young age, George Matus was intrigued with the world of drones and UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. At the age of 14, Matus was a drone test flyer for a company.

Through this experience, George Matus says he soon compiled a list of things that would make the perfect drone. Using this knowledge, George started his own drone business: Teal Drones. Matus’ goal was to create a simple yet functional drone that could be easily operated by the general public. The support began pouring in and before George was 21, he had accumulated $15 million of venture funding for his idea. This is a major breakthrough and a significant step in the right direction for Matus and Teal Drones. They came out with several drone models that features the simplicity and performance that George had originally envisioned. Drone One was their most popular original product and its incredible popularity attracted much attention within the drone community.

While this is an accomplishment in it of itself, the real attention would come in the form of a government contract.  This caused a dramatic shift in teals product line. While they still remained focused on the ideology of simplicity, functionality and the consumer, they now had enough traction to expand into the elite drone world. Their latest project is called the Golden Eagle and is a high tech, secure and highly functional drone.  The description on their website states, “Golden Eagle is an American-made sUAS designed to be applied in a variety of use cases within the Department of Defense and other Government agencies. The Golden Eagle’s primary application is short-range ISR capabilities in government operations, but has been adopted by industry for managing wildlife and land, as well as infrastructure and security.” While this new product has commercial and public-friendly capabilities, it can be applied in a plethora of situations from search and rescue to surveillance to wildlife management. From an infrared camera to autonomous flight, George Matus and his team at Teal Drones has created an innovative drone and they have greatly impacted the arena of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Not Your Average Joe

 

Evan Hafer joined the United States National Guard at the mere age of seventeen, and right away he knew it was a fit. Excelling in all that was required, Hafer strived to obtain an even higher goal, the coveted Army Green Beret. After going through the grueling training, selection, and eventual graduation as a Green Beret, Hafer spent 20 years serving in the U.S. military. Throughout his deployments, Hafer was always drinking coffee. This carried over to civilian life-likewise, where Hafer would seek out different coffee and espresso shops in the Seattle area. This eventually culminated in Hafer roasting his own coffee for personal use and to sell to friends. As more and more people flocked to buy Hafer’s roasts, Hafer made the leap of faith from producing coffee simply as recreational, to an actual day job.

Where are they now?

In the winter of 2014, Hafer made the next big decision, to start his own company. Hafer founded Black Rifle Coffee Company with the purpose of being by veterans, for veterans. BRCC is known for its quality coffee, but also for its top-notch costumer interaction and involvement. The company effectively cuts out the middleman by selling its coffee directly to consumers via online subscription. In 2020 alone, BRCC had over 100,000 subscribers to its coffee deliveries, not to mention its two physical coffee shops in Boerne, and San Antonio, TX. As mentioned before, Hafer brought with BRCC a unique being of experience and community, and that community is what really sets the brand apart from the competition. By selling primarily to veterans, Hafer found a strong target market but also an almost militant (pun not intended) fan base. And it is that same fan base that sky rocketed BRCC revenue from $1 million in 2015, to $30 million in 2017, and finally a stunning $80 million in 2019; all within 5 years of operation. Hafer’s drive, dedication, and entrepreneurial mindset serves as an inspiration and shows just what is possible to be achieved with hard work and a clever mind

GORUCK – Jason McCarthy

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After the events of 9/11, Jason McCarthy decided to join the Army.  He was eventually deployed to southern Iraq in 2007 and realized humility.  “War was most humbling not for its costs, but for its clarity. I’m a better person because I went to war, because I served in Special Forces, because of the guys to my left and right who expected and demanded more of me than I knew I had. It’s not the revenge I sought after 9/11 that has endured, it’s the love in my heart for those I served beside. If there’s a nobler way to live a life than in service to others, I’ve not yet seen it.”

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During this time, his wife, Emily, was a diplomat in Baghdad, and when they were together, he decided to make a go-bag (or go-ruck) for her just in case.  It was when he began organizing a second ruck that Emily suggested he should do more this.  However, their marriage did not last and he soon moved back to New York City with their dog, Java.  During this time, McCarthy said he lacked purpose in his life outside the Army.

He credits his recovery to his dog forcing him to get out of the house every day and also to deciding to go back to school.  While he slowly adjusted to civilian life, he continued thinking about go-bags.  “What lived on was the idea for a bag that you could use in Baghdad or New York City, that would be tough enough for Special Forces, but that I could use in NYC without looking like I was still in the military. GR1 would have to build a bridge between the military world I was coming from, to the civilian world I was in.”

According to McCarthy, being an entrepreneur had never occurred to him and was out of his comfort zone.  “I never even had a lemonade stand as a kid.”  In February of 2008, he finally founded GORUCK.  Not knowing how to build a backpack, though, McCarthy was stumped.  So, he placed an ad on Craigslist for a backpack designer and connected with a design team in Montana who were searching for a new project after being laid off in New Zealand.  The new team went through 6 prototypes, eventually settling on a usable design in 2010.

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The process of designing, scaling, and preparing to sell all but destroyed his savings, eventually causing him to partner with his Dad.  To market the product, McCarthy and some of his old buddies packed up and headed to Allentown, Pennsylvania to go rucking with the bags.  They were surprised by how many people wanted to join them.  In the summer of 2010, he did not sell many of his bags, but it gave him a new idea: the GORUCK Challenge.

He realized that people want a challenge and they want to push themselves.  He discarded his old plan of selling his bags in local men’s or sporting shops and instead marketed a challenge.  The GORUCK Challenge focused on people wearing the bags, not the bags themselves.

In 2011, he graduated from business school and focused more on GORUCK.  During this time, he and Emily remarried and now live in Florida.  GORUCK continues to grow, as well as the GORUCK Challenge where people push their limits with others.  McCarthy is not a typical entrepreneur – he never really wanted to be one, but with an idea and an earnest desire to help people and bring them together, he ended up creating a thriving business and finding a new purpose in his life.

Nine Line Apparel – Tyler Merritt

Nine Line Apparel is a patriotic clothing company based out of Savannah, Georgia.  It was created by now military vet, Tyler Merritt and his wife in 2012.  They started as a small t-shirt company based out of their garage while Tyler was still on active duty, deployed overseas.  His wife successfully managed the company for a little over a year and over that period of time, they expanded into a small house, and then purchased a storefront in 2014.  The company started gaining a lot of traction and over the next several years they made the decision to expand yet again.  In 2017, Nine Line Apparel opened the doors of their 60,000 sq. ft. facility outside of Savannah, Georgia, where they operate today.

Nine Line Apparel is dedicated to uniting Americans.  They are committed to their values which are stated on their website as:  1. Respect the flag and what it stands for.  2. Support the military, police, fire departments, and any other public service who have and continue to serve the United States honorably.  3. Being patriotic is not something to be ashamed of.

Nine Line Apparel, under the guidance and leadership of Tyler Merritt, is continually innovating to ensure they can stay profitable while still manufacturing their items in the U.S.  While it may not always maximize profits, they are committed to upholding their values and serving the American people.  They now carry numerous t-shirt designs and styles, sweatshirts, hats, jackets, accessories for dogs, a new women’s line featuring athletic wear, and many more patriotic apparel related items.  Tyler Merritt has built this company from the ground up and is now seeing incredible success with numerous interviews and bits being aired on Fox News, the brand being carried at large stores such as Cabela’s and Field and Stream, and countless online orders being placed every day.

Many of Nine Line Apparel’s employees are current and retired military, and they specifically seek to give jobs to former military members who are searching for jobs.  Tyler Merritt also created the Nine Line Foundation, which is a non-profit organization, partially funded by the profits of Nine Line Apparel, that is dedicated to meeting the special and financial needs of severely injured soldiers and their families.  Their latest project is building a Veterans Village, which will provide housing and training needed for homeless veterans to get back on their feet.  Tyler Merritt with his businesses has found a way to be both profitable and make a social impact without compromising his morals and values.  It is inspiring to see a company take a stand, stick to it, and even with a considerable amount of backlash, still be successful.

https://www.ninelineapparel.com/pages/about-us

https://ninelinefoundation.org/about-us/

 

It’s In The Bag

Lt. Emily Núñez Cavness was a millennial on a mission. She was an “Army Brat” her whole life and was continuously surrounded by military influences. Even at a young age she knew she wanted to help veterans. However, her vision wasn’t realized until she was deployed. It was in Afghanistan of all places that she decided to officially start Sword & Plough. The name was a clever play on the idea of taking military supplies and repurposing them for civilian products, which is exactly what they do. The company recycles military supplies and materials that would otherwise be left to waste and pollute the earth, and turn them into totes, backpacks, accessories, and handbags.
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She started the company with her sister Betsy, and is currently still the CEO as well as serving as a Captain in the U.S. armed forces. Over the last several years Sword & Plough has recycled 30,000 pounds of materials and sold over 7,000 bags and accessories. The real mission is found in the fact that they currently employ 38 veterans.

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Núñez Cavness was one of the first 100 women to attempt the U.S. Army’s Ranger Training Assessment Course as well as named a White House Champion of Changed and Forbes 30 under 30 fellow. Emily and Betsy are definitely a powerhouse duo and have quite the vision. Their mission has a real purpose and their product is of the quality. It will be great to see where Sword & Plough ends up.

Military to Millionaire

Alex Becker, a serial entrepreneur who has generated tens of millions throughout his career, began in the air force at the age of 19. He served for four years and got out when he was 23. The way he puts it, “I became an entrepreneur because I truly did not have any other option.” His desire to generate wealth superseded the status quo of working a 9-5 job, which is the path that many veterans pursued after returning home. Becker went on to create Spekter Labs, which deals with human enhancement and Market Hero, which helps businesses grow through streamlined data. He has also gone on to write several best selling books and training programs. Alex is currently running his own YouTube channel, Instagram page, and Facebook account to help boost his personal brand. He is only 30 years old, but has made a name for himself in business and social media by directing his “never give up” mentality that he used in the military into his career and passion.