April 1, 2025
MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 6: Transforming Data Solutions with Jake Dyal
Join host Rod Loges as he speaks with Jake Dyal, an Army veteran and co-founder of Certus Core. Jake shares his journey from military intelligence to creating innovative data solutions for national security and discusses the importance of values-based hiring and staying focused on your company’s core mission.
In this episode:
- Jake’s background as an Army intelligence professional with 13 years of service
- His transition from military to civilian government work and finally to entrepreneurship
- The founding story of Certus Core and its mission to provide trustworthy data solutions
- How the company’s name reflects their commitment to truth and assured delivery
- Insights into fundraising and maintaining focus while growing a tech company
Key takeaways:
- Military experience provides valuable leadership skills that translate to entrepreneurship
- Values-based hiring is critical for building a successful team in a startup environment
- Understanding your audience is essential when communicating with investors
- Staying focused on your core market before expanding prevents dilution of resources
- Learning about PR, marketing, and thought leadership is crucial for veteran entrepreneurs
Guest: Jake Dyal, Co-founder & CEO of Certus Core, Army veteran
Jake Dyal is the co-founder and CEO of Certus Core, a Tampa-based company that provides data transparency solutions through its innovative software platform. Before launching Certus Core in 2021, Jake served 13 years in the Army, followed by nearly a decade as a defense intelligence program manager. His extensive experience includes leading research and development teams in big data and advanced analytics for military and government clients on classified and unclassified projects.
A Tampa native, Jake has a background in Chinese Mandarin and served in various special operations units during his military career. Outside work, he’s passionate about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and recently earned his black belt. Jake co-founded Certus Core with fellow veterans Tim Toohill and Joe Blankenship to solve complex data challenges in the national security space.
Looking ahead: Certus Core is completing its seed funding round while continuing to expand its software platform, which helps organizations transform data into actionable intelligence.
The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com
Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/