In this episode of the Mission Oriented Podcast, host Bob Louthan sits down with Mike Sherbakov — Marine veteran, venture capitalist, and Managing Partner of The Veteran Fund — to explore how service, gratitude, and purpose can shape the next generation of veteran entrepreneurs.
Born in Russia, Mike immigrated to the United States at the age of five, watching his parents rebuild their lives from the ground up. That journey instilled in him both humility and drive — lessons that would later guide his military service and entrepreneurial career. After 9/11, an 18-year-old Mike felt called to serve, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps and spending five years on active duty in San Diego.
Following his service, Mike discovered his passion for entrepreneurship — building HMS Fitness, a franchise business inspired by his Marine Corps training, and later founding Karuna Towels, a social venture that merged profit with purpose. His ventures taught him not just how to build companies, but how to build communities.
Now, as Managing Partner of The Veteran Fund, Mike invests in founders who share that same mission-driven mindset. His work through Founder Institute’s Veteran Cohort and Bunker Labs helps bridge the gap between veterans and venture capital — empowering leaders who combine discipline, resilience, and innovation.
Throughout the episode, Mike reflects on finding alignment through Ikigai — the Japanese philosophy of purpose — and his daily reminder to “Stop. Breathe. Be grateful.” at 11:11.
This conversation is a powerful blend of entrepreneurship, gratitude, and the belief that veterans are uniquely equipped to lead America’s next wave of innovation.
🎙️ Listen now to Episode 201 of the Mission Oriented Podcast — available on YouTube and all major streaming platforms.
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Mike Sherbakov LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesherbakov/
The Veteran Fund: https://www.veteran.fund/
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About Your Host
Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.