Episode Summary:

In this episode of Start. Scale. Exit., Ivan Galvez sits down with Anthony Garcia, combat veteran and CEO of Purepost, to unpack the intense journey of transitioning from military service to startup life. With raw honesty, Anthony shares how trauma, perseverance, and a deep desire to serve others led him to build Purepost, a workforce platform helping veterans and civilians translate their skills into meaningful careers.

Anthony opens up about battling PTSD, attending Cornell Business School, and the hard lessons learned from failed ventures. From protecting intellectual property to building fast with limited resources, he outlines the key insights that every SaaS founder, especially those from nontraditional paths, should know.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why dealing with PTSD gave Anthony clarity and urgency in business
• The overlooked struggle veterans face in translating military experience into civilian careers
• What made him walk away from his first startup—and how it shaped Purepost
• The “build fast or die slow” philosophy of early-stage SaaS startups
• How Purepost turns military records into job-ready resumes in seconds
• Fundraising lessons: from angel investors to surviving investor ghosting
• Why protecting your IP is mission-critical before pitching anything
• What veterans bring to entrepreneurship that most founders miss
• How to balance urgency with mental health as a solo founder
• Why Anthony believes your mission should be bigger than the product

💡 Golden Nugget:

“Speed is a weapon. When you’re small, broke, and bootstrapped, perfect is the enemy. You have to move—because no one’s coming to save you.”

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Purepost.co – Anthony’s company helping translate military skills to civilian careers
• Cornell University – Where Anthony studied business post-military
• Resources for veterans coping with PTSD and transitioning into the workforce

Connect with Anthony Garcia:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anthonyrgarciajr
• Website: purepost.co

Listen Now & Subscribe:

Spotify | Apple Podcast

Or find us wherever you get your podcasts.

Powered by Sintesys.us

Sintesys helps SaaS founders scale their platforms and customer experiences with high-performance development and support.