Jake Wood’s Post

Today I sit down with Samuel Malkasian, the founder behind the risk mitigation #tech startup, Carpathian. Sam takes us on a journey from his background in videography, education in seminary, the military, and ultimately to his pivotal decision not to take a job but instead to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. Join us as Sam shares his insights on transitioning careers, the challenges of building a startup, and the core mission of Carpathian. https://lnkd.in/gjH9Nvbh

In the crypto space, you truly see the famous phrase, "you can differentiate a crazy person from a genius by their results," in action, because it's a playground of very crazy/genius developers. 🤪💡 The snag is, most of the time, they whip up stellar solutions that, like anything new, come with a few hiccups. But before their brainchild even gets a chance to be embraced, they're onto ironing out these kinks. Or, another developer swoops in with a new product that's already fixed these issues, hoping to fast-track adoption. And this cycle repeats...2x, 3x, 4x...10x. 🔄 In the end, what you've got is a complex behemoth that not only glows in the dark but does backflips. Yet, amidst this innovation frenzy, they've all lost sight of the original issue they set out to solve, and no one really bats an eye at this complex-solution-output anymore. 🤷

PARTNERS SINCE INCEPTION At BVVC, we back bold teams... As inception/seed stage investors, BVVC places great significance on the strength of our founding teams, never the founder(s) alone. The excellence of individual members does not define this, but in the way they unite, blending their distinct skills and experiences to form a powerful collective, a seemingly unstoppable force. This rare collision of expertise paired with execution is essential to overcoming extreme hardship... A powerful collective, a seemingly unstoppable force... This. Is. Firestorm. We have been alongside the founders since inception. It all started at the #Army #Navy Game in San Diego in 2018 (#GNBA) More from our Managing Partner, Joe Musselman, about our investments in Firestorm... "The United States and our allies must own the air. Firestorm's focus on modularity, precision, and adaptability aligns perfectly with these trends. By investing early, we’re positioning ourselves in a market expected to see increased demand driven by global defense modernization efforts. Our participation is supporting the critical transition in defense capabilities (Indo-Pacific). Firestorm is not a trend; it’s a paradigm shift in defense manufacturing. They have not developed incremental improvements to a legacy platform; they redefined the capabilities arsenal for national security. Our thesis is clear: to become the trusted fund in the field for special operations, broader defense, and commercial sector partners that matter most and provide them with first-look access to technologies and prototypes developed by companies like Firestorm. This aligns with several key strategic, operational, and ethical considerations we face as a nation to protect our citizens at home and patriots abroad." We will post a long-form article on our journey with Firestorm and DanMagy, Chad McCoy, Ian Muceus shortly - stay tuned! - Incredibly proud to be alongside allies such as: Lockheed Martin, Decisive Point, Silent Ventures, 645 Ventures, Overmatch Ventures, Cubit Capital, IronGate Capital Advisors, Backswing Ventures, @TheVeteranFund, and others... Cc: SCHOOL.HOUSE, TLC Equation - READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE: https://lnkd.in/e7w6CJQ8

The task ahead is huge and therefore the only route to #spacesustainability is through international collaboration creating the relevant experience and expertise globally. It requires a joint security and sustainability approach across civil and military Space to ensure access for all and that the domain remains #space4everyone

💼 To all the 🪖 military spouses and veterans who are building their own businesses, I see you and I'm inspired by your journey! You know better than anyone that success doesn't come easy, and it takes determination, grit, and the ability to adapt to any situation - a true military spirit. 🏋️♀️ Each day, you're not just building a business; you're creating a legacy. 🌱 You're showing your families and communities what it means to turn challenges into opportunities. 💡 But you don't always have to do it alone. There are networks and resources out there to support you. The Barclays Veteran Founders Initiative, for example, is dedicated to helping veterans and their spouses on their entrepreneurial journeys 📚 When the road gets tough, remember this quote from Bear 🐻 Grylls: "In life, there are three important things to think about - courage, kindness, and never giving up." 💪 Have courage to face the unknown, show kindness to those around you, and never give up. Together, we can achieve great things. 🌈 Keep pushing forward, leverage the support around you, and always believe in yourself. Here's to your continued success! 🎉🌟 https://lnkd.in/e_GCpq7h. #VeteranOwned #SpouseOwned #Entrepreneurship #Support #Motivation #Inspiration

I had a great conversation with Rachel Mitchell from BreakLine Education this morning about what BreakLine has to offer and received some personalized tips about transitioning. While it may be too early for BreakLine, it's important to continue building one's network and exploring the many opportunities for transitioning veterans. Remember, getting out is a marathon, not a sprint. It's crucial to give oneself time, talk to people ahead of you in the process, and explore all the opportunities to succeed. #Veterans #Transitioning #Networking #Opportunities

🌟 Embracing Life Beyond Transition 🌟 I recently had the privilege of being part of The COMMIT Foundation workshop hosted by Blackstone. While there as a "mentor," I must confess that I walked away with more than I could have imagined. As veterans, we often become laser-focused on "transition." Transition in the veteran mind is about moving from military to civilian life, from government service to the corporate workforce, from the known to the unknown. But we sometimes forget that life itself is transitory for veterans and non-veterans alike. Socrates said focusing on those transitory aspects of life might be the wrong perspective. He reminds us that a "life worth living" is not built on fleeting things but enduring ideals like Goodness. Living a good life demands self-examination, and that's precisely what The Commit Foundation excels at. It goes beyond the transitory aspects of life and encourages veterans to delve deep within themselves. Many veterans believe they need to "change" when transitioning to the civilian world, but what made them successful in the military was not "what they did" but "how they did it." That essence can thrive in the civilian world—it's not about changing but adapting. Commit equips veterans with the tools to do just that. Commit also recognizes that "transition" isn't one-size-fits-all or a one-time event with a set timeline. It's as unique as each veteran and an ongoing, continuous process—much like it is for civilians. In a world where the only constant is change, having guides like The Commit Foundation prepares us for the unknown. Veterans can embark on their new chapters with the same confidence they had when defending our nation. I am profoundly thankful for the incredible experience of the participants, the mentors, and everyone involved in this journey. Together, we are working towards ensuring that veterans transition successfully and live a truly good life after their dedicated service. Life is a journey; the commitment to lifelong learning and growth makes it extraordinary. 🚀🇺🇸 #Veterans #Transition #CommitFoundation #LifeBeyondTransition Tanya Reinhardt Heather Nauert Ravi Chugani Amy Taft Michele O. Maria Volodkevich Kurt Schendzielos Kyle Pickett Allen Siegrist Patrick Metke Amanda Mason Steven Forti General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) John Troxell Ramón “CZ” Colón-López

"Warren Buffett is the richest guy on the planet because he never spends a dollar." "Look at the PayPal mafia." The secret to long term success, according to Naval? These two words: -- If you enjoyed this, follow Brandon Arvanaghi for a daily legendary lesson. #startup #career #entrepreneurship #naval

Well, its a good time for defense tech startups to start building. Transatlantic defense alliance NATO has closed the world's first multi-sovereign venture fund on $1 billion to back startups addressing defense and security challenges. The NATO Innovation Fund will make direct investments in early-stage startups within 23 member states that are backing the fund. The group includes the UK and Germany, with Sweden joining following its full accession to NATO. The fund will also make indirect investments in deep tech funds. The US is not participating in the fund. #nato #defence #innovation #deeptech #funds