Milprenuer Podcast

About Milprenuer Podcast

This is Milprenuer, a powerful space built for military members, veterans, and their families who are ready to lead a new kind of mission: building bold, purpose-driven businesses. This channel is dedicated to helping you transform your discipline, resilience, and service into entrepreneurial success.Through weekly podcast episodes, interviews, and expert advice, we cover everything from launching your first startup to scaling a thriving business. You'll gain insight on branding, marketing, legal tools, funding, and networking, plus stories from fellow Milprenuers who’ve walked the path.

Publisher

Milprenuer

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Sept 2025

Latest episode

5 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

47 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Jan 2026

   Milpreneur | David Fivecoat | Pivoting From Combat to Consulting

   In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, Ryan sits down with David Fivecoat, a retired Army Colonel and the founder of The Fivecoat Consulting Group (TFCG). David shares his incredible journey from West Point and leading troops in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions to navigating the civilian corporate world. He opens up about the harsh reality of launching his own consulting firm in March 2020—right at the start of the global pandemic—and the grit required to survive those early, lean quarters. David provides a masterclass on adaptability, discussing how he pivoted his business model from general consulting to offering unique "Leadership Experiences" on historic battlefields like Gettysburg and Normandy. Whether you are a service member looking to transition, a solopreneur struggling with marketing attribution, or a leader trying to scale your impact, David’s insights on resilience, the importance of gaining civilian experience before hanging your own shingle, and prioritizing personal health are invaluable. In this episode, you will learn: • The "Gap Year" Strategy: Why working for an established company before starting your own business can provide the essential systems and processes knowledge needed for success. • Surviving a Crisis Launch: Real-world lessons on resilience and perseverance when launching a startup during an economic downturn or global crisis. • The Power of the Pivot: How to recognize when your business needs to evolve (TFCG 2.0) and the success found in specializing—in this case, corporate staff rides and battlefield tours. • Marketing for Solopreneurs: The challenges of attribution in a multi-channel world and why "spinning the plates" of business development, execution, and marketing is a constant balancing act. • Leadership & Self-Care: Why "the grind" isn't always the answer—David explains why getting enough sleep is crucial for effective leadership and long-term endurance. About David Fivecoat: David Fivecoat is the Managing Member of The Fivecoat Consulting Group. A retired Army Colonel with 24 years of service, including command of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, David now helps executives and organizations build resilience and leadership through executive coaching and immersive battlefield leadership experiences. Connect with David Fivecoat & Cynergists David's Website: http://thefivecoatconsultinggroup.com Cynergists: http://www.cynergists.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 1:05 - David's Military Background & Career 04:10 - Transition Advice: Get Corporate Experience First 06:30 - Launching a Business in March 2020 08:25 - TFCG 2.0: Pivoting to Battlefield Tours 10:45 - The Solopreneur Marketing Struggle 13:30 - Rapid Fire Questions 17:35 - Advice to Younger Self: Prioritize Sleep! 19:58 - Outro

2. 

   30 Dec 2025

   Milpreneur | Matthew DePrimo | How to Recruit 1,200 People in 1 Year

   Matthew DePrimo went from a high-speed active duty Army officer to being medically retired at 28, facing a sudden loss of identity and mission. Instead of slowing down, he channeled his drive into education and entrepreneurship, founding Career Bridge—a specialized STEM recruiting firm. In a display of massive action, Matthew and his team successfully placed over 1,200 candidates in a single year, proving that military precision translates directly to business growth. In this episode, Matthew shares how he built a company rooted in military values, specifically focusing on connecting underrepresented groups with top-tier opportunities. He reveals his unique philanthropic business model that donates 20% of revenue back to the educational institutions his candidates come from, creating a sustainable cycle of opportunity for veterans, minorities, and international students. In this episode, you will learn: • Navigating Medical Retirement: How to find a new purpose and identity when your military career ends abruptly. • Scaling Recruitment: The mindset and "massive action" strategy behind recruiting 1,200+ candidates in just 12 months. • The Philanthropic Business Model: How donating 20% of revenue back to schools fuels growth, trust, and community impact. • Military Values in Business: How to translate camaraderie, discipline, and mission-focus into a remote corporate culture. • Fail Fast to Succeed: The importance of pivoting quickly—from a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to Recruiting—when the market speaks. About Matthew DePrimo: Matthew DePrimo is the Founder and CEO of Career Bridge IT Solutions, a STEM recruiting firm dedicated to connecting underrepresented talent with meaningful careers. A medically retired Army veteran and former Signal Officer, Matthew leverages his military leadership experience to build high-performing teams. He holds a Master's in Information Systems from Syracuse University and is passionate about lowering barriers to education and employment for veterans, BIPOC communities, and women in STEM. Connect with Matthew DePrimo & Cynergists: Matthew's Website: https://careerbridgeitsolutions.com/ LinkedIn: Matthew DePrimo, MSIS, CAS-IS Facebook (Business): CareerBridge I.T. Solutions LLC Personal Facebook: Matty John https://www.facebook.com/matthew.deprim Cynergists Website: http://www.cynergists.com #Milpreneur #MilpreneurPodcast #VeteranEntrepreneur #Recruiting #BusinessScaling #STEMCareers #CareerBridge #MilitaryTransition #VeteranBusiness #Entrepreneurship #GivingBack Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:27 - Introducing Matthew DePrimo & Career Bridge 03:00 - From Enlistment to Signal Officer 08:40 - The Challenge of Medical Retirement 11:30 - The Birth of Career Bridge 13:30 - Pivoting to STEM Recruiting 17:14 - Result: 1,200 Placements in One Year 18:20 - The 20% Give-Back Model 21:00 - Instilling Military Culture in Business 26:47 - Rapid Fire Questions 33:00 - Conclusion

3. 

   25 Dec 2025

   Milpreneur | Dr. Mark Michels | From Private to Lt. Col. to Corporate COO

   In this episode of the Milpreneur Podcast, Ryan Van Ornum sits down with Dr. Mark Michels, the Chief Operating Officer of Global Integrity Alliance. Mark shares his incredible 31-year journey in the U.S. Army, rising from a Private E-1 to retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He discusses his unique path from Air Defense Artillery to becoming a Counter-WMD expert and eventually the Academic Provost at the Defense Nuclear Weapons School. Mark opens up about the realities of transitioning from the military to the corporate world, specifically how he navigated the shift during the height of COVID. He shares powerful stories on leadership, including a harrowing experience at Fairchild Air Force Base, and offers invaluable advice on why "operationalizing the visionary" is the key to business success. Whether you are an enlisted soldier looking to commission or a veteran entering the C-Suite, Dr. Michels' insights on lifelong learning and resilience are a must-listen. In this episode, you will learn: • The Value of "Volunt-telling": How volunteering for the jobs nobody else wants (like field sanitation) can unexpectedly open doors to elite opportunities like Air Assault School. • Operationalizing the Vision: The specific role of a COO in taking a CEO's high-level ideas and translating them into actionable, executable plans. • Leadership Through Tragedy: A somber look at resilience and rebuilding a unit's morale following the tragic C-17 crash at Fairchild Air Force Base. • The Power of Lifelong Learning: Why Mark never stopped at one degree, eventually earning his Doctorate, and how continuous education fuels career progression. • Navigating the Civilian Transition: How to translate military trust and "handshake deals" into the documentation-heavy world of civilian business consulting. About Dr. Mark Michels: Dr. Mark Michels is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with over 31 years of service, having served in both enlisted and officer ranks. He is a subject matter expert in Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) and previously served as the Chief of Operations and Academic Provost for the Defense Nuclear Weapons School. He is currently the COO of Global Integrity Alliance and the author of Learning from Experience: 50 Principles for Leading People and Managing Programs Through Trials, Tribulations, and Successes. Connect with Dr. Mark Michels & Cynergists Global Integrity Alliance: https://www.globalintegrityalliance.com Cynergists: http://www.cynergists.com Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:07 - 31 Years: From Private to Officer 05:05 - The Power of Volunteering (The Field Sanitation Story) 07:54 - Leadership Through Tragedy: The Fairchild Air Show Crash 09:37 - Earning a Doctorate & The Pivot During COVID 11:16 - The "Alex Inc" Call & Moving to Germany 15:15 - Current Role: COO of Global Integrity Alliance 17:23 - Rapid Fire Questions

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.