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AFINS, P.O. Box 20080, New York, NY 10001,

United States

The Springboard for Navy SEAL Entrepreneurs

Applicants


The application for Cohort #003 is now closed. The cohort will be announced on Friday, March 1st.

Program Overview

VERSION BRAVO Mission/Objective

Many military units, university graduates, enterprise alumni benefit from the propagation of their networks in industry. Google employees, Stanford graduates, NSA or 8200 alumni can walk into many companies or VC funds and walk out with a job or a check. Our mission is to put Navy Seal alumni on that list right alongside YC, MIT, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. When people see Navy Seal on a resume, they will know they are not just high quality military professionals but high quality business operators.


When joining Version Bravo you will learn to build on the skillsets you received in your training and service. This program will help you: 

  • Build on your knowledge and skillsets as Israeli/US special operators through instruction from industry experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and professional investors.
  • Join a community of other special operators turned entrepreneurs working side-by-side both in person and online.
  • Discover purpose and meaning through creating a business, NGO or social venture
  • Develop international networks and achieve global exposure for your ventures.

Program Overview

Israel Program Kick Off

Spend two weeks in the Startup Nation learning from some of the most successful entrepreneurs and investors in the world; World-class academic training from Reichman University's Adelson School of Entrepreneurship; Historical Touring

Online Content

One-to-one work with hand-picked entrepreneur advisors, pitch practice, coursework (fundraising, storytelling, Go-to-market strategy)

Capstone US Trip

Spend 1 week in LA and 1 week in Silicon Valley meeting angel investors, VCs and entrepreneurs from every industry. Learn from industry experts and renowned USC Marshall School of Business professors. The trip will include pitch days with audiences of investors.

Become a part of the VERSION BRAVO Network

Be a part of the growing community of special operators turned entrepreneurs. 

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I applied to SPRINGBOARD because i wanted to learn and to broaden my knowledge of entrepreneurship in the startups eco system. I addition i wanted to expand my networking groups to assist me boosting my venture. 


The program showed me how powerful it is the networking when you combine 2 powerful elite units - The Israeli and the US Navy Seals. The synergy between the groups was amazing, since we share the same battle experience and also the same values. That values can be focused toward the business world with the assistance of AFINS supporters. 

 

Today I'm expanding my venture in the US based on the knowledge i gained in Springboard and assisting the amazing networking which was created in the program. 
 

GIlboa Azaria - LCDR (res.) - Israeli Navy Seals Unit. Today the Co-Founder & the COO of Budss Inc.  - A Fintech startup based in the US. 

Timeline for Cohort #003

January 22 Competitive open application period
March 1 All candidates notified of application decisions
March 28 - April 5 Israel-based program
*US-based fellows to travel to Israel on March 27 and return on April 5
April 8 - May 20 Acceleration period
May 22 - May 31 US-based program (California) including company showcases, graduation
*Fellows to arrive in San Francisco on May 21 and depart Los Angeles on May 31

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is eligible to participate?

    US: SEALs who have separated or will separate by mid-January 2024, Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) and Naval Special Warfare combat service and service support personnel who have served eight (8) years or more and will also separate by mid-January 2024 are eligible for the Version Bravo program. 


    IL: Shayetet-13 warriors who have completed active-duty service are eligible for the Version Bravo program.

  • What stage must my business or venture be in to be considered?

    Candidates with early stage ventures at any stage of development and have not yet raised a round of funding from a professional investment institution. Candidates with a well-thought-out idea but without an established venture are highly encourage to apply.


    Candidates who do not yet have a specific venture idea but are committed to pursuing entrepreneurship may also be considered.

  • If I already have a business or venture idea, how do I know if it qualifies?

    We define "venture" very broadly. This includes for-profit businesses, tech startups, not-for-profit businesses, Non-Governmental Organizations and social ventures. The only common theme must be that the venture will bring value to the world.

  • What is the required time commitment?

    • 10 days in Israel Mar 27 - Apr 5 (including travel day)
    • Apr 8 - May 20: 3 hours per week (1 hour Monday morning/evening (PT/IT), 1 hour Thursday morning/evening, 1 hour at your convenience with your advisors
    • 10 days in California March 22-31, including the San Francisco Bay Area Los Angeles (March 22-25) and Los Angeles  (March 26-31)

  • May I apply with a business partner? May I apply alone but if I already have a business partner?

    Yes, you may apply along with a business partner if your business partner also meets the eligibility requirements. 


    Yes, you may also apply with a venture for which you have partners. However, only you will be able to participate in the in-person events.

  • How many participants will be accepted into the program?

    Each cohort will include between 10-15 companies/participants, with equal representations from the US and Israel.

  • What is the cost to participate in the program?

    There is no cost to participants to participate. The program is funded entirely by private donations from generous supporters of the US Navy SEAL and Israel Navy SEAL (Shayetet-13) communities.

I have additional questions. Please contact me:

Notify me when the application opens:

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As for what I got out of Version Bravo  it reinforced to never question if your idea is marketable if you have put the hard work in to show it is. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life. As I got older the projects got bigger and more complex. Data doesn’t lie and if you do your due diligence it will show whether you should move on with the project or shelf it and go on to the next one. 


Just because you’re a start-up company doesn’t mean that your product or service is too big for you to implement. My time in the SEAL Teams has taught me to never quit! 

 

The staff of Springboard teaches and supports entrepreneurship and provides the tools to accomplish your goals. The best part of Version Bravo was meeting my classmates from the US and Israel. Those bonds and friendships will last forever. 
 

- Troy Egan, BUD/s Class 152

T.E. Security Consultants 

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