ERLANGER, Ky. — Robert Thelen spent time with the Air Force and didn’t know what to do when he got out. He took advantage of benefits offered to him as a veteran and went to business school. 

“I really wanted to get into entrepreneurship, but I didn’t know how,” Thelen said.

This is how Patriot Boot Camp comes in to help. Thelen said he discovered the group, which was originally founded in 2012, and has taken advantage of it several times to help with his own startup ideas.

“I started in 2017 with an idea. It didn’t go anywhere. Did it again in 2018, it didn’t go anywhere. Did it again in 2019 and it didn’t go anywhere. Finally, in 2020 and 2021, I had an idea and started to scale it and raise money, started to hire people, started to raise more money and now I’m back at alumni events,” Thelan said.

Now, he’s CEO and co-founder of “Rownd.”

“We’re a startup that helps businesses get users into their apps and websites faster by taking away the whole sign up page thing.”

Thelen came back to camp to pick up more skills.

Patriot Boot Camp was acquired by the Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, in January. The non-profit charity strives to help veterans and running the boot camp helps further serve its mission.

“It gives people the opportunity to pursue the missions that are meaningful and then they end up becoming people who hire more veterans, hire more family members to help our community,” said Dan Clare, chief communications and outreach officer with DAV.

Thelen said he’ll continue to take part in DAV Patriot Boot Camp events, because there’s always something new to learn or more people to connect with.

“I love to come back to these and give and mentor for what I can,” he said.