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Meet Travis Witzke of Bed Block and Desert Valley Tech in Scottsdale

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Witzke.

Travis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My entrepreneurial story started with my deployments to Iraq, Having my 19th and 23rd birthdays in a combat zone between 2003 and 2006, tasked with a vague mission and no clear expectation for an outcome I had to become creative and learn on the fly. After leaving the service, in January 2008 I opened a motorcycle shop in Glendale, AZ forcing me to learn quickly and to make up for my lack of business knowledge. I attended Glendale Community College at night while running the shop during the day and while the overarching economy had a detrimental impact on my business, I caught the entrepreneur bug. After closing the motorcycle shop, I completed my undergrad and masters in business at ASU. My two current projects are Bed Block, a foot wedge for pain and sensitivity; and Desert Valley Tech, a medical device start up looking to transport whole blood and perishable biomaterials to those injured in combat areas. Both ventures draw on my military background as I suffered frostbite during a training exercise in Germany and needed a way to keep my feet warm while protecting them from the weight of the blankets while I slept. This went from solving a personal issue to selling on www.bedblock.co and Amazon to great reviews. Desert Valley Tech came to be from my attempt to save a gunshot wound victim on the streets of Baghdad and being unable to do so. After researching what I could have done different I realized that whole blood transfusions at the point of injury could have potentially saved his life. So my co-founder Burt Skiba and I created a blood transportation container to carry blood on combat patrols or humanitarian aid scenarios in an effort to save lives where they need it most.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Every road has its winding path and mine was no different, Dealing with PTSD and depression after returning home hampered my ability to be my best at all times and strained not only my businesses but personal relationships as well. I still struggle to a certain degree, but after seeking help at the VA, I have the tools to better handle the ups and downs that come with managing my mental health. Dealing with failing as a small business owner hit me hard, but it also been a driving force.

Please tell us about Bed Block and Desert Valley Tech.
Bed Block – We create bed wedges designed to lift the covers up and over your toes while you sleep, providing a better night’s rest with less pain and discomfort. I am most proud of the feedback I have received from end-users, the overwhelming help that it has provided folks has been deeply fulfilling.

Desert Valley Tech – We are creating a blood and biomaterial transportation container that allows combat medics to transfuse blood at the point of injury, rather than to wait for a patient to be evacuated to a hospital. This will increase survivability of what now are fatal wounds. The pride I have in each milestone being achieved has been incredible, to know that I am taking one of the demons of combat stress and turning it into an avenue for good has been a big point of pride.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I did things over again, I would head the advice that things always take longer than anticipated. Be patient and store your cash for the drought.

Pricing:

  • 37.99 for the original Bed Block
  • 59.99 for the Big Block for taller folks

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Alexander Chambers

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