Today we're excited to introduce you
to Sam Westfall, an army veteran and
entrepreneur who's serving both the
archery community and his fellow veterans.
Sam founded Archery in Motion and
Valor Archery Challenge, creating
innovative target training while
building a supportive community.
He uses archery as therapy and empowerment
for veterans and military members.
He's also a Bunker Labs ambassador
for 2025, helping other veteran
entrepreneurs succeed in business.
We're looking forward to hearing
Sam's story and how he's making an
impact with his passion for archery.
Welcome to the Milcom Founders Podcast,
where we champion and celebrate
military community business founders.
In each episode, we will talk
with a Milcom business founder.
To learn how they work through
various obstacles and opportunities
in business and in life.
I'm your host, rod LOEs.
Let's meet today's guest.
On today's episode.
I'm excited to introduce you to
Sam Westfall and Army Veteran
and CEO, founder of Archery Invo.
Sam, thanks for joining us today.
Morning, rod.
How are you?
I'm doing fantastic.
Fantastic.
Um, if you could just tell us a little
bit about yourself, kind of an elevator
pitch would be, uh, would be fantastic.
Absolutely.
So, Sam Westfall Army Vet, served from 94
to one, uh, served as an M1 Abrams tank
mechanic before I got crushed by a tank,
and then that medically separated me out.
Wow.
From there I moved to a 22 year long
IT career doing basically backend
technology, so server rooms, data centers.
Operating systems and that
type of thing, not development.
2023 decided to step away from that
career and started as an entrepreneur
with archery in motion and now valor
archery challenge as well, and kind of
used archery as a therapy for myself
for the last 14 years, and that's kind
of where we're builds us up to today.
Absolutely.
So, um, so archery, I'm guessing
that's what you're passionate about.
What else do you like to do when you're
not, uh, when you're not running your
business and, uh, working 24 by seven?
So, um, travel is, is a component.
My wife and I do like to travel, so
we've been to Alaska a handful of times.
We've been to Hawaii a couple of times.
Two years ago we were over in Scotland
and Ireland for a 15 day trip.
So, you know, travel's a, a component
of it, but predominantly it's archery
and archery related things because
that's what helps me not only keep
in the industry, but also figuring
out where my business needs to go
next and which hole I need to fill.
Absolutely.
So, um, my daughter lives
in Glasgow, Scotland.
Where, what was it your
favorite parts of Scotland?
Pitlockery was an absolutely cute,
beautiful little tourist trap town.
Um, we went up into, uh, Isla
Sky, which was pretty, I mean,
just absolutely gorgeous.
Didn't spend nearly enough time in
Edinburgh, but had a lot of fun there.
Um, mm-hmm.
Glasgow was also very cute.
Yeah.
Yeah.
My daughter lives in Glasgow, but
she loves Edinburgh, so, um, yeah.
You know, but she loves Glasgow too.
I think so.
See, but, and.
What do you do to take care of yourself?
I mean, it's archery.
I know that's a big part of your life.
Uh, anything else that you do that
brings you zen, brings you comfort.
Uh,
so a lot of my life revolves round
hunting, and as you and I have kind of
talked at the Bunker Labs and IVMF events,
that really is, I. If I'm not actively
hunting, I'm thinking about hunting.
If I'm not thinking about hunting,
I'm working out for hunting.
So it, it becomes a major component of it.
So even when I get outta bed in the
morning, I'll roll out bed before I
even, you know, head to the shower.
It's 25 pushups, it's 25 situps, it's
25 air squats, just to get the body up
and moving and, and start in that cycle.
Then I'll go take a shower.
Then I go do the rest of my day.
I work out heavy, you know, three days
a week in the afternoons, um, two days a
week I'll throw on a a 20 pound ruck pack
and get on a treadmill with max elevation.
I'll go for about a 30 to 40
minute hike, just straight uphill.
So it's a lot of that just becomes, if
it's, if I'm not slinging arrows, I'm
working out so that I can sling arrows
so that I can go up on the mountain.
Yeah, that, that rucking that you
introduced me to, I now love and.
I'll take 35 pounds, go 10 miles.
Um, don't do that every day.
But it's, it's fantastic.
It's, it's a little bit of my zen
mentality that, that and kayaking
are two things that I just,
there you go.
Brings, brings, brings me
peace, that's for sure.
And, um, so how did you, as a kid or a
young, young person, when did you start
thinking about joining the military?
Um, I grew up on the farms out
east of Boulder, um, in Colorado.
And.
So I didn't have a whole lot of friends.
I was an only child, so I needed something
because I kept getting into trouble.
Um, dad got me into firearms early
on, so that got me into shooting
competitively and then hunting.
By the time I was through four H,
shot competitively through there
about 15, 16, 17, my folks started
saying, Hey, look, you've got a couple
options, but really the military is
probably gonna be your best choice.
So.
They helped me, they signed the paperwork.
When I turned 17 and a half,
I was able to join early.
Um, and that started in 94 and kind
of built my way up, got injured
medically, separated out, and so then
it just, okay, well now I've found my
next career kind of built into that.
Absolutely.
It's interesting, I, I also
joined when I was 17 and a half.
I don't think I went
through parents had a sign.
I don't think I went to basic.
Well, I know I didn't until just after
my 18th birthday, but I remember my
parents going like, are you sure?
I was like, look, I can't
afford my education without,
without the military's help.
Yep.
That's, that's, uh, that's what I did.
So understand.
So Sam, um.
Tell me about the, the military
to the business transition.
You know, what's a couple insights
that you learned in the military that
cover carries over into, to running
your business, some things that you
learned to help you run your business?
Um, the biggest piece there is, is
in the military we learned grit,
determination, and never give up.
And that's probably, those are
the three biggest pieces that I've
carried into being an entrepreneur is.
You can have good days, you
can have bad days, you can
have good hours or bad hours.
As an entrepreneur, you just have
to figure out how to work through
that and move on to the next stage.
Mm-hmm.
Um, especially as a new
entrepreneur, you think you've
got the best product in the world.
You're gonna get told no more
times than you can count.
You have to accept those, figure out
how to learn from each of those and
move on to move that no to a yes.
And that's all about determination
and grit and just stay focused.
Absolutely.
I was.
Look at your website earlier.
It looks like one of your characters
or targets is, is, is it Sasquatch?
Yep.
It's a Bigfoot.
Yep,
it's a Bigfoot.
Okay.
Yep.
Bigfoot.
That's that.
What is the, oh my gosh, that's so funny.
So that's pretty cool.
Good sense of humor there.
Um,
we, so I wanted to prove the point that we
can put any target from an armadillo all
the way to the full size buffalo on there.
Wow.
And the big, it's just a cute,
fun little target shoot at.
And so archery in motion is your business.
One of them.
And one of them.
Okay.
So let's, let's talk, we'll talk
about that one first and we'll come
back to the, to, um, the other one's
called, again, valor Archery Challenge.
Valor or Archery Challenge.
Okay.
So with with archery in motion,
you know, I know you've been an
archer all your life, but tell me.
What, what was the impetus for
you to start that business?
It's a slightly fun story.
My buddy and I were at a, at an
archery competition here in Colorado,
a number of years back, 2022 ish.
We got done for the day.
We went to the nearest bar.
We were having a beer and we got to
laughing and joking, kind of talking
Revit or re reliving the day, Uhhuh.
And throughout that, you know,
my buddy said, you know what?
We really were missing.
I said, what's that?
He goes, A moving target.
And I went.
I have an idea.
So I grabbed a bar napkin and
I stopped a waitress and asked
for a pen and I started drawing.
He goes, what are you doing?
I said, I'm designing a moving target.
He went, oh, you're not kidding either.
I said, no, not at all.
So that video that you saw on the
website today was three years worth
of design coming from that bar?
Napkin, which is still
framed and in a basement,
you know,
hung up.
Sure.
Um, so we drew it out on a bar napkin.
Took it, took out the welding equipment,
bought a bunch of metal, welded up
the initial, uh, demo unit, and then
it's revised a few times since then.
Um, I've got a new video
of our monster target.
So what you saw was a 10 foot
straight line moving target.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, the monster, which we just
shot video of on Sunday was, it's
a 64 foot oval track, 64 foot worth
of linear distance oval tracks.
Wow.
So you get quartering to quartering away.
Broadside frontal and 12 foot distance
change all in that same shot scenario.
Mm-hmm.
So really it started with, we were
missing a moving target because we
wanted it to be a little bit more fun.
Then it became, well, here's a
training tool, here's a novelty tool.
Here's something that we can add
to all these different ranges
in these different events.
And in the last two years, it's really
become, here's an accuracy improving tool.
Because when you have a.
Improved practice, now
you've got improved accuracy.
Mm-hmm.
Absolutely.
It's interesting.
Um, 'cause at first glance, I think,
well, what, what are the other
applications for for your, your, yep.
And one of 'em is for me is Airsoft guns.
Um, airsoft Firearm.
Paintball Dart Wars.
Dart Wars.
That's funny.
Yeah, because the, um, my soon to be
son-in-law from Scotland, he does Airsoft.
Huge competitions over there and I went
shooting with 'em one day and they got
all these little, uh, it's like playing
Chico or something, you know, ting ting.
Mm-hmm.
But I can imagine just trying to do,
to hit the, the moving Sasquatch,
how much more difficult that would
be and, and what the dynamic in that,
in that sport would if you did that.
So, very cool.
Yep.
Um, we've taken it to firearms ranges,
the straight line mover with either
cardboard targets or steel plate, and
that becomes a lot more interesting.
Makes it more realistic scenario.
What I found with some veterans is
that when you put a human silhouette
down range, that it becomes challenging
for 'em because it re-implement PTSD,
stress, anxiety, and depression.
Mm-hmm.
And so switching over to the archery side,
it's a little easier for 'em to shoot at.
Makes it a little bit more fun rather
than putting 'em back into memories or
scenarios that they don't wanna relive.
Absolutely, absolutely.
Brings a lot of, we talked
about this, um, recently.
Um.
How much, uh, Zenda brings archery
brings to you versus the, the shooting.
And it makes sense because when I go
shooting with my daughter, it's, you
know, you got, you got your ear muscle
on all that, but we're doing archery.
It's a whole different experience,
much more engaging conversation, and
yet the zen is still there just like
it is shooting because you gotta be
totally 100% locked in and focused.
Very much so.
And what I'm, what I'm finding as I
talk to more, uh, military community
founders is a lot of us have found
that that zen activity, and that's
just so important I think in life and
for everyone, even civilians, um Yep.
To find that moment of zen each
day, what, what, what is it?
Absolutely.
And it, it really doesn't matter what
it is, as long as you find something,
especially as an entrepreneur.
You mentioned it earlier, I spend 24
7 waking hours focused on the business
in some way, shape, form, or fashion.
So you have to find some way of an
outlet, whether that's underwater
basket weaving, whether that's archery,
whether it's golf, doesn't matter, but
you have to find some type of outlet.
For me, archery became the best
one because not only is it in the
industry that I wanna work in, it
makes the con networking connections
that I need for my business, but.
Once I draw that bow string back,
none of the rest of the world matters.
Mm-hmm.
And I can have 10 people yell
and scream and talking and
laughing, joking behind me.
That conversation doesn't matter to me.
I can only focus on my release,
the site, the pen, and the target.
Yep.
And that's the, the zen.
Yep.
And the other thing is, is so
important is, is finding that healthy
thing that, that we find Yeah.
Brings us that zen and that
peace versus all the things we
know about won't go into detail.
That alcohol's not it.
Trust
me, I know.
Yeah, we can.
Yeah, that's right.
That's right.
We can choose alcohol, we can choose
X or Ys, gambling so many things.
So it's, it's, I love talking
about the zen things we have in
our lives that, that are healthy.
It's amazing.
So tell me about the other business.
I know that's kind of a, that's
a more recent endeavor, right?
It is.
So that one started July of 2024
after taking archery in motion across
the country throughout the year.
Realized that there was a missing
gap, and part of that gap was that
there are very few 3D archery events
that are really dedicated towards
the military and veteran community.
So Valor archery Challenge was
formed, really trying to take a.
Offer a different alternative therapy
form of therapy for the military
and veterans and their families.
Um, open to the public though,
so anybody can come in and play.
But when you look at the vendors that
are, that are at the events, that really
is wrapped around the veteran community.
So it's the veteran service organizations,
it's the veteran hunting, fishing,
outdoor organizations, um, to the
event itself, uh, where most of the
other 3D art trade events across
the country don't offer rental gear.
We are, um, I've.
A little over a dozen folks volunteer as
coaches so that if you've never picked up
a bow before, you've never shot before,
you can step out onto the course at Valor
Archery, and you can learn to be shooting
slinging arrows within about 20 minutes.
Wow.
And then you're just out there having fun.
Yeah.
Easy, right?
Well, I didn't say
accurately, I just said sleep.
That's right.
There's, there's a difference.
There's a huge difference as
I learned, that's for sure.
Very cool.
And how many of those events
have you hosted already?
Uh, two as of yet.
Um, I've got another four
already booked for Colorado.
Um, I've got three more that are in
the works, and then I've starting
to have conversations with folks
already about what 2026 looks like
and how do I take it out of Colorado
to potentially South Dakota or uh,
Montana, even out to North Carolina.
So,
wow.
So tell me, what does, what does
a successful event look like
when you do those for the, for
the Valor archery challenge,
um,
valor.
What does it look like?
So, a successful event for me.
It looks like X number of participants,
uh, probably a dozen to 15 different
vendors that are all veteran
service organization related.
Um, and then seeing the smiles
and seeing the, the level of
camaraderie that goes along with it.
When you put active military next to
a veteran, the active military that's
transitioning is trying to figure out
what does that look and feel like.
They've already been
separated from their unit.
We'll leave it there.
But the veteran wants to talk to other
veterans and even potentially back to
that military person to kinda reconnect
and, and reestablish that connection or
even to maybe even relive some stories.
So when you, when you put those
groups together at a neutral
experience like archery, well now
everybody's building a community.
They're building that camaraderie
and they're all having fun.
And that's where that level of
success for me comes into play.
Yeah, it, it's neat because it is that
shared nexus, that shared experience
becomes the, um, connection point.
Yeah.
Whether it's the, it is that community
is, is the military community, whether
it's active duty, uh, veteran, retired
veteran, it, it brings everybody together
in a very positive, powerful way.
And we've seen it even with IVMF is, is
the comradery, the conversations, the,
it's an instant connection regardless
of what branch when you served,
where you served or what you did.
That's right.
Yeah.
So it's been very cool to be part of that.
And, and you know, in fact, when I
got involved with the v program, part
of the pin fed, um, give back program
they do seven, eight years ago, I
was like, wait a minute, I'm home.
Because suddenly it was back around
veterans and I had really forgotten
about being a veteran, to be honest.
And suddenly I was like,
wow, this is fantastic.
So, so it's pretty cool.
For sure.
So what, what, what's the
challenge that you're currently.
Currently working on in your business?
Both businesses?
Um, for the archery and motion business,
the challenge is really trying to
change that centuries old mindset
about shooting at stationary targets.
Because moving targets is a new, unique
thing that in, in the competitor space, I
have two other competitors in that world.
Mm-hmm.
And so it's changing that mindset
of shooting a stationary target
and that's a centuries old thing.
So that's, that's a hard.
Nut to crack right now,
but we're getting there.
Um, on the Valor archery challenge, I'm
really not having any challenges there.
I've got over 30 companies have offered
up donation and raffle prizes, uh,
totaling well over $6,000 at this point.
Um, I've got participation
numbers are growing every day.
Like I said, now I've got folks from outta
state reaching out to say, what does it
take for me to bring you to my, my world?
My space uhhuh, my state, and
set up an event out there.
So the targets are on hand, the
rental gear, kids bows, adult
bows, arrows, targets are on hand.
Now it's just a factor of kind
of steering the last couple
pieces together and make it work.
Yeah, it's, it's very cool when you get
that I, I'll call it that, that pool
demand from potential clients to different
locations saying, Hey, can you come here?
Can you help us?
Right?
And, and, and then, then it
becomes a challenge of, okay,
well, which one should I do next?
How many should I do?
Um, Natalie will know this.
I often say, Hey, um, and in my
own business, I'd like to do this.
I'd like do that.
Hey, what about this?
And wait a minute, how, how
much time do I really have?
Yep.
To do X number of things?
Well.
'cause I can't do everything Well, yeah.
So,
and my, one of my buddies that's helping
me, my and my wife as well, you know,
they, they're we're having those same
discussions about how many events is
feasible without me getting divorced.
Start there.
Yeah, that's right.
Um, but
really just kind of what
does that look like?
What's the travel time look like?
How, what's the time away look like?
And then what's, what do the numbers
need to be in order to make it real?
That's right.
That's right.
Absolutely.
So one thing is what I've found with
a lot of veteran founders, or just
founders in general, is a key component
of success is to see that a, that a,
um, founder's coachable, and you seem to
be very coachable and willing to learn.
I try.
What thoughts on that?
Did it work?
Um, that's right, that's right.
When my, uh, my first year as an
entrepreneur, I decided, I just,
exactly your point, I need to learn
how to be a business owner because it's
not something I'd ever done before.
So I worked through the
Bunker Labs, uh, the.
Veterans and Residence program.
I went through the Warrior Rising Program.
I went through the second
Service Foundation program.
I went through DV Patriot Bootcamp.
I went through Boots to Business
program, just trying in all veteran
based entrepreneurial programs.
But I wanted to learn, I. There's
gotta be a nugget in each one
of these that I can take to help
make me a better business owner.
There's gotta be something in here that
can help transform what my mindset is
about doing X thing, and you really
just have to focus on where that growth
path lies, and then how to move towards
that, what that end goal looks like.
Mm-hmm.
Simple, right?
Well keep the end bowl in mind is
the simplest piece I can tell you.
It doesn't mean it makes sense
or it makes it any easier.
Say that again.
I think that's a very
valuable, not good for
keep.
Keep the end goal in mind.
Keep the end goal in
mind that that is right.
That's right.
And what, what is your end goal?
Um, for archery in motion?
I would love for that to be the,
the top ranking, moving target
platform across the country for
both archery as well as firearms.
At some point, I would love for somebody
to come in and say, we wanna buy that out.
And I walk away from that business
and, and have a chunk of money
that I can go spend the rest of
my life hunting, um, for valor.
I don't have an end goal for that one.
I want to use that one probably for the
rest of my life and just take that as
therapy across the country for everybody.
Wow.
Wow.
That's fantastic.
You know, maybe the end, the
end goal of that is is, is it?
Is it X number of people served?
I mean, it's like the old
McDonald's signed, you know,
billions and billions served
there.
Is that, yeah.
You know, you can pour
water in the trough.
You can't necessarily drag the
horse to water, but if I can throw
it out there and have enough people
experience it and get exposure to it.
I think it'll grow and
it'll, it'll expand out.
Yeah.
I mean, if, if you're able to help
X number of military veterans, um,
and, and the fa the community, you
know, the families and, uh, just
think of all the, all the, the good
and the beauty you bring to so many
people and so many families, they're
doing well.
That's, as I've been talking with
the different vendors that have
offered up raffle prizes, that's
kinda the story that I'm telling them
is, this is what I'm trying to do.
This is how I'm going to accomplish it.
Do you want to come along for the
ride with me and help support the
military and veteran community?
And like I said, over thir
30 companies have said yes.
Absolutely.
And I'm well over $6,000 in
raffle prizes as of right now.
Yep, yep.
Absolutely.
So tell me about that patent process.
That's really interesting.
I didn't, I didn't realize that
part.
Um, so going into, into Moving
Targets, again, it's a new concept.
It's a new theory around what we're doing.
Uhhuh.
Um, I reached out to a couple
different patent lawyers.
Early on, and one of them said, you know,
it's 2,500 bucks just for me to have
sit down with you and have a discussion.
Mm-hmm.
Another one said, yeah, it's four
grand for me to have the discussion
and go through the initial
patent review process with you.
And I said, you know, as a brand new
entrepreneur, I don't have all the grant
money, I don't have all the business
sales, I don't have any of that because
I need to have the patent first before
I can really start that selling process.
Well, it turns out there's a patent
office here in Denver, which is.
An hour and a half up the road from me.
So I reached out to the patent office.
I scheduled time with one of
their patent folks in the office.
I ended up taking all of my design
and drawings up there and chatting
with one of the ladies, and she
said, okay, I like what you got.
Here's about 17 pages worth of
homework that you need to take
home and do and reschedule with us.
So I did that.
Went back three weeks later after
I had all the 17 pages filled out,
um, filed my 350 or $400 patent fee.
And 19 months later it got approved.
Wow.
Without any, without any lawyers.
I
Congratulations, man.
Thank
you.
So, so you, you have a patent on this?
Yes sir.
I didn't know that,
but that's really cool.
You know, it, it also brings up the whole
conversation of, is there a nonprofit
give back for veterans that help them
get their ideas trading Mark for patent.
I'm sure that there, there might be
a couple out there, but I would say
anything that deals with patent,
trademark or copyright, it is a unique
challenge in order to get there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It sure is.
It took you, you got it done in 19 months.
Yeah.
That, talking with one of the
lawyers that it's here local that
does, you know, he's a patent
attorney and he does it every day.
He said, yeah.
He said, our stuff usually goes
through 10 months to 11 months.
He goes.
I understand without
a lawyer, no pushback.
You know, I understand why it
takes us a little bit longer.
Sure.
I'm willing, totally willing to
let it take longer because I didn't
spend 30 grand to get a patent.
No, I think, I think 19 months is pretty
fast from what I've heard, so, or at
least not, not, not extraordinary long.
So, congratulations.
You know, we're talking about, uh, in
a little bit here, we're gonna talk
about opportunities and obstacles.
Wow.
That is an, that is both, if
you ever, ever came with that.
What an obstacle to, to building
your business, having that patent,
what an opportunity once you get it.
So tell me about another opportunity
or obstacle that you've had to
overcome building your business.
Um, for valor, the biggest challenge
was I wanted to be able to host it on
Fort Carson military base, which is a
different, unique challenge compared
to most of the other archery events.
They're held at specific archery
ranges or even held on, um,
ski slopes during the summer.
I wanted something different.
And then again, focused on the
military and veteran community.
Best way to do it is host
it on the military base.
So I had to go stand in front of a
two star and a command star major
and have the conversation with
'em about what, who I am Army vet.
Here's what I want to do, support
the military and veteran community.
Bring our treat therapy.
Here's why I want to do it.
Here's how it benefits
all of the community.
Here's the veteran service organizations
that I wanna bring to the table.
Um, it was about a 45
minute conversation and.
At the end of it, two stars
said, yep, let's make it happen.
No kidding.
And have you done the event there already?
Not yet.
So
that's the April event that's coming up.
Oh, just around the corner.
Wow.
Yep.
Got it, got it.
What was the toughest question
that the CSM or the general asked,
um, why you uhhuh?
That's probably the, it, it's, it's an
easy answer, but, you know, for those of
us that are, that are military veterans,
we don't normally talk about ourselves.
Well.
So I had to tell 'em a
little bit of a story.
You know, I was down a dark path.
Somebody handed me a bow that
transitioned me from firearms and away
from alcohol into the archery space.
And that's kind of 14 years
ago, almost 15 years ago now.
That's really where that transition
happened, and that's why I wanna
bring it to the rest of the community.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
What other, um.
Insights that, that you would have
to share with other veteran business
owners, other veteran founders
you think you wish you'd, you'd
known before you started this.
Um, probably the biggest piece is
don't think that you can't do it.
If you really want to step away or step
into the entrepreneurial space, you might
not know everything and that's okay.
Go learn it.
Don't spend money on it
unless you absolutely have to.
And that's, um, as a, for instance,
valor Archery Challenge went out
on 36 different Facebook groups
on Saturday for promotional,
and it didn't cost me a penny.
You don't have to pay for ads,
you just have to find the right
groups to be able to post it to
and what that schedule looks like.
So go learn how to do a lot of this
stuff on your own, because that'll
actually help you down the road when you
hire a marketing company and you say.
I need this thing.
Well, then you can challenge whatever
that their information that they're
feeding back to you about where,
why, or how, if you understand what
you're doing and how you're doing
it, what it takes to make it happen.
Yep.
And for your, your, um, for valor
archery challenge, the, the revenue
model for that is the sponsors
pay for the space or how does that
No.
So the revenue model is registration
fees for the in, for the participants.
Um, rental gear merchandise.
Then comes the, and then
there's novelty shots as well.
Um, on the vendor space, the veteran
service organizations, the veteran
hunting, fishing, outdoor organizations
are actually getting a booth for free.
I'm not charging any of those.
I'm, I just wanna bring 'em to
the table so they can intermingle
with the, with the community.
Um, those veteran owned businesses that
are gonna have retail booths, those are
getting charged, but it's 250 bucks.
That's.
Super cheap from a, uh, rent,
uh, retail booth perspective.
And I've got an OP opportunity for
those that wanna sponsor targets
$500 and you'll, we'll put your
name, your logo, your website right
on the, on the side of a target.
Um, then there's the overall event
sponsorship right now, April event
sponsored by Rry and Motion, because
I own both companies and I can,
and so that's kinda where we're at.
Sure.
Absolutely.
So all right.
Any other opportunities or obstacles that
you faced that that, that are awesome?
Um, kind took a jump back there
to the question before, but
Yep.
So nothing else major that jumps out.
It's, it's finding the
right avenue that works.
Don't sign off on or don't jump into
a business unless you can prove that
the revenue model's gonna be there.
Um, again, jumping into a moving
target that's brand new technology
and into an industry that's not ready
for it, has been a learning curve.
So we've had to prove that that's
really where the next generation,
the future of target, uh, target
archery, really needs to live.
Mm-hmm.
Not everybody signed off on it
yet, so the struggle is real.
You know, it's interesting
because when you look at the
younger generations, especially.
When they're doing their video games
and their vr, they're playing in
technology
stuff is moving.
So you take 'em outdoors, you go,
okay, go shoot at this, this, uh,
flat target stationary target.
You go.
A lot of those younger
people are gonna go, why?
Yeah.
I can think that I'm shooting
elsewhere, you know, at a moving target.
So, very interesting.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, Sam, um, getting
ready to wind this down, but
I got a couple more questions.
Sure.
What's one more question?
Um, I should have asked you already and
you're like, why doesn't Rod ask me this?
Um, it's unfair 'cause I gave you
this answer last time, so Yes.
And I,
and I added those questions and
they're coming up in a minute, so
Yeah, we're gonna get to those.
Um, that's funny.
So what other questions should Rod ask?
Um, I'm assuming that, how do I get in
touch is one of the, and you get in touch.
Absolutely.
Okay, then I really don't have
anything else to throw out there.
Okay.
So what, what, what resources
have you been, uh, found helpful?
And you mentioned some of
them earlier in building your
business and learning business.
Um, um, is it those organizations?
Are there books, are
there resources, podcasts?
What
Some of it, podcasts, some of
it's, uh, you know, those different
organizations that I mentioned earlier.
I would also say that, you know, your
local SBDC and even, uh, VBO C Veteran
Business Outreach Center, um, are huge
resources as well for the local community.
So utilize those to help get connected up.
Um, I found that 1 million
Cups is a pretty decent local
community networking group.
Um, had a lot of fun and meeting
new folks there, but find in
whatever industry that you're in.
Find the connection for that industry
in your space, and then run with it.
And if it's not there
today, build your own.
Build that community,
build that connection.
Absolutely.
Collaborate.
People that don't collaborate.
I don't know how they, how they make.
It's a rough go.
Yeah, I think so.
I think so.
So what's, what's next for
your, both of your businesses?
What's next Big endeavor?
The next
big is for archery in
motion is our monster moving
target, which is Oval Track.
Um, we're gonna, like I said, we just
shot some great video of over the weekend.
Um.
Showing the different shot angles
because arrows are coming in from
every different angle on that target.
So really kind of turned it into
a pin cushion looking thing,
but had a lot of fun with that.
So we're gonna release that here
in the next couple weeks and then
it, that'll be incorporated into
the Valor Archery Challenge events,
which is really gonna make it fun.
Um, for Valor archery challenge,
it's really about finding the next
level or next layer of vendors
that want to come be a part of it.
Um, or whether that's as raffle donation
prizes, or whether that's, uh, sponsorship
or even vendor booths at the event.
So yeah, finding all the right connections
to, to make it more of a community.
Absolutely.
So, so the vendors, the vendors
could pay, you know, host a safe for
X dollars, could host a, um, uh, a
target and possibly have a booth.
Got it.
Right?
Yep.
And then jumping back to
archery motion with the target.
It just has too many arrows into it.
Are you selling the, the, the,
uh, the next, can they buy
additional targets from you?
Physical
targets?
So, I've partnered up with the five major
target manufacturers across the country.
Um, I've got deep discounts for 'em, so
I can sell different targets if they,
you know, if they wanna move from a,
a armadillo target to a whitetail or
a, a mule deer target, that's fine.
I, I'm happy to work with it.
The nice part is the targets.
And so unlike firearms, when you pull the
trigger, that bullet goes down range and
blows hole through the piece of cardboard.
The targets that are used in archery
are, um, I don't wanna say living
foam, but they're self-healing foam.
So when you pull the arrow outta
the target, that foam just over time
slowly closes back up on itself.
Got it.
And so you can reuse
those targets quite a bit.
It's really just a factor of, do I
want to change from a, uh, a bear
target to a deer target or even
to a, I dunno, something bigger.
Different seasons, different
thing, whatever the case may be.
Yep.
Um, Turkey
seats, spring Turkey is right around
the corner, so the, they're gonna
see and experience some spring
Turkey that are moving around uhhuh.
Got it.
Okay.
So what's something the audience
can do to champion and celebrate
you and your businesses?
Um, follow
the social media.
Pay attention to what I've got going on.
Sign up for the event.
Come out, slink some arrows with us.
Learn how to archery his therapy.
Make some new connections.
Have fun.
Understood.
And how do we get in touch
with you for archery in motion?
Uh, website is archery, the
letter in motion.com, and that
matches up with all social media
across virtually every channel.
And then for valor, it's
valor archery challenge.com.
Um, social media, the only
variant there is on YouTube,
it's Valor Archery Challenge one.
Mm-hmm.
We're not gonna go into y.
Understood.
Understood.
Got it.
And then, um.
Who's another inspiring military
community founder that you know of that,
that, uh, people should know about?
Um, respect.
I've had some pretty good connections
here in the last couple weeks.
Um, Jeff Harding was one that
I just met with, with the
Victory Leadership Coaching.
Mm.
Um, had a great conversation with
him just a couple weeks back.
Scott Dio, um, runs the Drive on
podcast, so Army Vet. Trying to grab a
hold of folks that are finding new and
inventive ways for veterans in therapy.
Got it.
Unfortunately, he's had 400 some
episodes in his podcast and I was
the first one for archery, so.
Got it.
Okay.
But he, his podcast is
called Drive on Drive,
drive on.
Awesome.
Okay.
Makes sense.
That's
really cool.
Alright, so hey, look, we really
appreciate your time and insights today,
rod.
It's always a pleasure, inspiration,
and, you know, and just to say thank
you, we're gonna donate a hundred dollars
to the Dick LOEs Scholarship Fund.
Perfect.
That goes to a will come, uh,
military community, uh, founder's kid.
Whether they wanna go to college or to
the trade school, it's their choice.
Awesome.
And so, so thank you so much for, uh,
your insights and supporting us today.
And Sam, uh,
thanks for having me on.
It's been a pleasure.
Absolute to talk to you.
Talk to you soon.
Okay.
Thanks, rod.
Thanks for joining us on
the Milcom Founders Podcast.
If you know a Milcom founder
with a story to share, reach
out to us@milcomfounders.com.
For each guest on our show, one Degree
Financial donates $100 to the Dick LOEs
Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund
supporting education or children of a.