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

United States

The Springboard for Navy SEAL Entrepreneurs

Applicants

CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO COHORT #004

The Application for Version Bravo Cohort #004 is open from:

January 15th, 2025 @ 00:01 EST to February 15th, 2025 @ 23:59 EST

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 Startup Bootcamp

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 Acceleration / Direct Mentorship Phase

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

California Showcase

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 member 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. 

Tentative Timeline for Cohort #004

January 15th - February 15th Competitive open application period
February 28th All candidates notified of application decisions
April 1st - April 10th Israel-based program *US-based fellows travel to Israel
April 11th - May 23rd Online Acceleration / Direct Mentorship Phase
May 27th - June 6th US-based program (California) including company showcases, graduation *All fellows to arrive in California
*Tentative Dates, Dates will be confirmed by application launch

Interested in applying for Cohort #004?

Please fill out the form below:

Applications open on January 15th.
Register NOW to receive the application directly when the window opens.

Notify me when the application opens:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is eligible to participate?

    US: SEALs who have separated or will separate by mid-January 2025, 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 April 1st - April 10th (including travel day)
    • Apr 10 th- May 24th: 
    • 10 days in California May 25th - June 4th, including the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles  

  • 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.

  • What do I need to prepare for the application?

    Our online application takes 15 minutes to complete. There are a number of short and long answer questions to help us better understand your venture. 


    It will ask you to provide the following:

    • Current CV / Resume
    • 60-second video of you introducing yourself and your venture
    • Company Slide Deck
    • Company Website (Optional)

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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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