5 Reasons I Wish I Was Attending VETCON

VETCON is the biggest entrepreneur conference of the year for veterans and is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The event features leading veteran entrepreneurs from around the globe for 7 intense training sessions over 3 days.

This week, veteran entrepreneurs from around the globe will converge in the heart of Silicon Valley for what may be the best ever veteran entrepreneurship conference. From March 23–25 at GSV labs in Redwood city, aspiring entrepreneurs will have the chance to network, communicate, develop ideas, formulate solutions and create bonds that will last a lifetime. I really wanted to make the trip from Norway, but work had other plans for me. So, here are some top reasons why YOU should attend!

1. World-class seminars

Not only does this event bring together some of this most inspirational and successful veteran entrepreneurs, but they will also be providing real-life lessons and feedback based on personal experience. There are lots of places to get startup and entrepreneurship advice but nowhere that will put things so simply and eloquently in terms that you as a veteran can understand. These folks have been there in your shoes. They’ve served, transitioned and are now leading some of the most explosive startups around. They faced the roadblocks, overcome the obstacles and are ready to give you the keys you need to avoid the most common pitfalls and failures.

As the saying goes, it’s better to learn from another person’s mistakes than from your own. Some of these folks have made, lost, and rebuilt fortunes. Wouldn’t it be nice to cut out that middle step? VETCON will help you build a strong entrepreneurial core and can save you years of heartache and pain. Some of the most important lessons in life don’t have to be learned the hard way… you can learn the easy way, from other people who have walked the exact same path as you and can mark the easiest way forward.

Let’s think about this in grunt mentality… if someone offered to hand you a map with the easiest route to the objective already marked… would you take it? If you could avoid the scrub brush, the draws, the the ditches, the steepest climbs, and head straight to the objective, would that be appealing? I sure as hell think so… and if you do to, here’s your opportunity.

2. Community of vetrepreneurs

Nobody is going to help you in life as much as your fellow veterans. We’ve taken the same oath, shared the same sacrifice and spilled the same blood. There is no bond in the world like that of those who have donned their nation’s uniform together. While some people in life may be moderately useful from time to time, your brother and sister veterans will pull out every stop to help you achieve the success that you are capable of.

The veterans who are attending this event represent nearly every layer of the startup world. There’s defense, bio-tech, travel and leisure, fitness, lifestyle, sales management, marketing automation, food and beverage, and everything in between. Regardless of what you’re niche is, I guarantee you that you will find someone else here who has plowed the same road. There’s no better place to meet them and get connected than VETCON.

But, there’s a catch. There’s an unspoken agreement. Later on down the road, when you have successfully started and grown a company, it’s going to be your turn to reach down and help others who are just starting out. it’s going to be your turn to leverage the skills, knowledge and experience that you have gained in order to help other veteran become successful. Why? That’s just what we do. So, come and learn from the best. Network with fellow veterans and build something great. Then, be prepared to become a mentor at a future VETCON event or elsewhere in your life.

3. Culture of excellence

“This is my startup. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” You already know where I’m headed with this. Excellence is not an act, but a habit… it requires continuous learning, focus and growth. The same skills that made you successful in the military can help you thrive in starting your own business. You just need to learn how.

VETCON will bring together veteran founders, partners, CEOs and business leaders like: Steve Blank, David Silverman, Brandon Shelton, Nate Boyar, Phil Dillard, Lydia Davey, Greg Call, Aaron Saari, David Gowl, Daniel Alarik and more. These folks cover the range of military backgrounds from communications to special operations and beyond. They’ve all taken lessons from the military and converted them into thriving success formulas for business. Sound like something you’d like to learn how to master?

Don’t worry if you were just an enlisted puke and know nothing about business (I was in that exact same boat); the skills you learned in the military are all that you need to succeed. Do you have the courage, flexibility, tenacity and desire to start creating your own future? Come learn the tools to match and start getting to work!

4. Incredible learning experience

There are some things in life that simply can’t be replicated through online courses, books or even other seminars. This learning experience is designed specifically for you, the veteran. It is tailor-made to suit your lifestyle, abilities and goal. The entire program has been created by veterans, for veterans as a way to share immense amounts of knowledge in just a few short days.

Whether you’ve already got a plan laid out and just want some feedback and advice or if you have no idea where to start, but you have a goal in mind, this event will help you formulate a plan, create action steps, learn how to test, scale, and execute.

You’ll learn from companies like Facebook, Hubspot and Salesforce. You’ll learn lean startup methodology — how to build and launch products that people actually want to buy without wasting tons of time in the iteration process. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, meet with mentors and even pitch to real-life investors. You just can’t replicate this type of collaboration anywhere else.

Think of it this way… if you had the opportunity to meet with your current self, back when you were just starting your enlistment process before you were on the yellow footprints, how would that change your life? Would you probably give yourself some solid advice? Avoid some pitfalls? Avoid some serious pain? If you think it would be beneficial, this is pretty much the exact same thing.

5. Explosive growth

Okay, so I’m not going to say you’ll be the next Facebook or Uber or whatever else, but I promise you’ll cut months or even years off of your growth process.

First, you’ll gain insight into tools and methodologies that have been proven to drive incredible results for other veteran-owned businesses. Second, you will meet the “who’s who” of veteran entrepreneurs. These are the people who you will continue to bump elbows and grow with throughout your career. Third, you’ll meet the type of people, such as investors and founders, who can look at your product and provide feedback that can save you countless hours of failure. These people know their stuff… they’ve been there, done that. Fourth, you’ll be part of a collective community from the initial VETCON iteration… plankowners, if you will. As your product grows and your career trajectory takes off, your fellow plankowners will be there to help guide you and help you grow.

So, whether you have a prototype already made or no idea at all, this is a great place to come and learn. Maybe you build a product, maybe you don’t, but I guarantee you will build connections and friendships that last a lifetime. Consider this an investment in your future. Are you ready?

Resources:

View the full agenda — Learn what’s going on when and where.

Learn more about VETCON — All the answers you need to what, when and why.

Launch yourself — Learn all you need to know about the top companies sponsoring and participating in this event, the speakers, and more.