A Startup Incubator for Veterans
Tactical: adjective [tac•ti•cal] (1) of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose. (2) adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a desired purpose.
In a world of globalization, technology, and competitive markets, becoming a great entrepreneur is a task many find increasingly difficult. Often, success derives from qualities and experiences in other walks of life. One such instance is the war veteran; an individual who has demonstrated many of the traits necessary for becoming an entrepreneur already.
Risk taking, self-confidence, commitment, motivation, determination, time management, and the allocation of resources are seen in both war and business. While higher education teaches students fundamentals and theory; war veterans learn through applying their acquired skills to real life circumstances in the field. Coupled with veterans’ unique appreciation of the value of life, the ability to think quickly on their feet and survive in the heat of fire makes veterans especially well-suited for entrepreneurship.
We created the TacticalLaunch Veteran’s Incubator as an introductory 12-week curriculum designed to help veterans, or soon to be transitioning active duty service members, understand the requirements to be an entrepreneur, educate them on the building blocks of founding and running a startup business and connecting military founders with the resources, expertise and network to excel. Our part-time program was specifically designed with the veteran entrepreneur in mind as they transition out of active-duty to become leaders in the civilian world.
What is a Startup Incubator?
Attending an incubator program could increase the probability that a new business succeeds
A startup incubator is a collaborative program designed to help new startups succeed. Incubators help entrepreneurs solve some of the problems commonly associated with running a startup by providing workspace, mentoring, training, and access to networks of venture capitalists and business professionals. In the case of TacticalLaunch, we provide you with valuable resources as well as advise and mentoring at all levels of your company’s development including: ideation, company formation, creation of a minimal viable product, market validation, hiring your first employees, go-to-market strategies, capital formation, initial sales, growth, and planning for a potential liquidity event.
ThinkTank Innovation Inc.
TacticalLaunch is a program of ThinkTank Innovation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit innovation district with programs designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs develop their ideas into successful, scalable businesses. Our management team has substantial startup, operating and venture capital investing experience with businesses around the globe.
We are Located in San Diego
The Heart of the World’s Largest Military Complex
1
Military Facilities
110,400
Active-Duty Personnel
240,200
Veterans
$0 Billion
Economic Benefit
Join Our Next Class
Now Accepting 2019 Class Applications
TacticalLaunch Program Qualifications
We welcome all branches of service and any startup stages into our program.
TacticalLaunch is open to all veterans, or soon to be transitioning active duty service members, including Air Force, Army, Coastguard, Marines, Navy, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Navy Reserve. We support military veterans throughout the journey of starting a business: from the idea stage — where members are thinking about what to do post-service —through company growth stage of development where you may be looking to hire, raise capital, and expand into new markets.
Application Process
You are only 4 steps away from possibly joining the nation’s best veteran’s incubator program.
Provide us with a little information about you and your business. Take your time and be sure to include as much information as possible as the is the stage where we make the determination as to whether to allow you to advance through the remainder of the process. Let us know if you have any questions about the application or how to answer specific questions. Contact Us form.
Allow us time to review your application. Our Selection Committee is made up of a number of successful entrepreneurs, former TacticalLaunch program participants, current and retired military personnel and various advisors an mentors to the venture capital industry.
We approach your business as though it is our own and collecting all of the thoughts and questions from our diverse group of experts takes time. This is also the first phase of us thinking about what specific types of help and assistance that we can bring to your valuable startup and to develop a gameplay as it it relates to you.
If your venture fits within our investing guidelines, we’ll invite you to record a 3‑minute video pitch. This is the single most important element of our application process as the members of our selection committee place a significant amount of emphasis on your video. Approach the making of your video as though you are trying to get us to invest in your business – as that is exactly what we are doing with TacticalLaunch. Refer to this Inc. Magazine article about “Get Into a Start-up Incubator: Mastering the Video”.
If your pitch goes well, we will schedule a time to meet for a formal interview. All we can say is to prepare, prepare, prepare as this is the first time that we meet you and first impressions go a very long way. Here is a great article that explains what you should get out of your TacticalLaunch interview.
The Application Process
You are only 4 steps away from possibly joining the nation’s best veteran’s incubator program.
Provide us with a little information about you and your business. Take your time and be sure to include as much information as possible as the is the stage where we make the determination as to whether to allow you to advance through the remainder of the process. Let us know if you have any questions about the application or how to answer specific questions. Contact Us form.
Allow us time to review your application. Our Selection Committee is made up of a number of successful entrepreneurs, former TacticalLaunch program participants, current and retired military personnel and various advisors an mentors to the venture capital industry.
We approach your business as though it is our own and collecting all of the thoughts and questions from our diverse group of experts takes time. This is also the first phase of us thinking about what specific types of help and assistance that we can bring to your valuable startup and to develop a gameplay as it it relates to you.
If your venture fits within our investing guidelines, we’ll invite you to record a 3‑minute video pitch. This is the single most important element of our application process as the members of our selection committee place a significant amount of emphasis on your video. Approach the making of your video as though you are trying to get us to invest in your business – as that is exactly what we are doing with TacticalLaunch. Refer to this Inc. Magazine article about “Get Into a Start-up Incubator: Mastering the Video”.
If your pitch goes well, we will schedule a time to meet for a formal interview. All we can say is to prepare, prepare, prepare as this is the first time that we meet you and first impressions go a very long way.
Here is a great article that explains what you should get out of your TacticalLaunch interview.
Participant Testimonials
More and more veterans are realizing the power of TacticalLaunch.
Spring 2018 Class
“There’s a lot of bad advice from people trying to sell you stuff out in the startup eco-system. TacticalLaunch is the opposite of that. It’s rigorous. It’s comprehensive. It’s useful. It’s free."
Isaac Wang, Naval Reserve
Spring 2018 Class
"Through the TacticalLaunch veteran incubator the wealth of information, mentors, speakers and cohort to be placed in one room was beyond phenomenal. The experience has been essential to my startup where I learned more about the ecosystem then throughout my entire MBA. I recommend it to any stage entrepreneur."
Bill Glenn, Coast Guard
Spring 2018 Class
"Being a member of the Navy Seals Taught me the importance of being thoroughly prepared for anything that I do – including starting a new business enterprise. TacticalLaunch is helping me to prepare effectively to launch my own business in a manner that I could not have accomplished on my own."
Jonathan Marden, Navy Seals
Spring Class of 2018
"As a Veteran Entrepreneur, TacticalLaunch provided me with the tools and foundation for success. The program brings like-minded, high performing veterans together and acts as a catalyst for your ideas and ventures to grow."
Jaden Risner, Navy
Spring Class of 2018
"I am lucky to have had my company grow with the help of the TacticalLaunch as well as their mentors and advisors. I would encourage any founders eligible to be in the program to jump at the opportunity."
Sinuhe Montoya, Army
Program Benefits
The following are only a few of the benefits available to our program participants.
No Fees, No Equity
TacticalLaunch is a true nonprofit organization that benefits you as an entrepreneur.
TacticalLaunch is a program of ThinkTank Innovation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation. As such, we do not charge our participants any fees or require you to give up equity in your business to participate in our programs. We help you with every stage of your company’s development from the initial spark of an idea through to a potential sale. The only time you would be required to give up any part of your company is if you decide to accept an investment from one of our affiliated entities
Our Program Partners
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