TYSONS, VA (February 25, 2025) |
The PenFed Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success, announced Autoket, MyHome and WellCapped as the winners of the Military Veteran Startup Conference pitch competition. All prize money is provided by The PenFed Foundation as non-dilutive funding and matched by Holland & Knight in pro bono legal services.
“The PenFed Foundation is proud to elevate our veteran entrepreneur pitch competition winners who are innovating to solve real challenges,” said PenFed President Andrea McCarren. “We are excited to partner with Holland & Knight to support veteran entrepreneurs. Their generosity provides access to legal services and expertise allowing veterans to grow their companies.”
1st Place – Autoket (Charles Masters Rodriguez), $50,000. Autoket is a veteran-owned marketplace dedicated to transforming the way B2B automotive fleet parts are sourced and supplied.
2nd Place – MyHome (Gabe and Lindsey Chrismon), $30,000. MyHome is an all-in-one home maintenance solution that provides screened, dependable, quality vendors in the greater Nashville region.
3rd Place - WellCapped (Shante Frazier), $15,000. WellCapped is a luxury wig rental service that gives women the freedom to change their style as often as they want, at a fraction of the cost. “It was an honor and a privilege to partner with the PenFed Foundation for their pitch competition,” Daniel Sylvester, a veteran and partner at Holland & Knight LLP, said. “We enjoy working with veteran entrepreneurs and organizations like the PenFed Foundation, which provides so much value and support to these great companies.”
Holland & Knight has also committed to matching future pitch competition prize money by The PenFed Foundation with pro bono legal services. Holland & Knight has provided over $32 million in pro bono services to veterans, service members and their families since 2016. Holland & Knight’s Veterans Group supports veterans, active-duty military members, reservists and the families of each through pro bono and community service activities in local communities and on a national basis. In addition, the Veterans Group collaborates, where appropriate, with other organizations that support veterans and military communities.
The Military Veteran Startup Conference is the largest military veteran startup conference and entry into the pitch competition was exclusive to PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program participants from its 2024 cohorts. Each year veteran-owned founders selected for the program come together to participate in networking events, roundtables and mentorship opportunities. The program provides seminars with prominent business leaders and covers topics including business development, marketing and branding, sales, communications, strategic planning, pitching investors, scaling and exiting.
The accelerator program is free of charge to military founders and the PenFed Foundation does not take equity in the businesses. Veteran and military-spouse owned and led companies who are interested in future cohorts are encouraged to apply here.