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Security Halt!
James Hills on Veteran Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Building Tac Valve | Security Halt! Podcast Ep. 450
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How should military experience shape leadership in America?
What separates successful entrepreneurs from everyone else?
According to retired Green Beret and inventor James Hills, it's not luck—it's persistence.
In Episode 450 of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero welcomes back James Hills for an in-depth discussion on entrepreneurship, innovation, product development, and what it really takes to build a successful business after military service.
James shares the evolution of Tac Valve, lessons learned from manufacturing, fundraising, branding, and networking, while offering practical advice for veteran entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of launching a startup.
The conversation also explores sustainability, emerging technologies, advanced materials, and why solving real-world problems is the foundation of every successful business.
Whether you're building your first company or looking to scale an existing business, this episode delivers actionable lessons from someone who has successfully brought multiple products to market.
Listen now. Follow the show. Share this with the veteran or entrepreneur who needs to hear it.
Chapters:
00:00 Meet James Hills: Green Beret, Inventor, and Entrepreneur
01:09 Launching Tac Valve and Building a Startup
02:04 Disrupting the Water Bottle Industry Through Innovation
03:19 Travel, Perspective, and Entrepreneurial Inspiration
05:35 Where Great Business Ideas Come From
07:31 Raising Capital and Building a Powerful Brand
09:24 Manufacturing Challenges Every Startup Faces
11:24 Building a Network of Mentors and Advisors
13:44 Strategic Partnerships That Accelerate Growth
15:05 Overcoming Setbacks and Staying Focused
17:43 Why Networking Opens More Doors Than Marketing
20:34 The Power of Authentic Human Connection
22:14 Marketing, Sponsorships, and Brand Awareness
24:01 Industry Events Every Entrepreneur Should Attend
25:46 Breaking Into the Defense Industry
28:20 Supporting Veterans Through Business
30:52 What's Next for Tac Valve
33:29 Sustainable Innovation and Environmental Impact
36:50 Stem Cells, Recovery, and High Performance
38:31 Advanced Materials Changing Product Design
40:57 Why Great Teams Build Great Companies
43:52 Lessons Learned From the Entrepreneurial Journey
45:11 Advice for Every Veteran Entrepreneur
46:45 Giving Back and Building Community
47:35 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
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Dream Bigger After Service
SPEAKER_01James is flesh and blood. He is not a demigod. Uh he is just like you. He had the same experiences. And if he can do it, if he can go out there and live his dream, you guys owe it to yourself to at least be willing to take a knee and think about it. Figure out what you're passionate about. Where there's a will, there's a way.
SPEAKER_03James Hills. Um going back, uh retired July 24. I started Tac Valve Hydration, uh, September 24, started kicking it off. Um, then fast forwarding um launch product uh December 15th. Our first launch was uh July 7th, just soft launch, and then uh we did our hard launch December 15th at 25, and then uh yeah, been going strong ever since.
SPEAKER_01I hate running into stories of veterans who give up, who take that job they're not passionate about, that they hate, and that drive to work is just them, just miserable, angry. It's like you served in the military and you did great work. You you did it on behalf of Grateful Nation. That next chapter of your life should be dedicated to at least being willing to do something that you enjoy, that you can at least at the very least tolerate with a smile on your face, not be angry.
SPEAKER_00That Security Halt Media is looking for clients that need video editing. Have them reach out to info at securityhaltmedia.com.
From Retirement To Product Launch
SPEAKER_01James Hills, welcome back, Security App Podcast. Ah, thank you. Dude, uh, it's been uh an incredible, incredible last few weeks, man. I've been uh I've been busy, but uh coming back from Normandy, I knew we had to link back up and do a part two because we didn't dive into everything last time, so we gotta make it happen this time. Uh no, it's a it's a big story. Dude, it's um it's incredible what you're building and how far you've come. So um, dude, let's take it back. Let's do a little recap, of course, of uh who you are and uh what you're involved in.
SPEAKER_03Okay, cool, yeah. Uh James Sills, um going back uh retired July 24, uh started Tac Valve Hydration uh September 24, um, started kicking it off. Um then fast forwarding um launch product uh December 15th. Our first launch was uh July 7th, just soft launch, and then uh we did our hard launch December 15th at 25. Um, and then uh yeah, been going strong ever since. So yeah, man.
SPEAKER_01You guys are you're you're you're killing it, and uh you're bringing you're bringing something to market that uh I think is important uh because I absolutely hated our canteens. I uh as soon as I went soft, that was one of the first things that I did for myself. I'm like, I'm gonna buy something nicer. But even the Nalgene bottles still, like it was like a half measure. Uh you go to drink from those bottles the very beginning before they made the little the little inserts for the mouthpieces, just like splash everywhere.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah. No, that's uh yeah. I used the heck out in Algenes back in the day. I mean, because that's what we were issued was nalgene pouches, you know. So
Normandy Trip And Community Moments
SPEAKER_03um, but yeah. Yeah, dude. Go ahead, glad you made it home safe. Dude, same.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I uh I will say though, I will say, um, I've heard nothing but horrible things about Paris. And this is the first time that I had uh a long enough, like I had a couple days in Paris before he pushed out. And I will say, man, great city. Great friggin' city, the people, every it was like I felt like a little bit out of out of my element because uh everybody was extremely nice. Not just because like, oh, you're a tourist. Like, no, they were just out in the human level. Everybody was super chill, really nice, and I was kind of like taken off off guard because ever all the everything we get is that you know, it's it's crime, it's riddled with a whole bunch of stuff. Now, mind you, I did get my camera and cell phone stolen, but that was at another location, not in Paris. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, especially during the anniversary, man, like um, especially the Norman people, like, and that and that part, uh, when I went and jumped there for the 75th anniversary, we just got an Airbnb, and the lady that hosted us, she was just awesome. So, and I I I should know French better because that's what I went uh the Q course for. So I was just trying to like dish it out there the best that I could, but I think she understood me a little bit.
SPEAKER_01I uh I immediately regretted one moment where I was like, uh, I'll take uh French fries. It's like what am I doing? Stupid boy. Everybody has to have one of those moments on a trip, though. But it was uh it was incredible, man. Shout out to uh Fox Force, uh incredible group of women out there, and first all-female jump team that went in there, and they did great. It was remarkable watching uh everybody welcome them and and the reception they got uh for their nonprofit, for their mission was incredible to see everybody rally around them. And uh shout out to the Warrior Rising team. Um I think we did a great job there. Uh being able to jump, man, like what a gift. What an incredible like I I I'm still reflecting on it. I mean, you grow up in the 82nd and um always had uh, you know, doing the GWAT, those things weren't around as often. Guys weren't going over there doing those jumps, and then uh now to see it come full circle, seeing more of the 82nd Division being able to go back to take those young paratroopers that have that experience, man. Just incredible, dude. Just incredible. I just feel so blessed to have had that opportunity, man. And it was nice to see um so many Americans there and being able to visit and honor that like amazing anniversary, man. It's it's huge.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Oh no, it's no, it was a great time when I was there too. And it's kind of funny because I think some of like the French troops that were there, I don't even even know if any of those guys were airborne qualified. Yeah. It looked like they're just like, you're jumping.
SPEAKER_01You're not the only one that said that, man. Uh I did have some friends say, like, yeah, man, we've seen some sketchy stuff. Dudes just show up and it's like, hey, I don't care. Like, you're representing for our nation. You're you're getting in there. It's like, all right.
The First Real Build Process
SPEAKER_01But dude, let's take it uh, let's take it back to that entrepreneurial spirit. And uh, you know, we knew the the concept first came while when we had you know the the surefire cans get issued and we didn't have any um uh suppressor, we didn't have any black fire adapters for those. So then it it started getting that that creator juices flowing in you. But after you got of the military, creating a brand new product from you know from design to seeing it actually ship out, like let's tell that story, man.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so well, the uh, you know, it started off with the blank firing adapter, you know, and you know, I said that in part one, you know, I only person I could think of to talk to is a patent attorney, right? And then he introduced me to an engineering firm. And um, so I kind of learned a little bit from that. Um, but really uh the biggest thing is just if you have an idea, you know, getting yourself out there and pitching it to people, you know. And uh I knew in building uh it wasn't even called Tac Valve then, but whatever this idea was that I was gonna need money behind it because I wasn't gonna be able to self-finance it. And so that's when I went down the road of um, you know, building a pitch deck out um and getting out there and presenting it to people.
SPEAKER_01Dude, that's a little more complex than most people realize. I'm just starting to get more of an understanding because, like I always say, I'm a proud dog shit entrepreneur. But when you do things right, like build a pitch deck, that's stuff that a lot of us don't think about and and don't think about like the proper process of fundraising and bringing in capital to make your dreams come true. It's like there's a lot that goes into that. Did you have like how did you get that insight? Did you have somebody who was mentoring you or did you just Google it on and uh try to put it together?
SPEAKER_03For sure. Well, a little bit of Google. I mean, I wish uh Chat GPT would have been more uh prevalent then, um, for sure. Uh, but uh no, it started um, you know, just talking to um some friends I was in group with, uh a guy by the name of uh Carl Hansetter, um Silver Star recipient, badass dude. Um he's awesome, he's a warrior. Um, but he um he's he was pretty savvy with investing and different things. And so he kind of helped me um, you know, he he reviewed my first pitch deck that I had, told me the first name for the company sucks, so I went and looked back at that again. Um, you know, kind of helped me helped me with our first logo, which we don't use that one anymore, but helped get a logo on paper, you know, for that uh pitch deck. Um, and then also um, yeah, uh Carl was a big help. He's awesome. Um, and I'm sure a lot of listeners are they know who he is. So um, but anyways, yeah, and then and then going um, you know, going down that road and pitching it to people, I I met people along the way, uh, like my friend Jonathan Lowe, um, who's in the big finance world. Um, and uh he he helped me too. And he he kind of put it in a uh in a perspective of, hey, you're not just pitching a product, you need to pitch this as a brand. And so when I kind of got that insight from him, that's when I went out, okay, what do I need to build a brand? Well, I need uh someone to do uh the product in and everything for me. So um went out looking for American manufacturers, um, found an American manufacturer, um, and uh yeah, kind of, you know, built it all up from there, got some 3D prototypes made uh that I was able to use to start showing to earlier audiences like Avon Protection and Casey and Adam Nelson, uh Casey Galga and Adam Nelson from there. Um and then uh yeah, uh got our first um got our first products off the line January. So started tooling around October of 24, got our first products off the line uh January of 25.
Fundraising Basics And Pitch Decks
SPEAKER_01This episode of Security Health is brought to you by Dr. Taylor Bosley and Persistian Wellness Group. Let's be real. By now, a lot of New Year's resolutions have already fizzled out, life gets busy, motivation drops, and health ends up on the back burner. But here's the truth: there's no better time to start than right now. Persistian Wellness Group specializes in hormone optimization and hormone health, delivering personalized care and treatment right to your door. If you've been dealing with low energy, brain fog, poor sleep, or stalled performance, hormone imbalance, maybe the missing piece. Dr. Taylor Bosley and his team take a data-driven, individualized approach to help you get back to operating at your best. Security Hall Listeners receive 25% off their initial consultation when they use Security Hall 25 at checkout. Click the link in the episode description to find out more and get started today.
SPEAKER_03Um, those were our first thousand uh prototypes that we got. Um, so that was pretty cool. Um got to travel up to my manufacturer and take a tour of their facility and see how everything worked. Um and uh yeah, and just I mean, just the um, you know, from meeting with uh Vern and Leon, um, you know, and just the guys that have been down this road before and them helping out and giving me their insight, you know, and their advice and you know, is you know, it's it's out there, and if you ask for it, you'll you'll get that from people.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's uh that's something I want to dive into a little bit more, like building building that core network of supporters, individuals that can help you along the way. Um, we're not looking for like this mythical figure that's gonna show up and just solve all the problems, right? That's somebody that can guide and uh coach, mentor, just like we're young guys in the in in the military, having somebody that has the the bandwidth and the the drive to help guide you along that path. And it sounds like you found that in a you know in a wide variety
Mentors Who Sharpen The Vision
SPEAKER_01of individuals, man. For sure.
SPEAKER_03And and it continues to, you know, it continues. Um like uh in January I got reached out to uh by a gentleman by the name of Sam, who um owns uh two manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia, um, and very driven entrepreneur. Uh started off um trying to do uh auto parts. And when the uh market crashed in 2008, he kind of started looking at government contracts and ended up winning a contract for a wire harness uh for F-16s and just built his empire from there. And so now he makes parts for 35s, um, pretty much all the um Air Force aircraft. He makes bomb carts. Um, but I was able to go out there and it's it's good having a mentor like that um, you know, that you can you can talk to about these things.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, dude, it's it's uh that's crazy, man. Like I don't think a lot of us while we're in the service, while we're actually in the military, have the uh the ability to like dream of doing something like this, especially when it's like such an abstract thing, like working with somebody whose ideation process includes thinking of how to make wire harnesses for a friggin' jet everybody like not not something that would be up here for me for sure.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, me neither. That's why I make water bottles.
SPEAKER_01Um still, even even a water bottle, you know, that's the initial concept, but look where it's at now. You you're diving into something where it's like, okay, um, I forget the terminology and and you can correct me, but it's not just biodegradable.
SPEAKER_03But it's it's it's uh antimicrobial and antifungal. So and we're we're the I mean we're the ones that got that. So it it is ours, yeah, you know, which is very cool.
SPEAKER_01And and uh it but you're trying to also create something that if if it get it it's not just plastic that's just gonna live in the lamp, right?
SPEAKER_03Well we'll we'll get to that, actually. Yeah, I'll I'll give you that story once we get done with Tac Malve. So
Manufacturing Decisions And Early Prototypes
SPEAKER_03um, but yeah, um so starting off like this year, um yeah, went went out to uh DLA event out in Philadelphia, um got to talk to uh PO Soldier, uh Marchorse Syscom, um great people on both sides. Um and then uh we also um through a company called Ruck Socks and Killian, um, they're pretty big. Um they they make socks, uh, but we met them um at the tactile games and they gave us an introduction to um light fighter tactical. Um so uh shout out to uh Johnny and Brian on that one. So we've been working with uh Light Fire Tactical uh to um get us in with their soldier systems that they have a contract for. So which is really cool. And then uh and then also we got uh reached out to a very uh prominent outdo outdoor company that has a lot of brands. Uh they didn't want me to say who they were. I asked them and they're like, yeah. Uh but anyways, they gave us an introduction to outdoor research and uh TJ, because outdoor research makes the insulated pouch that the DOW uses. And so now we're working with uh them to modify it a little bit to fit the mod can because the mod can, because the adapter lid is a little bit taller than a you know standard water bottle. Um, so we're working on that. Um TJ Lanyard of Lightfighter or Outdoor Research, excuse me, he's awesome. Um, and then uh yeah, so it's been cool. We're so now we're now we're balling with the big industry dudes, which is awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it let's take a look and let's pause and reflect. That was from 2024 to now. Yes.
SPEAKER_03You got and and and the the the main point of the story is you have to be driven.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You know, you can't lose it. Like it's it's in the grind every single day. You gotta earn it every day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And and it's it's important too to remind people at home, like there's been, I guarantee, there's been multiple days uh in different chapters where you wanted to just say, you know what? Maybe this is as far as it goes. Maybe I take a knee, maybe uh I'll just sell what I have to somebody else and they can deal with it. Because talking to everybody from either, you know, guys that are in the bourbon industry to guys that are in the tech space, everybody sees the picture in the news in the newsletter, they see the picture in the magazine, they see the highlight reel on Instagram, and it's easy for us to think, James has got it. He's he's fucking done it, Rick has got it, they're selling millions of bottles, and in reality, guys are waking up each day going, All right, let's get back to the grind. Let's fucking get through.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, and it is. It's it's um it's the uh the part nobody wants to think about, right? But it's sitting behind the computer, you know, crunching out those emails, uh making those phone calls, um, you know, and just you know, just cold calling and knocking doors, man. That's I mean, that's how you get it done. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's it's not the sexy thing that you'll see on a movie. I wish somebody would highlight it a little bit more, but that doesn't make for a good Hollywood storyline. The uh the guy at home in his office just spending eight hours on emails, jumping on a plane, flying out 48 hours later, is returning back, trying to fit it all in. Yeah, but at the same time, it makes those those victories so much better.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, for sure. I even I even uh flew out to um to New Jersey uh because I was given some insight to a uh event uh called Saboa that um uh um Ditra and uh uh uh joint program executive office, CBRN puts on out there, and I showed up to it and they uh didn't let me in the door. So I gotta change my flight, come back the next day. However, what I got out of that was an email was sent out from the people there to pretty much everybody in the CC line that could be a point of contact for me. So that's that's and that's that's how you have to look at everything is like what was the highlight? What did I get out of this? What was the reason for me going there?
SPEAKER_01Yep. Absolutely, dude.
SPEAKER_03And that was it. That's why I was supposed to go there, so I could get all those contacts.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, and uh, I think that goes back to the resilience and and the lessons we learned in the military. You can have a horrible deployment, you can have a horrible change of duty station, new assignment, but always be willing to look at like what's there, what's the undervalued? There's always something there. I there's gotta be a lesson learned or a value prop, something. There's something there. Don't give up. And I've experienced it too. Like it's um, it's easy to get down and go straight to the negative. But look back on
Networking That Opens Big Doors
SPEAKER_01what you've done in the military. Like, there's always been that, even if it wasn't you, there's always been that guy in your unit, in your platoon was always willing to make you laugh, always willing to get you to see the bright side of the situation. This episode of Security Health is brought to you by Dr. Taylor Bosley and Persistian Wellness Group. Let's be real. By now, a lot of New Year's resolutions have already fizzled out. Life gets busy, motivation drops, and health ends up on the back burner. But here's the truth: there's no better time to start than right now. Persistician Wellness Group specializes in hormone optimization and hormone health, delivering personalized care and treatment right to your door. If you've been dealing with low energy, brain fog, or sleep, or stalled performance, hormone imbalance, maybe the missing piece, Dr. Taylor Bosley and his team take a data-driven, individualized approach to help you get back to operating at your fast. Secured all listeners receive 25% off their initial consultation when they use Security Hall 25 at checkout. Click the link in the episode description to find out more and get started today. And and I mean, I can only imagine flying out to an event and then being told, like, hey, no, sorry.
SPEAKER_03This is not for you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um well, we just I I I was kind of 50 50 on if uh we could go or not. But however, I was told by some people that I thought, you know, had a little bit of pull. Yeah. So I was like, I'll give it a try.
SPEAKER_01So but like you said, man, you still walked away with a lot of contacts, which is what I've come to find. Out more often than not, it means a lot more than your resume or the uh the master's degree.
SPEAKER_03For sure. And you know, they always say that too. It's like, hey, your your net worth is your network, right? And so, but with that, it's how do you leverage that network to get that net worth, right? And that's that's what it really means is how can I use that network?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03Um and uh and and I mean, like, and and everybody that's in your network, they want to network with you too, you know? It goes both ways.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we we talked about it a little bit, man, uh I think during the first time, uh our first sit down, but getting out of the habit of just texting, just texting or email and actually pick up the phone and call someone, like I didn't realize how powerful that that is because it's it we always go towards the most convenient thing. The most convenient thing is just, hey, I'll just send an email or I'll connect by a text. But in reality, make that phone call. Make
Events, Sponsorships, And Marketing Wins
SPEAKER_01the phone call. The phone call is gonna lead to a sale, it's gonna lead to a lead, it's gonna lead you to find a new client potentially, or solve, or have somebody brainstorm with you on the phone to solve the pain point or friction you're going through. That's uh and I've experienced that recently. Um People are willing to go through a problem with you, and it just speaks to the human condition and experience. I think every entrepreneur, every business leader out there remembers when they were in your footsteps, when they were in your bootprints uh or your boots, going through that tough spot, and they're willing to say, you know what, I got 10 minutes. Let's crunch this together. That's blown me away.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Oh, for sure. And plus when you talk to somebody like, you know, in person, uh, whether it be on the phone or, you know, through uh video chat or you know, whatever, you're you're really getting that conversation, you know, with them. And you can't get that, you know, it's uh passive email's a passive form of communication, right? And so, um, and so is text met uh text messages. And um, you know, and and it's like um, you know, finding new distributors. Um, you know, one of uh one of those uh distributors, um, I met the company like five years ago when I was still in the military, um, and I just got their card, you know, and so I thought about typing an email, but I was like, you know what, I'm actually gonna call them because I want to like remind him like where we met, and you know, and of course right after that he's like, dude, whatever I can do to help you, you know. Yeah. So yeah, pretty awesome.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's uh it's building something on your own. Uh it's a great reminder, and and it's it's a constant exercise in gratitude and meeting people where they're at and seeing like, dude, I've had some conversations where I'm like, man, that the person's a freaking jerk. And then I've been surprised when then they reach out and they apologize for it, and then like I said, work through the problem with you or offer new insights. It's like, oh shit. Uh oh yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, get you get you back in the right direction. Yeah. Uh, but yeah, and I mean other than that, I mean it's been great. We're able to sponsor sponsor the uh Best Ranger competition this year. So no shit. Got uh yeah, got 130 mod cans in the hands of the participants there. Um and also able to get some good uh photos for social media and videos. That's that always helps.
SPEAKER_01Oh yeah. Marketing, dude. Marketing.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so I'd I had my dude Alex with me. Um he does he does such a great job. Um I'm sure you've seen on our Instagram and everything. Like, yeah, he's he does good, really good. Um, but yeah, so uh pretty much, I mean, that's where uh let me think what we sponsored another tactical games event at the end of April. Um went to um went to the Seaburn event that was at Fort Leonardwood um first of May, and then uh Soft Week where I met you at. So which uh was pretty crazy because I had business in uh the actual soft week event in the Expo Center, and then there was the soft select that was like a mile up the road. So it's hard to be two places at one time. So next year I'm gonna have to bring somebody else with me to come down.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. It is such a huge event, and I'm I'm kind of upset. I'm like, they they have to figure out a better way to do it. There's so much,
Future Products And Smarter Hydration
SPEAKER_01so much that gets missed because people don't realize like, hey, you have to like have like three other hotels to go off to. Like, and and that's where like that's where the the the individuals that I wanted to see, like come to find them like where's spirit system? Where's where the hell is Doug with reptilian at? Where's where's all these friggin' brands that I want to see and like hang out with? And uh then it's like secluded off in this like you know the the troublemakers hotel area. It's like that's where all the cool things are at, mystery ranches over there. And I'm like, dude, this is this is horrible. This should be under the main event, but it's it's defense tech has gotten so big, it's become like uh I think it's it's all drones and robots, drones, robots, and software. And it's like, okay, I get it.
SPEAKER_03But uh it'd be really soft select was way better though. Yeah, like I like that is is a lot better there. That's where all of our dudes are at, too.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. That's if you want to if you want to go where all the cool people are at, that's where we needed to be. And uh yeah, I I look forward to uh the next soft week. Um uh yeah, it it's it's a great event. And um I think more people need to be able and we willing, if you're in the industry or have any sort of connected issue, if you're creating something for that, uh, and that's your target demographic, be willing to go there, man. That's it's such a great place to go, show off what you got, man. Uh, but going there for TACVA, was it did you find yourself being there like able to like move and like make new connections, or was it more of a like, okay, let's just get our face out there?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so um I already had some planned meetings going into it uh with uh some UK companies, uh with some European companies uh that we've been talking to for a while. Um, and then uh of course to meet up with, you know, uh Avon, meet up with Casey and Adam still working with those guys, and then uh to see TJ from outdoor research, um, also uh meet up with uh light fighter tactile guys, Brian and Jacob. Um, but yeah, it was it was mostly, you know, there's some planned stuff in there. Um this one, because it was so big, I didn't really get to get out there and network a whole lot, which was unfortunate because I like going to um, you know, um, you know, meeting new people, right? And seeing seeing what's out there, you know.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. That's a that's the most important thing that I've realized as an entrepreneur and business owner. You have to get out and meet people, you have to get out there and talk. Like business cards are important, connecting, sharing ideas, like what the one of the biggest things that I got from that was just people want to hype you up. Like if you're a young entrepreneur in that space, like if you're in Tampa, even if your business isn't directly related to anything with the defense tag, like get your ass out there. Like the I I'm not gonna throw out the names, but individuals were like, you meet them for about 15-20 minutes, and they already, once you share your concept, share what you're doing, they're evangelizing and speaking on on your behalf and connecting you with more people. And it's like, well, like, dude, like one one day there did more for me and my business than uh sitting here at home churning
Plastic That Becomes Organic Matter
SPEAKER_01out emails for an entire week. And like that's just a a testament to being willing to put yourself out there, man.
SPEAKER_03Um yeah. Well, and that's what it's all about. And and honestly, all those events and uh maybe next year for you, like best ranger competition is a good place to be at. Like Trenton Petty from there, like he's awesome. Um, and uh yeah, and it's and it's getting bigger, and we're able to, I mean, not only see a bunch of people that we're already working with, but to get to meet new people that are there.
SPEAKER_01And supporting the community, man, individuals that this episode is brought to you by Pure Liberty Labs. Quality supplements designed to elevate your health and performance. Check out their full line of quality supplements, whether you're looking for whey protein, pre-workout, creatine, or super greens drink, Pure Liberty Labs has you covered. Use my code security hall10 at checkout today. You know, if you serve, I mean, especially with your product, man, like having, you know, sitting down and thinking that in the near future, young soldiers, service members, potentially across the entire defense uh uh uh industry, you know, are gonna be carrying that product. They're gonna be drinking water from that, or you know, for a lot of us monsters.
SPEAKER_03For sure. I well, I went I went and briefed the Marine Seaburn Academy like two weeks ago, and there's probably 10 students in there that all had mod cans. No way. Yeah, I was like, this is awesome. So please tell me you got pictures of that. I'm not a picture taker. But I got it in my photo, my memory photo.
SPEAKER_01Nice, dude. Yeah, that that's um that's important, man. That those those are those are huge wins, man. Those are huge wins, and I I want people to get more excited and more stoked about becoming entrepreneurs, becoming business owners, because like, man, like, and you know this, the guys that we served with, the individuals in our in our circle of friends in our community that will be transitioning in the next couple of years, or actually going through the transition process right now, you know, I really want them to look into that. I think inside everybody is a concept just waiting to come out, or or be willing to at least, you know, give it a few months, work with another business owner, another entrepreneur, see what it's like, and realize that like, man, we got 20, 15, 20 years worth of innovations and ideas. Like the greatest inventors are guys from the motor pool, guys that had to put shit together.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah. Um, and there's there's that stuff that's it's all around, you know. Um and uh no, it's it's been, I mean, Tac Valve in general has just been like a great journey and great learning experience, yeah, you know, for the for the bigger fish down the road.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, dude. Speaking of which, you know, like as as you're going through this and you're you're evolving, graduating from a freshman, sophomore, you know, dare I say now in the senior phase of you know, ingenuity and developing stuff, like are there things that you're looking towards, you know, in the future of development, or things that you're like in in that you know, you're currently trying to figure out, that you're trying to bring out to the market?
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, for sure. Um, so in the hydration space in general, um, working with other companies um to come up with new concepts and prototypes on being able to uh you know drink without thinking about it, right? Um, or being able to get some hydration without being able to think about it. Um and uh and then we also got new, we have a whole product pipeline of stuff that we're coming out with, um probably Q4 this year.
Health Setbacks And Stem Cell Relief
SPEAKER_03Um, and then also um when I with um Josh and David, my business partners, uh, when we met this company that gave us the um exclusive for the antimicrobial and antifungal um embedded additive, um, they also had another product called Eclipse that is embedded in uh plastics that makes it bioassimilate. And the difference between biodegradable and bioassimilating is biodegradable uh breaks down but still leaves the microplastics behind, where bioassimilate just becomes organic matter again. Yeah. Yeah, so really, really big deal. Um and so uh they ask us if we would join their team and help them kind of get this product out there, and um, it's we've made some uh really good steps on um getting it out there. Uh we just had a meeting with a big uh big, big company um uh uh that does um uh like um plastic plastic bags for uh shrimp and stuff like that. Um so that was uh that was really cool. Um and then uh we've talked with some uh some of the merchants for uh Costco. Um and then uh since moving here to Missouri after I retired, um I met with a uh government affairs official or lobbyist. Uh his name's Ryan, he's awesome. Um but, anyways, we're gonna start um working it into the state of Missouri to get Eclipse added into any um easy throwaway plastic. So one-time use water bottles, straws, ziploc bags, um, saran wrap. Um, and even here in Missouri, and I know it's in every state, there's a big issue with abandoned uh landfills. So um, and that's actually something that they're looking in for legislation of 27. And uh so yeah, I'll let you know how that goes. It's uh but I mean that's at the end of the day, even though I make a plastic water bottle, I mean we need to get we need to keep our planet clean and we need to be good stewards of you know the earth that God gave us.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, absolutely. And um, you know, that is a huge problem that a lot of people wouldn't think that a Green Beret would be tackling that is incredible, dude. That is a huge thing that I I don't think uh like we can't glance over it. Um a lot of people think that ingenuity for these big problems is going to be relegated or should only be relegated to these, you know, individuals at Ivy League schools with tons of you know credentials behind their names, but it's pretty fucking cool to have somebody like yourself say, you know what, I can do something about this. I'm gonna put this on my on my task to do list, and I'm gonna take this on as something that I can do. And I think more of us need to look at problems like this, these big problems, and say, you know what, like maybe I can do something about this. Maybe I can find a way to support this. I think that's huge, Matt.
SPEAKER_03Well, yeah, and then if I mean our our credential is our service to our country, you know? That's that's our credential. Um, because I mean the only the only degree that I have is uh the Fayville Technical Community College Associates degree that you know, if we had to do five classes for that, and I didn't finish that fifth class until 20 years in the army. I was like, I might as well get this done. At least I'll have something, right?
SPEAKER_01Same, dude. Same. I have that same associates, and uh I'm proud of it, damn it. I I uh finished it while I was in Afghanistan uh in uh my 2015 rotation. Um but I I think it's important to highlight, man, it doesn't matter um where or what degree, what education you have, if you have the ability and you've built a business and you you've you've gone out there and proven to yourself and others that you're a leader and you see something big and you want to tackle it, don't shy away from it. Uh you know, same can be said for mental health. You know, I I had no degree, no insight other than, you know, having lived it and I'm willing to friggin' take on this challenge. And so many like me are willing to dive into it because at the end of the day, it's a human problem. Like we that's that's the only thing that we have to look at and say, yeah, I'm a human being and I deal with this on a daily basis. I'm willing to do something. And I think more people need to look at the problems within their local community, within their local area, and be willing to say, hey, I don't it doesn't have to be relegated to some magic person with a friggin' degree
Photon Shield Pitch And Team Building
SPEAKER_01or some sort of job um you know accredit accreditation. Somebody can do something just by being willing to step up to the plate and do it. Like it's it's for all of us. Problem solving is uh is a human thing. It's not just somebody that has a degree and and background in it.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, no, for sure. And then well, and I you know, when I was getting out of the army um and I was getting MRIs and everything, uh found out my C4 and five are like pretty much in my neck or pushing my spinal cord. And the uh neurosurgeon was like, well, we're just gonna, you know, do surgery and put our official disc in there. And I was like, nah, nah nah, not until I can't move my neck. Um, and uh went back and talked to my primary care provider at the time, which his name is uh Drew Bone, awesome guy. He's more of a holistic healer, yeah, uh, which is very rare in the military. Um, and so he was able to introduce me to a gentleman by the name of Ian Mitchell that does VSTEM stem cell treatments in Oklahoma. And so after I got out of the army, uh I called up Ion and uh went out to Oklahoma and got stem cell treatment done.
SPEAKER_01Hell yeah. Yeah, I uh I had to have emergency surgery for mine, uh, but uh I've heard a lot of dudes have been able to do it and get relief through the stem cell process.
SPEAKER_03For sure. Yeah, I got them in my got done from my neck and my back and uh my hips. Oh damn. Yeah. So uh but yeah, um, and Ian's awesome. He's a genius. Um, he's he's got a lot of things going on too. Uh but uh since then I've been able to take some of my friends out there um to get it done, also. So uh Tony Cowden, I took him out there. I fucking love him, dude.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, such a good fucking dude.
SPEAKER_03Took Jimmy Cannon out there uh because he came over from Europe during tactical games. So after tactical games were done, we went to Oklahoma, got it done for him, and then I also took uh my business partners, Josh and David, there to get it done. Oh yeah. So um, yeah. Uh but but Ian with his genius, uh, he's invented some space things. Uh, and one of those things is called a photon shield, which is a coating that can resist up to 6,000 degrees in temperature. And anyways, um, I went and pitched it uh last year to the Army X Tech because he couldn't be there. And um immediately after I pitched it to him, they sent me the uh National Aviation Innovation Center to get my contact. So uh we're kind of working on that with him. But this all it all came from like Tac Valve and getting myself out there and you know, and now that I have this um, you know, this larger team that's out there, now it's you know, trying to uh um just get everybody together to work on something together. So with uh Carl, with Jonathan, with Ian, um, you know, trying to bring everything back to the team.
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SPEAKER_03So, um, but yeah, so working working on that. Um, and then we got we got a lot of other things going on, so which is cool, which is where I want to be. I couldn't imagine like doing a nine to five.
SPEAKER_01That's exactly that that's it, dude. The um what to go back to that last point, building a team, being able to look outside of just yes, you have the mission of Tac Valve, but that doesn't mean that's the only component. It there's multiple lines of effort, multiple, you know, operations going around, and building that team that can see the concepts and how they're all interconnect and how they can all support each other. That's dude, that's a dream. That's a dream right there, man.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, and I mean, what when you when you get down this road too, I mean, I've had companies come to me and ask me for my advice or what I would do with it, or could I introduce them to some people, you know? And that's that's awesome, you know? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That's the absolute dream for a lot of us as entrepreneurs is building that support system into a collaborative effort with other teammates. Because I always tell people like the greatest thing about this is building it so that it becomes a team effort. So you can work with people that are just as passionate, just as driven as you are. It can lead you into things like working with fucking photon fucking shields.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, for sure. Oh, the technology is smarter than me. So when I was like pitching it to him, I didn't even know what I was talking about. Like he he made me he made notes for me and I just wrote memorized it before I went up there, you know, and uh and they and they asked me some pretty simple questions and I was able to answer them, but I just blacked out for like the minute and a half I had to pitch it to them, you know. Bro, but it it was cool.
SPEAKER_01You got balls of steel, because if I had a friend with that idea and asked me to go pitch it for him, I'd be like, bro, like this is I am not your guy. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you gotta do what you gotta do, though. You know, and plus, I mean, to be with something like um with smart plastic and their eclipse additive for something like the photon shield, I mean that this stuff is like world-changing. And to be a part of that is just it's it's amazing, you know. Um and just some of the conversations that I've had and just some of the introductions I've been given to uh, you know, certain, you know, really cool people, um, it's just it's it's great. Yeah, you know.
SPEAKER_01Well, dude, I I am excited to see where this goes. Um, I got um after we get done wrapping, I'm gonna have to connect you with some other folks. Um, because it's just these are the stories we need to highlight, man. These like, and it's not not to say that you haven't struggled, it's not to say that you haven't had, like I said, those rough days, those moments of like, fuck it, I'm gonna sell all this stuff. But the perseverance, being willing to show people that, like, dude, if if you have a dream, if you have an idea, if you have a concept that you've been building, you can do this. James is flesh and blood.
Don’t Quit On The Dream
SPEAKER_01He is not a demigod. Uh, he is just like you. He had the same experiences. And if he can do it, if he can go out there and live his dream, you guys owe it to yourself to at least be willing to take a knee and think about it. Figure out what you're passionate about. Where there's a will, there's a way. I I hate running into stories of veterans who give up, who take that job they're not passionate about, that they hate, and that drive to work is just them just miserable, angry. It's like, dude, you served in the military and you did great work. You you did it on behalf of a grateful nation. That next chapter of your life should be dedicated to at least being willing to do something that you enjoy that you can at least at the very least tolerate with a smile on your face. Yep, not be angry.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. But it but it does, it comes with its struggles. I mean, my wife still asks me about once a month when I'm gonna get a job. I'm like, well, honey, um, you know, that's that's what I'm trying to work to keep myself out of.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. The other thing is the uh I'm constantly like looking, I'm looking at my whiteboard of all the things that I still have to do. And it's like, but you know what? Just like I I said before we started, it's like the scaling. Like I'm after this, I'm I'm getting to interview somebody to bring on bring on board of my team. And to say that, to to say that and to be living it in this moment of like, holy cow, like I'm bringing somebody on board to work for me, to work with me that's gonna be a teammate. That's friggin' cool. Like, yeah, it's very surreal for sure. Yeah, it is looking back on my own journey, looking at that that individual that was so distraught, thinking that I have nothing to offer the world, I am not gonna be able to do anything, no one's gonna want to be involved in this, like I'm gonna fail, and then realize that like I'm not failing. Like, yeah, there's struggles. It's not always fun. No one wants to stay up late, no one wants to have to deal with the the backlog of stuff you gotta you have to get done. But at the end of the day, it's like you built this. You built this on your own. You built this and and you've had support and you've had people in your corner. At the end of the day, you could have just stopped. I could have just stopped and walked away. And and the same goes for you. At any moment, you could have been like, you know, I'm done. I'm gonna get that job. I'm gonna reach out to my buddies, get that awesome job, make a shitload of money. But 10, 15 years down the road, we're gonna look back and be like, what if I didn't quit on my dreams? What if I kept going? For sure. Because more often than not, that's what determines success is if you're not willing to quit. And uh I'm not willing to quit.
SPEAKER_03That's your that's your purpose, you know. Like that team that you built, knowing that in your head that you can't let them down.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You know, that's that's that's the that's the push, that's the drive. Yep, you know. Um, so it's like, yeah, yeah, it I have to, you know, it's not a want to, it's a have to.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. Well, so James is.
SPEAKER_03And I got a bunch of people I'm gonna introduce you to as well.
SPEAKER_01Heck yeah, dude. I'm in. I'm in, dude. I'm not I'm not traveling any other week, so I'll be monitoring my inbox. Yeah, for sure. Well, dude, before I let you go, um, how can people get their hands on uh your
Where To Buy And How To Connect
SPEAKER_01products? Where can they uh find you and connect with you?
SPEAKER_03For sure. So starting off um with uh my uh blink firing adapter at BFA-1.com, then get on there. And then for Tac Valve, it's uh tacvalve.com or on Instagram or social media, TacValve. Um, and then uh, but I mean it is with the listeners like if there's anybody out there that you know has an idea, has a pitch deck, um, you know, look me up on LinkedIn, James Hills, um, and uh yeah, connect with me, you know, send me a message, send me what you got. Um, or or if somebody just wants to chat about getting out of the military or transition or anything, you know.
SPEAKER_01Heck yeah, man. So guys, do me a favor, hit pause, head on over to the episode description. You know what to do. The episode's already over. Click those links, support my man, get yourself something better than the canteen, because if you're still in, your canteen probably smells a mildew, dip spit, god knows how what flavor of beverage-based powder uh you last used in there. But uh get yourself something nice, something that you can uh brag to the boys about, looking at your new water hydration system, because uh, you know, it's uh it's needed. Uh we need innovation in the space. And um, I'm tired of old canteens. I'm actually tired of now genes. My my my wife switched this over to all the metal or glass containers, so maybe this is something I can bring to her to allow me to purchase to drink out of. James, thank you so much for being here, brother. And to everybody listening, thank you guys for tuning in. We'll see you all next time. Till then, take care.
