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Team RemainSafe was onsite this week at the installation of an Above Ground 6×8 Storm Shelter.  These units are FEMA Compliant which allows you to qualify for both FEMA Grants and Tax Credits.

In Alabama, the state legislature recently passed the Storm Shelter Tax Credit Act that allows residents of the state of Alabama to receive a tax credit of 50% of the costs of their storm shelter (up to $3,000) on new units purchased in 2022.  To learn more about this program and how to apply, sign up HERE.

FEMA guidelines state that storm shelter occupancy is measured by one (1) person per 3 sq.ft.  This means the RemainSafe 6×8 storm shelter can hold up to 16 people while the 4×6 unit can hold up to 8 people.

Contact RemainSafe at (256) 506-9449 to learn more or reach out at sales@remainsafe.com

Today started early with a 6:30am departure to head up toward Chattanooga, the “GIG CITY”…  .  Chattanooga is a small, but wonderful town full of entrepreneurs, technology, and innovation.

The first meeting of the day was with a wonderful fella named “Leo”.  Leo has spent the last seven (7) years designing and patenting a manufacturing process for converting CO2 to Graphene.  

This is pretty incredible because CO2 is a greenhouse gas emission and if we can reduce CO2 while creating an element (i.e. Graphene) that is the strongest material known to man.

The second meeting today was with a mine discussing our patented AXL Eye technology.  

Then had a nice lunch with Jordan Triplett who is our social media rockstar… Make sure you try Basecamp in Chattanooga if you’re visiting.

We founded BlackSmith Ventures back in 2021 as a premier holding company to RemainSafe (Emergency Preparedness), CISTANT (Logistics), and Purified Simple Solutions (Clean Energy).  

Our goal is to help founders of Real American businesses grow and scale, using our startup experience, operational skills, and exit knowledge. 

We’re excited for what 2022 has in store for BlackSmith Ventures.

Dressed up in our PPE, steel toed boots, and fancy AXL Eye hard hat to go to the beach (‘aka’ 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖).  So, why is everyone just standing around staring at a pole with a white gizmo on top?    

Well, the mine CEO recognized a problem and asked for a solution.  From that not so simple question, “Can you solve my problem?”, AXL Eye was developed.   

AXL Eye is a patented, camera-based software solution, that digitally measures each truck entering a hauling site to determine the maximum allowable load rating on the vehicle based on State and Federal allowable limits.   

One of our Blacksmith Ventures portfolio companies, CISTANT, acquired the technology back in 2021.  

We partnered with our friends at TRINDGROUP to help us better understand the landscape in the #aggregate mining segment.   

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:  The construction industry is booming right now for obvious reasons and the infrastructure bill will only accelerate road, bridges, and transportation upgrades.  That’s putting increased demand on aggregate mines across the US.  Aggregate is a broad term that refers to sand, gravel, concrete, limestone, etc.   

Once these products are mined, they are transported by heavy duty haulers (Class 7, 8, and 9 tractor trailers) to the job sites.  With the growing number of trucks on the roadways, mine operators are seeing more and more issues with ensuring the trucks are loaded within State and Federal limits.  Basically, ensuring no truck leaves their site overweight.   

Right now, several mines throughout Florida and Georgia have implemented the AXL Eye software.    

Oh, if your still here and wondering what that white gizmo is… it’s a very fancy “camera”  so operators no longer need to manually measure the distance between truck axles.

Our Blacksmith Ventures team recently met with an entrepreneur who is “constructing buildings from air”. Actually, they are creating 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗘 from 𝗖𝗢𝟮. Graphene is the world’s strongest material, and can be used to enhance the strength of other materials.

His patented process is synthesizing graphene flakes from atmospheric carbon dioxide gas. This is a win for the environment while creating a structural element that could change our future in many ways.

This product has the possibility to revolutionize our future.  Learn more here and I’ll keep you updated as we peel this onion back more. 

At BSV, we are helping founders of Real American Businesses Grow and Scale, using a unique mix of startup knowledge, operational skills, and exit experience.

We specialize in 3 scenarios:
1 – You aren’t sure how to turn an idea into a thriving business
2 – You feel maxed out and overworked and cannot grow your business beyond a certain level
3 – Your business is struggling

We’re closing out the first two (2) weeks of 2022 and I’ve had the joy to meet with multiple entrepreneurs this week who’ve developed great products (or manufacturing processes), but call and ask “𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁?”.

The reason is that #Entrepreneurship is hard… It takes a myriad of skill sets (sales, marketing, engineering, finance, human resources, accounting, website development, etc, etc) to grow and scale your business.

I’m finding that each of us “entrepreneurs” have a unique superpower in a few areas, but rarely do we possess the full arsenal needed to grow and scale our businesses 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨.

So what is the answer?

I took a quick look over my life and can answer the question in one word: 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙋

Positive, complimentary, open & honest, real 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙋 is a game changer that will take your company from inception to momentum phase rapidly.

Never suffer alone, entrepreneur, founder, and business owner.

You Matter!

Reach out and learn more about what we do at Blacksmith Ventures.

Do you guys remember this game? It was released the year I was born. I loved it. Fast paced, loud, both hands popping at once… But, yet simple to understand and execute. This is how I’ve been feeling lately… You see 

as entrepreneurs, business owners, and founders, we are at a unique crossroads between 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 and our 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.

On one side is technology which is changing so rapidly. We can operate our businesses so much more efficiently, effective, and from anywhere, anytime like never before. The tools have changed to allow us to be targeted, focused, and highly effective.

On the other side is our mindset. Are we willing to adopt, learn, and 𝙋𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙀? Are we willing to try new things? Are we open-minded to the notion that we can continue to learn and grow – irregardless of our “physical” age.

So what do we do? How do we grow?

 – The first step is opening your mind and committing to the idea of being willing to learn, change, and grow.

 – The next step is to absorb every bit of information you can – one topic at a time. That’s really important – one topic at a time. You must focus like the hippo…

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨.

I have found these tools to be the most impactful (choose any tool you like and find the one that works best for you):

 – Google Drive, Chat, Calendar

 – CRM system (HubSpot is what I’m testing now)

 – Calendly (you can’t find freedom until you control your calendar)

 – Vidyard

 – Adobe Premiere Pro (I only use 1% of the features)

and last but not least…

 – Reading (aka reading actual books)

It all starts with an open-mind, friends. Let’s Go Win the Day!

#entrepreneurship

#BSV

Learn more at www.BlackSmithVentures.com

Here is your invitation for our monthly Jam Session where ZINEB LAYACHI, Kevin Belz, and I come together to talk all things related to #entrepreneurship. This week is about Relationship building and whether we should consider an ROI (aka Return on Investment)…

The format is interactive (if you want to participate and share) and engaging (if you simply want to listen). Entrepreneurship is tough so we’ll attempt to unpack some of the challenges with open dialog and our lessons learned. We all get to a point where we ask, “Now What?”, don’t we?

Here’s the registration link if you want to sign up: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlf-qqrDgqH9dSPqiaHOlOenglWpRW25ht

Look forward to seeing you on January 13 at 12pm EST.

It hit me this week the technology & trade intersection that we have created. One on hand is the “blue collar” worker – the blacksmith. 

On the other hand is technology & software – aka automation. I, sadly, spent the whole week telling everyone who would listen about a new ‘snippet’ software I was introduced to that allows me to automate my entire workflow . Couple that with landing pages, hubspot, google drive, lusha, etc and its been a huge week for automation in my world.

That’s all spectacular, UNTIL, you need the “blacksmith”. 

Two scenarios can happen as we stand in the middle of the intersection… 

 – We can automate until we simply overheat and boil over with efficiency (but everything real and tangible is broke)… 

 – Conversely, we can shun technology and get lapped by all the innovators and find ourselves complaining about change.

I’m here to suggest we embrace, with an open mind, change.

I’m also here to suggest we embrace, with a discerning mind, relationship. Forget white collar, blue collar, higher education, or vocation… Embrace relationship and celebrate each person for the work they do. 

Let’s go win the day, friends.

Good news, Alabama!  The state of Alabama has announced that effective January 1, 2022, residents of the state of Alabama will be eligible for a 50% rebate (in the form of a tax credit), up to $3,000, for the purchase of a qualified Storm Shelter.  

Call RemainSafe at (256) 506-9449 or visit us online at www.RemainSafe.com.  You can also email sales@remainsafe.com