DAV Patriot Boot Camp

It's hard to believe that the #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24 has come to a close. We are excited to witness our patriotic founders succeeding as they utilize the knowledge gained this week on their entrepreneurial endeavors. On the final day of this boot camp, participants engaged in a live pitch competition where each participant was given 2 minutes to present their pitch and 2 minutes to address questions from a panel of judges. Three finalists were selected to compete in the upcoming DAV Patriot Pitch competition, which will be broadcasted virtually on our social media platforms in the coming weeks.

Vetrepreneur and Hurricane Helene victim attends DAV Patriot Boot Camp Frederick Griffin is a veteran business owner from Augusta, Georgia. When Hurricane Helene hit his community, he was without power for eight days. After connecting with DAV, he received a relief check that allowed him to replace spoiled food in his home and purchase other supplies. It even saved him from missing out on attending DAV Patriot Boot Camp this week. To make a direct donation to DAV’s disaster relief efforts, please visit https://dav.la/3XERr0s.

Today is the day where all of the knowledge and advice our #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24 cohort has gained over the past few days comes together! We still have half a day of programming before sending our founders back to their communities to apply what they’ve learned. Day 3 consists of entrepreneurs learning more about DAV and preparing to compete for prizes in a live pitch competition, where they will give a 2 minute pitch to a panel of judges. Three chosen finalists will go on to compete in DAV Patriot’s Pitch, hosted via social networks to win cash prizes. 8:00 – Welcome to the DAV Community w/ Dan Clare (DAV, Chief Communications and Outreach Officer) 9:15 – Pitch Contest 11:00 – Where To Go From Here panel discussion w/ moderator Ray Antonino (Permits.com, CEO) 11:45 – Program Wrap-Up 12:00 – Lunch 12:45 – Class Dismissed!

As our patriotic founders continue to network and connect with each other at our DAV Patriot Boot Camp event this week, we are reminded of the valuable collaborations that take place during these events. Not only are participants sharing their past successes and lessons learned, but they are also forging connections that will benefit both themselves and the communities they serve as entrepreneurs. Tonight, our cohort will be attending a community networking event at DAV’s National Legislative Headquarters where they can continue to collaborate on ideas and strategies before returning for our final day tomorrow. #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24

Sponsor Spotlight: Welcome back to DAV Patriot Boot Camp’s Fall 2024 event! Today we’re joined by Dewie Vieira, Director of Military and Government Sales at CaptionCall by Sorenson, who is sponsoring part of the event this week. During the interview, Dewie and DAV’s Chief Communications and Outreach Officer Dan Clare discuss why captioning services are important to the veteran community, Sorenson’s Sound Off Project, and why they support the DAV Patriot Boot Camp program.

With Day 1 of #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24 under our belts, our vetrepreneurs have another exciting day packed with pitch workshops and rehearsal, as well as mentor sessions. Check out today’s agenda: 8:00 – Welcome 8:15 – Ramp Up To Procurement w/ Anthony Closson (Colossal Contracting LLC, CEO) Pitch, Ask, Give w/ Nick Brophy (DAV Patriot Boot Camp, Director) 10:00 – Mentor Matching Kickoff 10:30 – One on One Mentor Sessions 12:30 – Lunch 1: 30 – One on One Mentor Sessions 3:30 – Group Photo 4:00 – Pitch, Ask, Give 6:00 – Community Networking Event at DAV Washington, D.C. Headquarters

As the first day of #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24 comes to a close, our veteran entrepreneurs are feeling motivated and inspired by their experiences and looking forward to a social team building event at Kraken Penn Quarter. We will return tomorrow to continue the momentum during Day 2, which will offer our vetrepreneurs the opportunity to meet with mentors one-on-one. These mentors will provide valuable feedback and recommendations on how to expand their networks and grow their businesses. Participants will also take part in pitch workshops and rehearsals to prepare for a pitch competition on Friday, when they will compete for cash prizes.

DAV Patriot Boot Camp Fall 2024 kicks off in Washington, D.C. We are kicking off the first day of DAV Patriot Boot Camp’s fall 2024 cohort today in Washington, D.C. Throughout the day a group of veteran entrepreneurs will hear from mentors and industry experts who graciously offer their business expertise. We caught up with Kevin Milgram from Cooley LLP, a global law firm that is hosting our team at their headquarters this week, to learn more about the program.

We have several wonderful speakers and mentors lined up for our #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24 participants today! Check out the daily agenda and follow along throughout the next few days for more updates. 8:00 – Welcome/Opening Remarks 8:30 – Ice Breaker 9:00 – Business Planning Workshop w/ Valeria Lavin (Luminary Global, CEO) 10:45 – Marketing and Sales Workshop w/ Don MacDonald (CMO, Retired) 12:00 – Lunch 12:45 – Legal Startup Workshop w/ Kevin Milgram (Cooley LLP, Associate) 2:00 – Funding and Financial Management Workshop w/ Mitchell Kieffer (Business Leaders QRF, CEO) 3:30 – Pitch Workshop w/ Ray Antonino (Permits.com, CEO) 6:00 – Team Building Event

We want to extend a warm welcome to the veteran entrepreneurs who will be joining us in our nation’s capital for #DAVPatriotBootCampFall24! Beginning tomorrow, participants will embark on a three-day intensive crash course on business and entrepreneurialism, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed for success. The first day will kick off with a series of workshops on topics such as business planning, sales and marketing, legal considerations, financial management, and the art of storytelling. Mentors and industry experts will share their expertise, insights, and experiences, providing valuable guidance to our attendees. Learn more at patriotbootcamp.org.