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A West Point grad investing in a Naval Academy grad?! Unearth the secrets of entrepreneurship and innovation within the Service Academy Network as we prepare for the much-anticipated Army-Navy game. Join us as we welcome Brad Harrison, an accomplished West Point graduate and managing partner of Scout Ventures, alongside Paul Lwin, a Naval Academy alumnus and CEO of Havoc AI. These remarkable guests share their journeys from military academies to the forefront of venture capital and defense technology, illustrating how their unique backgrounds and the robust support of the Service Academy Network have paved the way for groundbreaking collaborations in national defense innovation.
Discover the grit and resilience that define the transition from military service to the entrepreneurial realm, particularly within the defense industry. We share lessons learned from embracing failure and criticism, paralleling the challenges of startup life with military training. With insights from mentors like Brad, we delve into the crucial role of guidance and perseverance amidst adversity. This episode provides a firsthand look into the motivation and learning curve involved in my own journey from military service to the demanding world of defense tech innovation.
Celebrate the unparalleled opportunities available through a service academy education, from rigorous academic programs to leadership development. We reflect on the indelible impact of service academies like Annapolis & West Point on personal growth and the formation of lifelong networks. Through personal anecdotes, we highlight the transformational power of these institutions in developing leaders of character who continue to contribute to national defense and global stability through innovation and investment.

The Vermeer Group is a residential real company matching military families with trusted real estate teams across the country. If you have any real estate questions at all, please text Grant at (650) 282-1964 or email [email protected]

To stay most up to date with Grant, Naval Academy updates, and real estate insights, follow him on LinkedIn

The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families.
Grant Vermeer your host is the person who started it all. He is the founder of Academy Insider and the host of The Academy Insider podcast. He was a recruited athlete which brought him to Annapolis where he was a four year member of the varsity basketball team. He was a cyber operations major and commissioned into the Cryptologic Warfare Community. He was stationed at Fort Meade and supported the Subsurface Direct Support mission.

He separated from the Navy in 2023 and now owns The Vermeer Group, a residential real estate company that matches service academy families with trusted real estate teams all across the country. Text (650) 282-1964 with any real estate questions.

We are here to be your guide through the USNA experience.

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If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, have an idea, question or topic you would like to see covered, reach out: email [email protected] or text Grant at (443) 951-3064