Scott Mackes, a business savant and founder of Strength Mugs, shares his journey from starting a coffee mug business to creating the Service Academy Business Mastermind Group and the Investor Group within it. He discusses the importance of focusing on strengths and finding a niche market. Scott also highlights the success stories of the Academy Fund, a real estate lending fund that supports military veteran investors.

The conversation explores the power of the military veteran community in entrepreneurship and commercial real estate. It also details the formation of 10X Vets, the importance of peer circles and retreats, advice for raising funds, the types of companies presenting to the SABM Investor Group, and the future plans for 10X Vets and the Academy Fund.

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LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmackes/

Service Academy Business Mastermind Group:

https://sabmgroup.com

10x Vets

https://www.10xvets.com

The Academy Fund

https://localvest.com/app/academy-fund-i-llc

00:00

Introduction and Background

04:32

Naming the Podcast

08:20

Discovering Clifton Strengths Assessment

12:12

Starting Strength Mugs

15:21

Creating the Service Academy Business Mastermind Group

20:00

Investor Group and Funding Opportunities

26:29

The Academy Fund and Real Estate Investments

31:08

Building the SABM Community

37:45

The Academy Fund Success Stories

39:23

Military Veterans in Commercial Real Estate

40:31

Formation of Hornet Capital

44:45

10X Vets and the Academy Fund

49:11

10X Vets Peer Circles and Retreats

52:20

Advice for Raising Funds

55:29

Types of Companies Presenting to SABM Investor Group

01:03:56

Future Plans for 10X Vets and the Academy Fund