The MILCOM Founders Podcast
Trailer
Bonus
Episode 7
Season 1
Sam Westfall | Archery N Motion & Valor Archery Challenge
MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 7: From Army Veteran to Archery Entrepreneur with Sam Westfall
Join host Rod Loges and guest Sam Westfall as he shares his journey from serving as an M1 Abrams tank mechanic in the Army to founding two archery-focused businesses: Archery in Motion and Valor Archery Challenge. Sam discusses how archery became both therapy and business after a life-changing injury during his military service.
In this episode:
- Sam's military background, including a career-ending injury when he was crushed by a tank
- His 22-year IT career and transition to entrepreneurship in 2023
- Creating a patented moving target system that started as a sketch on a bar napkin
- Founding Valor Archery Challenge to provide therapeutic benefits to the military community
- His experience working with Fort Carson to bring archery events to military bases
Key takeaways:
- Military service provides valuable skills for entrepreneurship: grit, determination, and never giving up
- Finding a healthy outlet (like archery) is essential for mental wellness as a business owner
- The importance of keeping your end goal in mind when building a business
- Learning to navigate the patent process without expensive legal assistance
- Creating community connections to support veteran entrepreneurs
Guest: Sam Westfall, Army Veteran (1994-2001), CEO & Founder of Archery in Motion and Valor Archery Challenge
Sam Westfall served in the Army from 1994 to 2001 as an M1 Abrams tank mechanic before a serious accident led to his medical separation. After a 22-year career in IT working with backend technology, servers, and data centers, Sam transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2023.
His companies include Archery N Motion, which produces innovative moving target systems for archery enthusiasts, and Valor Archery Challenge, which offers therapeutic archery events specifically designed for the military and veteran community. Sam has successfully patented his moving target technology and continues to expand his businesses while creating opportunities for veterans to heal through archery.
Looking ahead: Sam plans to expand Valor Archery Challenge beyond Colorado to multiple states by 2026, while continuing to develop new products like the "monster" moving target system with its 64-foot oval track.
The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.