Marine Veteran Founded Startup Openlane in August 2024

The San Antonio startup received $30,000 from the Geekdom Community Fund to automate compliance security.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Startups

A modern, bright San Antonio workspace with limestone walls and steel framing, bathed in sharp afternoon sunlight. — San Antonio-based startup Openlane, founded by Marine veteran Kelsey Waters, secured $30,000 in seed funding to automate security compliance auditing. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Former Marine Corps officer Kelsey Waters launched Openlane in August 2024 to modernize security auditing processes. The San Antonio startup secured a $30,000 investment from the Geekdom Community Fund to develop its AI-driven compliance platform.

Why it matters

Waters developed Openlane to replace traditional, inefficient manual spreadsheet tracking with an automated AI system. Her transition from military service to entrepreneurship reflects a growing trend of veteran-led business initiatives in the region.

Veteran-owned businesses comprise 7% to 8% of employer firms in the San Antonio area, significantly higher than the 4.65% national average. San Antonio currently hosts more than 160,000 veterans.

The players

Kelsey Waters

She is a former Marine Corps communications officer and the founder of the security compliance startup Openlane.

Geekdom

This San Antonio-based collaborative workspace and startup hub provides mentorship and investment to local entrepreneurs.

The details

Openlane utilizes an AI-powered platform to automate the tracking of security audit evidence and compliance certifications. The startup receives ongoing support through mentorship programs and resources provided by the Geekdom hub.

Kelsey Waters served as a Marine Corps communications officer from 2009 to 2012.
Waters has been a member of the Geekdom community since 2020.
Openlane was co-founded in August 2024.
SA Startup and Tech Week features more than 40 sessions scheduled for September 2026.

Market Landscape

The startup scene in San Antonio is increasingly defined by a high concentration of veteran-founded firms that outpace national averages. This trend positions the local ecosystem as a unique hub for military-to-civilian professional transitions.

Local businesses seeking to modernize their compliance workflows may find more efficient options through AI-based tools like Openlane. Entrepreneurs in the area can access similar mentorship and funding resources through established community hubs like Geekdom.

The takeaway

Military experience often provides founders with a bias for action that is essential in the fast-paced startup environment. Aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage local community funds and networking hubs to turn specialized technical skills into scalable business solutions.