Company Stats:

Guest: Michael Blank, Arms, Munitions, & Capital Markets Professional

Industry: Firearms / Ammunition / Manufacturing

Company: Gen X Arms and Ammunition (GXAA)

Focus: Ammunition innovation, founder strategy, manufacturing ops, IP protection

Tech Stack: Ballistics, CNC machining, small batch ammo production, federal & state grant navigation

✅ Michael shares the highs and heartbreaks behind the 2545 Sharps round, a beloved cartridge that gained traction in the firearms community—yet earned him zero profit due to investor fallout.

✅ Learn how creative founders can access $85K+ demo gear, free shop time, or programming resources by simply asking and offering strategic value.

✅ Understand why federal research funding might cost you ownership of your idea—and why state-level grants or angel networks are safer options.

✅ Discover the dangers of bringing on the wrong capital partner too soon, and how one $500 misstep tanked a $25M raise.

✅ Michael walks us through the importance of surrounding yourself with a strong, experienced team—even if it delays your launch.

✅ Hear practical stories of navigating IP law, licensing traps, and how to protect your invention before it’s market-ready.

✅ Why falling in love with your idea can blind you to market reality—and how to test if anyone else actually wants it.

✅ Michael delivers a masterclass in tactical scrappiness—from bartering machine time to leveraging underutilized assets for prototyping.

✅ Get raw advice on founding solo, protecting your strategic vision, and avoiding common founder ego traps.

✅ This episode is a must-listen for builders in hardware, regulated industries, or anyone inventing against the odds.

In this episode of The Innovators Impact, host Darnell Perkins sits down with Michael Blank, a seasoned inventor and founder of Gen X Arms and Ammunition, to unpack the reality behind startup innovation in the firearms space. Michael’s story blends ingenuity, legal battles, heartbreak—and a whole lot of tactical wisdom.

From inventing the now-cult-favorite 2545 Sharps cartridge to being forced out of his own company by rogue investors, Michael pulls no punches as he reflects on what went right, what went sideways, and what every founder needs to understand before chasing a big raise.

He shares critical advice on working with manufacturers, leveraging equipment partners, and even how to borrow five-figure lasers for free if you make a compelling enough case. Michael also warns against the “free money” trap of federal R&D grants, which can come with IP ownership clauses that kill commercialization.

If you’re building anything physical—especially in a capital-intensive, regulated, or IP-heavy space—this conversation will arm you with real talk on surviving the grind, making smarter bets, and staying in control of your mission.

Q: How do you balance innovation with ownership protection?

A: Don't stop at your first patent. Lawyers miss key points. Learn what you need to protect—and do it fast.

Q: How do you fund big ideas without early capital?

A: Leverage relationships. Ask machine shops and suppliers for demo access, discounts, or programming time.

Q: What’s the biggest trap with government R&D support?

A: Federal grants can come with clauses that give away your IP. State grants are usually cleaner.

Q: What should founders focus on in the early days?

A: Build your team. Even if you’re introverted or early, credibility...