Bridging The Gap
Bridging The Gap for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) veteran-led nonprofit that provides free career transition coaching, employer speed-interviewing, professional attire, and service-animal support to military veterans, spouses, and first responders, funded by its Coffee Platoon retail coffee brand, Swipes for Stripes merchant services, and corporate Patriot Partner sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersManasquan, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bridging The Gap does
Bridging The Gap for Veterans Inc. is a 501(c)(3) veteran-led nonprofit incorporated in New Jersey (EIN 81-2789466), headquartered in Manasquan, NJ, that educates, advocates for, and prepares military veterans, military spouses, and first responders for civilian careers. Founded by Mike Ferraro, who serves as President, the organization delivers free career transition programming — including a three-step Career Discovery process (self-assessment, action planning, and speed interviewing with veteran-friendly employers), the Operation Suit Up professional attire program, and the Back the Blue $1,000 law-enforcement scholarship at the Monmouth County Police Academy — alongside ancillary programs such as service dog grants (via VetDogs.org), a 50%-fee-sponsored veteran pet adoption program with Monmouth County SPCA, and Dog Tag Film Productions, a wholly-owned media subsidiary producing documentaries and podcasts on military hero stories.
The organization operates no proprietary technology platform; its stack consists of a content website (bridgingthegap.vet), standard marketing and analytics tools (Google Analytics, Meta Ads/Pixel, Google Ads), and PCI-compliant third-party payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Slice Merchant Services for the Swipes for Stripes program). Distribution reaches veterans through events on military installations and college campuses nationwide (e.g., the Top Gun IGNITE Your Future seminars with speed interviewing), and reaches consumers through a regional ShopRite grocery footprint (Hunterdon County, NJ and Yardley/Bethlehem, PA) plus e-commerce for Coffee Platoon products.
Bridging The Gap funds its free programs through an entrepreneurial social-enterprise model built around three revenue streams: retail sales of Coffee Platoon® military-themed coffee blends (whole bean, ground, K-cups), the Swipes for Stripes merchant services program that routes 10% of credit-card processing fees back to veteran programs, and corporate Patriot Partner sponsorship packages that include Adopt-a-Coffee-Platoon placements and Veteran-Friendly Business Directory listings. The organization is supported by a roster of named Patriot Partner corporations (QuickChek, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Amazon, TD Bank, Prudential, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bristol Myers Squibb, Fiserv) and by event-based fundraising such as the annual Beaver Brook Country Club golf outing. Operating with 1–10 employees and no disclosed venture or institutional funding, the organization self-describes its mission as opening 'career doors' to veterans, with management reporting assistance to thousands of military candidates and the opening of hundreds of employment opportunities to date.
Bridging The Gap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bridging The Gap
- Legal name
- Bridging The Gap for Veterans Inc.
- Website
- https://bridgingthegap.vet
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bridging The Gap for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) veteran-led nonprofit that provides free career transition coaching, employer speed-interviewing, professional attire, and service-animal support to military veterans, spouses, and first responders, funded by its Coffee Platoon retail coffee brand, Swipes for Stripes merchant services, and corporate Patriot Partner sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bridging The Gap industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Career Transition Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)
Keywords
Where Bridging The Gap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manasquan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bridging The Gap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- The Coffee Platoon Retail Sales: Coffee Platoon generates revenue through retail sales of coffee products including whole beans, grounds, and K-cups in various blends themed after military branches. Coffee blends include Stars & Stripes, Freedom, Army Strong, Anchors Away, Semper Fi, Aim High, and Semper Paratus. Revenue supports career transition programs and service dog programs.
- Swipes for Stripes Merchant Services: Merchant services program where partnering businesses process credit card transactions and 10% of transaction fees are donated monthly to veteran programs. Competitive pricing with transparent fees, PCI-compliant systems, and seamless transition support.
- Corporate Sponsorship Packages: Corporate sponsorship packages where patriotic corporations adopt a Coffee Platoon for Employers to support veteran hiring initiatives. Includes marketing support and Veteran-Friendly Business Directory placement.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bridging The Gap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bridging The Gap is a veteran-led nonprofit that delivers free career transition, education, and advocacy services to military veterans and their families. Its flagship career program (Career Discovery) combines self-assessment, action planning, and speed interviewing with veteran-friendly employers; it also provides free professional interview attire (Operation Suit Up), law enforcement scholarships (Back the Blue), service dog funding, and veteran pet adoption support. Programs are sustained by a social enterprise model that includes The Coffee Platoon® veteran-themed coffee brand, Swipes for Stripes merchant services, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Bridging the Gap for Veterans is a veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a multi-product portfolio supporting military career transition and veteran welfare. Its core programmatic products include: The Coffee Platoon® (veteran-themed retail coffee brand generating revenue to sustain programs), Career Discovery (a 3-step career transition coaching and speed-interviewing program), Operation Suit Up (free professional attire for interviewing veterans), Swipes for Stripes (credit card processing merchant services diverting 10% of fees to veterans), and Back the Blue Scholarships (law enforcement scholarships). It also runs Dog Tag Film Productions (media/film arm), and Service Animal Programs (funding service dogs and pet adoptions). The Coffee Platoon products are distributed via ShopRite retail locations and a partnership with Eastern Janitorial Supplies. All programs are offered free of charge to the military community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Coffee Platoon®: Coffee brand with military-themed blends (Stars & Stripes, Army Strong, Anchors Away, Semper Fi, Aim High, Semper Paratus) sold in whole bean, grounds, and K-cups. Revenue supports veteran career transition programs.
- Dog Tag Film Productions
- Swipes for Stripes
Products and services
- The Coffee Platoon® A veteran-themed retail coffee brand selling Mild, Dark, Extra Dark, and Decaf blends in whole bean, ground, and K-cup formats. Blends are military-themed (Army Strong, Anchors Away, Semper Fi, Aim High, Semper Paratus, Stars & Stripes, Freedom Decaf). Coffee is sourced from Papua New Guinea and Brazil. Retail sales revenue funds Bridging the Gap's career programs for veterans.
- Career Discovery (BTG 3-Step Discovery Process) A three-step veteran career transition program consisting of Career Self-Assessment (personality trait evaluation using assessment tools), Career Action Plan (coaching to develop a timeline and career options), and Exploring Occupations (speed interviewing sessions with veteran-friendly employers). Provided 100% free to military veterans and their families.
- Operation Suit Up A program providing free professional business attire (suits, blazers, jackets, dress shirts, ties, belts) for men and women in the military community undergoing career transition, enabling a positive first impression during job interviews.
- Dog Tag Film Productions The media production arm of Bridging the Gap, producing documentary-style films, episodic video, podcasts, and live theatrical productions that capture and amplify the stories of America's military heroes, veterans, and first responders.
- Swipes for Stripes A merchant services program powered by Slice Merchant Services that enables businesses to become veteran-friendly by switching credit card processing. Merchants receive 10% of monthly transaction fees donated to Bridging the Gap, with competitive pricing, PCI-compliant systems, and a Veteran-Friendly Business Directory listing.
- Back the Blue Scholarships Scholarship awards of $1,000 payable to military veterans attending the Police Academy in Monmouth County, New Jersey, awarded 2x per year (June and December) to the recipient with the highest academic achievement in the 20-week program.
- Service Animal Programs Programs funding service dog training for veterans with PTSD and supporting K-9 vest purchases for law enforcement working dogs. Partners include VetDogs.org and the Monmouth County SPCA, which also includes a Veteran Pet Adoption Program covering 50% of adoption fees for qualified veteran adopters.
Quantifiable outcome
- Assisted 1000's of military candidates with career education and advocacy
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bridging The Gap
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bridging The Gap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Bridging The Gap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Monmouth County SPCAcorePartnership to support pet adoptions for veterans. Bridging the Gap sponsors 50% of adoption fees for qualified and shelter-approved Military Veteran adopters at the Monmouth County SPCA. The partnership aims to help change the lives of both veterans and rescued animals.
- VetDogs.orgcoreService dog organization partnership providing financial grants for service dog training for military veterans with Post Traumatic Stress. Bridging the Gap provided a $5500 donation in 2021 from retail coffee sales to support funding of service dogs.
- Eastern Janitorial SuppliescorePartnership to expand Coffee & Janitorial products to corporations and businesses across New Jersey. 10% of sales from this partnership directly supports Bridging the Gap for Veterans career transition programs and services.
- Startslice.com (Slice Merchant Services)coreTechnology partnership powering the Swipes for Stripes merchant services program. Slice provides PCI-compliant payment processing technology enabling merchants to support veteran programs through transaction fee donations.
- QuickChekcoreQuickChek is a community partner supporting veteran programs. 15 QuickChek team members participated in the 2021 annual golf fundraising event. QuickChek has contributed over $6.2 million in community giving including support for veterans.
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue ShieldminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- VerizonminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- Johnson & JohnsonminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- AmazonminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- TD BankminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- PrudentialminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- Bristol Myers SquibbminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
- FiservminorCorporate Patriot Partner supporting veteran programs and career transition initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bridging The Gap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Travis Manion Foundation: Veteran service organization that empowers veterans and families of fallen service members through character development, veteran mentorship, and community service programs. Peer in veteran-led nonprofit career/community programming with similar community-driven GTM.
- RecruitMilitary: Connects veterans and military spouses with employers through career fairs, a job board, and transition events. Direct peer in the veteran-to-employer matchmaking space with overlapping speed interviewing / career fair delivery model.
- Hire Heroes USA: Veteran employment nonprofit providing free job search assistance, career coaching, and employer matching for transitioning military, veterans, and military spouses. Most direct peer in mission and target population, though operating at larger national scale.
- Student Veterans of America: National nonprofit supporting military-affiliated students in higher education through transition, advocacy, and career development. Peer in the veteran career transition space, particularly through the college campus delivery channel Bridging the Gap also uses.
Emerging players
- Black Rifle Coffee Company: Veteran-founded coffee company selling military-themed coffee products to support veteran-related causes, with a comparable social-enterprise model where retail coffee revenue connects to veteran advocacy. Closest commercial analog to The Coffee Platoon's revenue and branding strategy.
Others
- Veteran Jobs Mission: Corporate coalition of major employers (including many Fortune 500 Patriot Partners like Verizon and JPMorgan) committed to hiring veterans. Same corporate partner pool as Bridging the Gap and represents the corporate buyer side of the veteran hiring pipeline Bridging the Gap serves.
Broad incumbents
- Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University: Academic-led institute delivering veteran entrepreneurship, career, and transition programs with research and policy advocacy. Overlaps with Bridging the Gap's career transition and workforce development focus but at university-backed scale.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Large veteran service organization providing programs across mental health, career counseling, and physical recovery for post-9/11 veterans. Broad incumbent offering overlapping career and transition services at significantly greater scale and fundraising capacity.
- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): National veteran advocacy and service nonprofit supporting post-9/11 veterans across transition, employment, mental health, and policy. Broader mission and larger scale than Bridging the Gap, with overlapping career and transition programming.
- Syracuse University D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families: Provides workforce, education, and transition research and programs for veterans and military families. Comparable mission area with employer-matching and career research capabilities that overlap Bridging the Gap's employment focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bridging The Gap social profiles
Digital presenceBridging The Gap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bridging The Gap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bridging The Gap subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Bridging The Gap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bridging The Gap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bridging The Gap
What does Bridging The Gap do?
Bridging The Gap is a veteran-led nonprofit that delivers free career transition, education, and advocacy services to military veterans and their families. Its flagship career program (Career Discovery) combines self-assessment, action planning, and speed interviewing with veteran-friendly employers; it also provides free professional interview attire (Operation Suit Up), law enforcement scholarships (Back the Blue), service dog funding, and veteran pet adoption support. Programs are sustained by a social enterprise model that includes The Coffee Platoon® veteran-themed coffee brand, Swipes for Stripes merchant services, and corporate sponsorships.
Is Bridging The Gap a public or private company?
Bridging The Gap is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bridging The Gap founded?
Bridging The Gap was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bridging The Gap based?
Bridging The Gap is headquartered in Manasquan, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bridging The Gap make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. The Coffee Platoon Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are swipes for Stripes Merchant Services and corporate Sponsorship Packages.
Who are Bridging The Gap's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Travis Manion Foundation, RecruitMilitary, Hire Heroes USA and Student Veterans of America. Black Rifle Coffee Company is listed as an emerging player. Veteran Jobs Mission is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, Wounded Warrior Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and Syracuse University D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.
Does Bridging The Gap have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bridging The Gap.
What industry is Bridging The Gap in?
Bridging The Gap's product category is Veteran Career Transition Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAH, Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs, with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.