Service Academy Business Mastermind

#353: Modernizing Capital Raising with Jesse Prince, USMA '04

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ [https://www.academyfund.com/] Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events [https://www.10xvets.com/events] ____ Jesse Prince is an Army veteran who served nearly six years on active duty, including two combat tours to Iraq. After transitioning from the military, he built a career in commercial real estate brokerage while earning his Master's in Real Estate Finance from NYU, graduating near the top of his class and deepening his expertise in institutional-level real estate. Today, Jesse is the founder of IncrediVer, an AI-powered accredited investor verification and qualification platform for private fund managers and capital raisers. An engineer by training with years of experience in securities offerings and real estate technology, he helps issuers streamline compliance, reduce onboarding friction, and move serious investors from interest to investment more efficiently. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Jesse about: * From Platoon Leader to Principal: How Jesse bridged a decade of military service with institutional real estate knowledge to compete with seasoned professionals. * Building IncrediVer from Scratch: How Jesse identified a broken accreditation process and built an AI-powered tool that reduces 5–7 day verifications to under two minutes. * Turning Your Website into a Conversion Engine: How IncrediVer transforms a static marketing page into an active lead scoring and qualification system for issuers. * 506(b) vs. 506(c), Breaking It Down: The key differences between private and publicly solicited offerings and how IncrediVer removes the biggest barrier to going 506(c). * The Billion-Dollar One-Man Company: Jesse's long-term vision of building a technology-driven, AI-powered capital markets company through warm introductions and strategic growth. Timestamps: 00:52 Jesse's Military Background 02:04 Real Estate Pivot and NYU 03:52 Low Minimum Investing Idea 05:43 Problem with Accreditation Verification 07:52 Building IncrediVer Fast 14:08 How the Funnel Works 21:47 Beyond Compliance Differentiation 23:11 Goals and Moonshot Vision 25:58 506B vs 506C Deep Dive Connect with Jesse: * LinkedIn | Jesse Prince [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseprince23/] * www.incrediver.com [http://www.incrediver.com] * jesse@incrediver.com [jesse@incrediver.com] If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/service-academy-business-mastermind/id1233995120] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3vhLcvE3Qng7TnrVfDH9tn] * Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Jesse for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

#352: Building Workforce Housing to Close Supply Gaps in Growing Markets with Tom O'Hare, USNA '01

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ [https://www.academyfund.com/] Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events [https://www.10xvets.com/events] ____ Tom O'Hare is a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of Keel Capital and Keel Home Development, where he leads multifamily and infill residential projects across the Midwest and Northern Virginia. Before starting his own companies, Tom spent 17 years in real estate investment banking and later served as CIO and COO of a national single-family rental platform. During that time, he worked on large institutional portfolios and gained firsthand experience in how deals are evaluated, financed, and executed at scale. He now brings that perspective into his own development work. Today, Tom focuses on workforce housing and ground-up projects that help close supply gaps in growing markets. He partners with investors, local governments, and community stakeholders to move projects from concept to completion and deliver housing that meets real community needs. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Tom about: * Stepping Into Entrepreneurship: What it took for Tom to leave a corporate executive role and "turn pro" as a full-time developer * Midwest Multifamily Strategy: Why markets like Michigan and Ohio offer strong demand, supply gaps, and favorable development incentives * Urban Infill Development: How shorter-cycle projects in Northern Virginia complement long-term multifamily developments * The Brixton Project: A 148-unit workforce housing development backed by tax increment financing and strong rent fundamentals * Deal Sourcing Through Relationships: Why Tom finds the best opportunities through networks, direct outreach, and boots-on-the-ground insights. Timestamps: 00:28 Tom's Real Estate Journey 01:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 04:46 Types of Real Estate Projects 07:57 Current Projects and Market Focus 10:12 Future Goals and Plans 14:31 Sourcing Deals and Partnerships Connect with Tom: * LinkedIn | Thomas O'Hare [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-o-hare-35584634/] * www.keelcap.com [http://www.keelcap.com] * tom@keelcap.com [tom@keelcap.com] If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/service-academy-business-mastermind/id1233995120] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3vhLcvE3Qng7TnrVfDH9tn] * Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

#351: Building a Multi-Billion-Dollar Real Estate Platform Through Disciplined Investing with Tim Siemer, USAFA '06 & Mike Siemer

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ [https://www.academyfund.com/] Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events [https://www.10xvets.com/events] ____ Tim Siemer is an Air Force veteran, aviator, and partner at SMB Equity, a real estate private equity firm investing in stabilized and development projects nationwide. At SMB, Tim focuses on evaluating new opportunities and managing investor relationships, applying a disciplined risk management approach shaped by years in military and commercial aviation. He works alongside his father, Mike Siemer, who transitioned into real estate investing after a career as a CPA and corporate CFO for both public and private companies. Over the past 24 years, Mike has helped lead SMB Equity through more than $3 billion in transactions, scaling the firm through long-term partnerships, disciplined underwriting, and a focus on tangible, value-driven assets. Together, they combine generational experience, financial expertise, and risk discipline to offer individual investors access to institutional real estate opportunities. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Mike and Tim about: * Scaling a Multi-Billion-Dollar Real Estate Platform: Mike's transition from CPA and corporate CFO to leading more than $3 billion in real estate transactions over the past two decades. * Choosing Ownership Early: Tim investing his Academy loan into real estate instead of spending it, reinforcing a long-term asset-based wealth strategy. * Risk Management in Real Estate: Applying aviation discipline to deal evaluation, downside protection, and structured decision making. * The Power of Relationships: SMB's emphasis on trusted operators, repeat partnerships, and character as the first filter in any investment. * Alternative Investments with Discipline: Positioning private real estate as a complementary asset class within a diversified portfolio. Timestamps: 01:02 SMB Equity Overview 01:45 Origins And Early Deals 05:35 Selling Before The 2008 Crash 06:54 Post Recession Pivot 09:24 Investor Base And Tax Edge 11:36 Tim Joins The Business 17:53 Deal Sniff Test Framework 24:27 Deal Types And Structure 30:45 2026 Goals And Investor Mindset Connect with Mike and Tim: * LinkedIn | Tim Siemer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-siemer-17254473/] * LinkedIn | Mike Siemer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-siemer-3954ab9/] If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/service-academy-business-mastermind/id1233995120] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3vhLcvE3Qng7TnrVfDH9tn] * Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Tim for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

#350: The One-Stop Platform Helping Financial Advisors Work Smarter with Ryan Dau, USAFA '17

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ [https://www.academyfund.com/] Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events [https://www.10xvets.com/events] ____ Ryan Dau is a former Air Force officer, and founder of ReframeRIA, a consultancy that helps financial advisors streamline their operations, refine their client experience, and optimize their technology stack. Through ReframeRIA, Ryan partners with advisory firms to improve their workflows, refine their client experience, and implement technology that truly supports their businesses. His mission is simple: remove the operational chaos that slows advisors down so they can spend more time serving clients and growing their firms with confidence. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Ryan about: * The Nonlinear Career Path: Ryan's Military, software, and advisory experience shaped his transition into consulting. * Serving the Advisor, Not the Tech: Work begins with clarifying an advisor's ideal client and core processes before any tech is added. * Fixing Operational Chaos: Streamlined onboarding, workflows, and service calendars help advisors reclaim time. * The Rise of AI Note-Taking Tools: AI tools like Jump AI simplify communication and sync data across essential systems. * Building Partnerships & Scaling Smart: Ryan's 2026 goals center on advisor partnerships and exploring a future fractional C-Suite Model. * Mindset Shifts After Military Service: Adjusting from mission-first service to revenue driven entrepreneurship remains an ongoing mission. Timestamps: 00:41 Ryan's Path to Reframe 03:41 Advisor Pain Points 05:51 Workflow Before Tools 09:01 2026 Goals and Growth 11:42 Fractional C Suite Vision 17:12 Partnerships to Build 19:02 Challenges and Mindset Shift 24:44 Moonshot Be Better Brand 28:37 Connect and Wrap Up Connect with Ryan: * LinkedIn | Ryan Dau [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dau/] * www.reframeia.com [http://www.reframeria.com] If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/service-academy-business-mastermind/id1233995120] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3vhLcvE3Qng7TnrVfDH9tn] * Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Ryan for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

#349: Helping Veterans Break Into Tech Sales with Andrew Garcia, USNA '10

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/ [https://www.academyfund.com/] Want to join us in Charleston, SC on June 1st & 2nd? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events [https://www.10xvets.com/events] ____ Andrew Garcia is a U.S. Navy veteran and founder of The Arena [https://arena.vet] and Pursuit [https://pursuit.vet], two businesses focused on helping veterans and transitioning professionals break into the tech industry. After a successful career in tech sales at Salesforce, Andrew launched The Arena to provide veteran-friendly recruiting services for defense tech startups. He later expanded his mission through Pursuit, a career training platform designed to help aspiring tech sales professionals land their first role. Today, The Arena partners with growing companies to place high-performing sales talent, while Pursuit offers coaching, community, and an online platform that helps job seekers prepare for interviews, build professional habits, and stay accountable. With a long-term vision to build a full career pipeline, Andrew combines mentorship, training, and recruiting to help veterans succeed in high-growth industries. In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Andrew about: * Building a Dual Business Model: How The Arena and Pursuit work together to serve job seekers and hiring managers across the full tech sales career journey. * From Salesforce to Startup Founder: Why Andrew left a stable career to test his skills and pursue entrepreneurship full time. * The Pursuit Platform: What makes Pursuit training cohorts different, and how the platform helps veterans land roles faster with more confidence. * Lifetime Value: Why Andrew created a lifetime membership program that helps graduates land jobs not just once, but throughout their careers. * Data-Driven Recruiting: How The Arena is building a defense-tech talent insights platform to help startups hire smarter and faster. Timestamps: 00:08 Joining the Chess Team and Soccer at the Academy 02:04 Founding The Arena and Pursuit 05:01 Challenges and Successes in Entrepreneurship 11:40 Goals and Future Plans 22:17 Marketing and Business DevelopmentTimestamps: Connect with Andrew: * LinkedIn | Andrew Garcia [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jandrewgarcia/] * www.arena.vet [https://arena.vet] | www.pursuit.vet [http://www.pursuit.vet] If you found value in today's episode, don't keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you're a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we'd love for you to join our community and get started today. Make sure you never miss an episode subscribe now and help support the show: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/service-academy-business-mastermind/id1233995120] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3vhLcvE3Qng7TnrVfDH9tn] * Leave us a 5-star review! A special thank you to Andrew for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01