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October 30th, 2025

Empowering 100,000 Veterans Through Entrepreneurship | Michael Dermer

  1. Empowering 100,000 Veterans Through Entrepreneurship | Michael Dermer Shawn Welsh, Keith Cassant, Eric Brew, Mark Elder; Hira Paulin; Kingsley Scott 19:03

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Network’s Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight, host Maurice Murphy welcomes Michael Dermer, founder of The Lonely Entrepreneur and creator of the Veteran Entrepreneur Initiative (VEI).

Michael shares how he went from a successful corporate lawyer in New York City to launching the first company that rewarded people for healthy behavior—then nearly lost everything during the 2008 crash. Through perseverance and Innovation, he rebuilt his company and went on to found The Lonely Entrepreneur, a platform designed to help others conquer the emotional and financial challenges of entrepreneurship.

Now, through the Veteran Entrepreneur Initiative, Michael is on a mission to provide 100,000 veterans and their families with access to the Learning Community—a one-stop shop offering on-demand knowledge, tools, and support for every stage of entrepreneurship.

Tune in to hear:

  • What inspired Michael’s transition from law to entrepreneurship.

  • How the VEI is transforming veteran transition through business ownership.

  • Why the sacrifices of military families fuel his passion to give back.

  • How to support or enroll at TLEfoundation.org/VEI.

Don’t drown in the sea of transition—grab the VET S.O.S. lifeline and start your next mission today.

🎙 Part of the VET S.O.S. Network — connecting veterans, families, and communities through storytelling and opportunity.

#VETSOS #VeteranEntrepreneurSpotlight #MichaelDermer #TheLonelyEntrepreneur #VeteranEntrepreneurInitiative #VeteranEmpowerment #MilitaryTransition #VeteranBusinessOwners #EntrepreneurMindset #VeteranCommunity #GrabTheLifeline

Shawn Welsh Founder, VET S.O.S. Podcast

Shawn Welsh is the Founder and Co-Host of the VET S.O.S. Podcast. The show features information and resources about veteran support organizations and key personnel in the veteran support community. With a passion for helping others, he started VET S.O.S. to provide a lifeline to veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.

Shawn is a retired U.S. Army veteran with over twenty years of experience as an intelligence professional. As a senior noncommissioned officer, he was dedicated to taking care of his Soldiers and continues that mission today with VET S.O.S. Shawn holds several advanced degrees including a Master’s Degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. A member of the Maxwell Leadership Team, Shawn is also a certified resiliency trainer who lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife and their two children.