Matthew Putman, a US Navy veteran and AEGIS Fire Controlman from Battle Creek, Michigan. In 2013, after becoming disabled and unable to work in his trade, he and his wife, Valerie, remained active in the RV community they had long loved. It was a lifestyle that ultimately sparked their entrepreneurial journey.
The inspiration behind Strain Guard LLC came from a frightening moment: an electrical fire inside their RV, caused by a strain on the power cable connection. After investigating the issue, Matthew discovered that cable meltdowns account for a significant portion of RV electrical failures. When he searched for a preventative solution, he found nothing on the market. So, he built one.
Strain Guard is a device designed to hold the RV power connector in place and eliminate the “strain” at the connection point. By reducing separation at the inlet, the device improves electrical contact, minimizes heat buildup, and significantly reduces the risk of fire. What began as a simple prototype made from basic materials has evolved into a product now in pre-production, with plans for injection, molding, and mass manufacturing.
Matthew joined MVE-Lab through a fellow disabled veteran who found out about the program while searching for resources to support their venture. At the time, Matthew believed funding was his biggest obstacle. Through MVE-Lab, he realized his greater challenge was education. “The first thing you’ve got to accept is you don’t know what you don’t know”. MVE-Lab helped shift Matthew’s mindset from chasing funding to building knowledge.
He gained practical tools in business modeling, customer discovery, and pitching, along with the most powerful lesson: building the business from the customer’s perspective. Instead of solely focusing on innovation itself, Matthew learned to ask:
- How does this fix the customer’s problem?
- How does this make their life easier?
- Why should they care?
The customer-focused perspective transformed the way Matthew approaches both product development and investor pitches.
Currently, Strain Guard is in the alpha/beta stage. The company is beginning with low-volume production using 3D printing to demonstrate market demand before investing in injection molds for full-scale manufacturing. Matthew is actively participating in pitch competitions and entrepreneur bootcamps, including Warrior Rising and PenFed Foundation, where he will compete for $20,000 in funding.
For new MVE-Lab participants, Matthew’s advice is simple, but powerful: “Be a sponge”. He emphasizes the importance of remaining open to learning and fully absorbing the knowledge shared by instructors and mentors who generously invest their time in the participants. He also highlights that the more effort put into a business, the greater the business will be.
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