Summary

Join us in welcoming Joe Muscleman to the Harder Not Smarter Podcast. Joe was the mastermind behind formation of the The Honor Foundation and is now the founder and managing partner at Bravo Victor Venture Capital (BVVC). On this episode, we'll be discussing the purpose of his podcast (The TLC Equation) and the importance of the Schoolhouse, an accelerator for national security founders. He highlights the need for a Y Combinator-like program in the national security space and explains the curriculum and structure of the Schoolhouse.

Joe also emphasizes the importance of ethics and morality in national security founders and shares BVVC's focus areas for investments, including computer software, computer hardware, and advanced manufacturing. He discusses the need for a strong manufacturing base in the US and the potential for emerging technologies in national security.

We'll also discuss the process of filtering opportunities and investing in early-stage teams. Joe emphasizes the importance of team composition and trust in the national security sector. He also highlights the significance of company culture and the formation of a strong founding team. He shares his perspective on imposter syndrome and encourages individuals to focus on their own growth and improvement. Joe concludes by urging listeners to build and learn, as the country needs more builders and doers.

Show Links

Joe's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemusselman/

Podcast: https://tlcequation.com/

BVVC: https://bv.vc/

Schoolhouse: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bv-schoolhouse/about/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Joe Muscleman and BVVC

01:08 Joe's Podcast and Conversation with Admiral Bill McCraven

04:04 The Schoolhouse and BVVC's Focus on National Security

08:03 The Schoolhouse and BVVC's Focus on National Security (continued)

10:27 The Honor Foundation and the Need for a National Security Accelerator

13:21 The Lack of a Y Combinator for National Security

16:15 The Curriculum and Structure of the Schoolhouse

21:47 The Three Focus Areas of BVVC's Investments

28:55 The Importance of Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies in National Security

33:10 The Need for a Strong Manufacturing Base in the US

40:45 Revamping the Manufacturing Facilities of the Future

41:11 Exciting Technologies and Systems in National Security

41:21 Filtering Opportunities

43:17 Excitement for Team Building

45:08 Importance of Trust and Team Composition

47:06 Forming Company Culture

49:28 Investing in the Team

51:34 Focus on Vision and Execution

53:59 Maniacal Obsession and Disagreeableness

57:13 Joe's Journey and Finding a Niche

58:59 Balancing Work and Family

01:00:40 Future Plans for BVVC

01:06:32 Name Changes and Rebranding

01:15:29 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

01:24:43 Encouragement to Build and Learn