Combat to capital: Vetelligence founder secures NMotion investment, accelerator deployment

A Kansas City-based startup focused on guiding military service members into tech careers is among the latest companies selected for a top regional accelerator — strengthened by its founder’s own background as a veteran-turned-entrepreneur.

Vetelligence — led by Zachary Oshinbanjo, who served nearly four years as an indirect infantryman and specialist in the U.S. Army before founding his startup — joined the 12-week investment-for-equity NMotion Growth Accelerator. The 2023 cohort kicked off May 3.

Zachary Oshinbanjo, Vetelligence; photo courtesy of NMotion

Each company in the cohort receives $100,000 in return for 7.5 percent equity in their company, along with access to more than 100 mentors and the opportunity to pitch to about 50 early-stage investors.

“We invested in Vetelligence because Zachary brings deep domain expertise and lived experience to bear on a market opportunity we’re well positioned to help leverage,” said Scott Henderson, managing principal of Omaha-based NMotion. “Through grit and determination, he’s been able to create a skills map that charts out a path between various military credentials and the most commonly needed tech jobs.”

“We can’t wait to help build out his vision and help connect him to key people at StratCom, Nebraska Tech Collaborative, gener8tor Skills, and across the region to create high wage career opportunities for our country’s veterans,” he continued.

Click here to explore Vetelligence.

RELATED: Why employers should hire veterans: KC entrepreneurs say combat prepared them for startup life

In its first few days, the NMotion Growth Accelerator hosted its eight cohort members in-person for a mixture of workshops featuring NMotion/gener8tor staff and notable startup founders (like Kyle Tut of Pinata and Derek Homann and Rick Knudtson of Workshop), tours of the local startup community, and cohort adventures (scavenger hunt in downtown Omaha, exploring the newly opened Luminarium, coffee with NMotion investors, and a Lincoln startup crawfish boil). 

Zachary Oshinbanjo, Vetelligence; photo courtesy of NMotion

“What we’ve observed about Zachary these past few days and throughout the selection process is a humility matched with expertise,” Henderson said Friday. “He’s the embodiment of ‘still waters run deep.’ He has an economy of words and when he speaks, the rest of the cohort listens intently.”

Oshinbanjo noted he was attracted to NMotion because of its proven outcomes and hands-on approach; and it’s a source of pride the accelerator isn’t far from home, he said.

RELATED: Pushing without force: Founder credits accelerator’s collaborative ‘in the trenches’ guidance for overseas scaling success

“There are tons of programs available that provide training, resources and connections now; it really has become a time where an entrepreneur who lives in Kansas City or the Midwest for that matter can grow their business without looking to the coast or other metro hubs,” Oshinbanjo said. “My intent by going through the program is to continue to grow the business. I’ve really taken the time to be strategic with the development of the platform through research and user engagement, the NMotion program will allow me to apply those learnings in a real way.”

Click here to read more about the rest of the 2023 NMotion Growth Accelerator cohort.

NMotion Growth Accelerator 2023 cohort; photo by Abiola Kosoko for Silicon Prairie News

Being accepted into NMotion shows Oshinbanjo’s work through the Pipeline Pathfinder program, as well as on his own, has been meaningful, he said. A pilot in January brought solid insights, setting the stage for a coming beta test, Oshinbanjo detailed.

The founder teased more to come, and soon.

“Vetelligence was started here in KC and we’ll be looking to partner with organizations here that want dedicated, driven and disciplined talent,” he said. “We’ll start by solving problems in our own backyard with the support of the Kansas City community.”