Veteran Ventures Leadership Spotlight: Dr. Josh Weed and Havenlock

Supporting Veteran Entrepreneur Alex Bertelli in Building Haven: A Dual-Use Security Platform Company  

We are delighted to spotlight the remarkable efforts of our General Partner, Dr. Josh Weed, in supporting Alex Bertelli, an Army Special Operations veteran and entrepreneur, as he shapes his innovative dual-use security company, Havenlock (“Haven”). At Veteran Ventures, we take immense pride in our hands-on and professional approach, offering focused support and mentorship to visionary entrepreneurs like Alex, who bring unique experiences and perspectives to the table. It has been exactly one year since Josh joined Haven as a Director, but even prior to joining Haven’s Board, in March of 2021, he teamed up with Haven's CEO, Alex Bertelli, providing critical advisory support and assisting with external partner negotiations.

During their initial collaboration, Josh played a pivotal role in supporting Alex with negotiating Haven's strategic master supplier agreement with Johnson Controls, which proved instrumental in bringing Haven's Lockdown solution to market through its first commercial distribution agreement. A subsequent follow-on agreement in summer of 2022 led to the co-development of a next-generation PowerG version of Haven's Lockdown solution, showcasing Johnson Control's proprietary radio technology. Throughout these protracted negotiations, Josh and Alex worked closely to ensure fair and acceptable commercial terms, as big companies often exert their weight in initial contracts, favoring themselves as buyers. With Josh's executive background in a $1B+ distribution and manufacturing business, he provided invaluable expertise to assist Alex in navigating these negotiations and ensuring the final supplier agreement aligned with Haven's commercial interests and growth plans. Reflecting on this pivotal deal, Josh remarked, "That first contract took many months and a lot of redlines to negotiate. Ultimately, we were able to strike a mutually beneficial partnership that continues to build momentum."

Over the past year, Josh has collaborated with other Haven Directors to materialize new commercial partnerships and expand Haven's pathways to market. We are excited to announce several of these new partnerships to our investors in the months ahead. Our team at Veteran Ventures has also been actively supporting Alex in building his sales efforts towards defense and government customers, recognizing the significant potential Haven holds in this substantial target market. To this, Alex shared:

“Josh and Veteran Ventures' strategic guidance has significantly advanced my business. Their expertise in negotiating complex supplier agreements and initiating launch plans has elevated our standing. Their guidance in shaping our long-term tech direction, combined with their fundraising expertise, has allowed us to attract new customers and partners. This has expanded our technology's presence to various US facilities, helping customers protect both their occupants and buildings."

As a team, we foresee a prosperous future for Haven in the coming year. Haven's patented Lockdown technology has surpassed its initial development phase, with thousands of units sold across multiple industry use-cases, including schools, religious facilities, medical offices, and retail stores. What sets Haven's product apart is the company's investment and focus to earn industry compliance and certifications, including UL fire safety and access control compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, admission into the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) organization, and designation as an approved anti-terrorism technology under the Department of Homeland Security's Safety Act Certification. These certifications underscore Haven's commitment to the highest safety standards and position the company as an industry leader.

Haven has gained significant customer attention and traction due to the growing awareness of security threats in unsecured public spaces. Haven has also stood up the “Guardian Angel Program,” donating up to three HAVEN Lockdown units to eligible schools, daycares, and places of worship to help protect Tennessee’s community from active threats with the “strongest, most code compliant lockdown system ever made.”  It is a testament to the foresight, innovation, and community service that drives Alex and his team.

Haven holds a special place in the history of Veteran Ventures, being our very first fund investment over three years ago. Our decision to invest in this novel technology product was driven not only by its potential but, more importantly, by recognizing the exceptional leadership, determination, and grit of its veteran founder and CEO, Alex. Josh added, “Alex is a fantastic individual and a great partner. Like other veterans, Alex’s vocabulary has no room for quitting, a quality critical for entrepreneurs facing inevitable setbacks and roadblocks. His unwavering determination is an inspiration as he perseveres until the mission is complete. It has been a delight to be a part of this journey with Alex and contribute to Haven’s success. I’m honored to serve on Haven’s Board of Directors alongside esteemed industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.”