Malcolm Copeland’s story is defined by reinvention, discipline, and momentum under pressure. He began his career in the U.S. Air Force working on the first-ever CV-22 Osprey, including aircraft featured in the opening scenes of the original Transformers movie. His military career took him around the world as part of the Thunderbirds support mission, eventually earning the rare opportunity to fly in the back seat of an F-16 fighter jet.

After leaving the military, Malcolm’s life took an unexpected turn. Living in Berlin, Germany, he became a hot yoga instructor, built a life abroad, and started a family that grew to six children. During COVID, layoffs forced another major reset, leading Malcolm to move his entire family to Charlotte, North Carolina, and rebuild yet again from the ground up.

In the U.S., Malcolm transitioned into work as a field engineer while also building and operating a life insurance agency, regaining financial stability through disciplined execution. Armed with his real-world experience and an MBA, he is now channeling everything he’s learned into his most meaningful venture yet: 8th Ascent™.

8th Ascent™ is a veteran-owned business designed to help veterans transition into entrepreneurship through a structured, no-nonsense 28-day execution framework. Malcolm’s work focuses on clarity, accountability, and sustainable outcomes — not motivation or hype. His story resonates because it’s real: a life rebuilt multiple times through action, structure, and purpose.

Key Achievements

8th Ascent™ was founded to solve a growing gap faced by veterans and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start businesses but lack structure, execution, and clarity. In its early stages, the company has successfully built a disciplined 28 day business foundation system, established partnerships with county veteran service offices, workforce aligned organizations, and economic development stakeholders, and launched a scalable platform designed to guide founders from idea to operational readiness.

Beyond infrastructure, one of the most meaningful achievements has been trust. 8th Ascent™ has become a referral ready resource for institutions that support veterans and aspiring entrepreneurs, offering a responsible and execution focused alternative to fragmented advice, costly agencies, and high risk trial and error. This foundation positions the company to scale responsibly while maintaining integrity and mission alignment.

Target Audience

8th Ascent™ serves veterans and all aspiring entrepreneurs who possess skills, experience, or trade expertise but need structure to turn that capability into a legitimate business. This includes skilled trades professionals, service operators, and individuals transitioning from military or traditional employment who want independence without cutting corners or relying on hype driven shortcuts.

The platform is especially relevant for those seeking clarity, accountability, and proper setup rather than theory alone. By focusing on execution, compliance, and momentum, 8th Ascent™ attracts founders who are serious about building sustainable businesses that contribute to local economies and long term stability.

What Makes Us Unique

8th Ascent™ is the world’s only structured 28 day business foundation system designed to prioritize execution over education and results over motivation. Unlike courses, coaching programs, or agencies, the platform delivers a clear, time bound pathway that transforms entrepreneurial intent into properly launched businesses with structure, systems, and accountability.

The company’s veteran led approach brings discipline, operational rigor, and ethical standards into the business launch process. By combining automation, guided execution, and human accountability, 8th Ascent™ fills a critical gap between learning about entrepreneurship and actually becoming a business owner.

Future Goals and Vision

Looking ahead, 8th Ascent™ aims to become a nationally recognized infrastructure partner for workforce development, veteran services, and economic growth organizations. The company plans to expand referral partnerships across states, support thousands of founders annually, and build a standardized pathway for skilled individuals to enter business ownership responsibly.

Long term, the vision is to reshape how entrepreneurship is approached by shifting the narrative from risk and guesswork to structure and execution. By serving as the foundation layer beneath emerging businesses, 8th Ascent™ seeks to strengthen local economies, reduce startup failure rates, and empower a new generation of disciplined business owners.