Her First Contract Came Without Funding or Past Performance - Erica Dobbs

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Navy veteran Erica Dobbs reveals how she turned 100 spare change into an $8M cybersecurity powerhouse (Dobbs Defense Solutions) in just 4 years — without loans or investors.

In this raw interview, you'll learn:
How she won her first AI/ML contract without past performance (just relationships)
Bootstrapping secrets that bypassed traditional funding hurdles
Why military leadership beats MBA training for entrepreneurship
Using HubZone certification to create community impact (hiring homeless vets)
The harsh realities women/minority contractors face (paying for certifications others get free)
Debunking tech trends: "AI isn't new — we used it on ships in 2005"

Erica also shares:
Her Inc. 5000 growth strategies
Self-care routines for founders
Why she still reads procurement manuals "like novels"
A must-watch for veterans and underrepresented entrepreneurs tired of the "pay-to-play" barriers in GovCon.

⏰Time Stamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Erica Dobbs & Dobbs Defense Solutions
01:46 – Starting with just $100 in spare change
05:07 – Bootstrapping to $8M without traditional funding
07:22 – Landing first AI/ML contract through relationships
12:10 – Why military leadership translates to entrepreneurship
15:29 – Hiring fellow veterans as first employees
20:19 – Using faith and military tenacity to build the business
23:23 – HubZone certification for community impact
27:48 – Recent awards (Inc. 5000, SBA Veteran Co. of the Year)
31:12 – Debunking tech hype: "AI isn't new"
37:14 – Challenges for women-owned businesses in GovCon
43:04 – Mastering FAR/DAR through formal education
46:16 – Entrepreneur self-care strategies
49:06 – Advice for veterans entering GovCon

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Book Recommendations:
📖Launch your Government Contracting business: https://govconeric.com/launchbook
📖Suggested Reading: https://govconeric.com/books

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