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Built After Service: Derek Lawson on Discipline, Gear, and Starting Raider Supply Works

A Marine Corps veteran talks about the day-to-day of translating military standards into a product company.

Derek Lawson
Derek Lawson
Founder, Raider Supply Works
42 minMay 12, 2026

Show Notes

Episode Notes

In this episode, Derek Lawson of Raider Supply Works talks about the transition from eight years in the Marine Corps to founding a product company built around military-grade reliability.

What We Cover

  • The gap between military-grade gear and civilian consumer products
  • How deployment experience shaped product design philosophy
  • Starting a company without a business degree
  • The role of discipline in entrepreneurship
  • What civilian customers don't expect from veteran-owned gear

About the Guest

Derek Lawson served eight years in the United States Marine Corps with two combat deployments. He founded Raider Supply Works in 2020 to bring military-standard reliability to everyday consumer products.

Topics Covered
entrepreneurshipproduct-designmarine-corpstransitioneveryday-carrydiscipline
Raider Supply Works
Raider Supply Works
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