Entrepreneurship resources for US military veterans

[Mrs. BRKb]

Here are some resources for vets and transitioning service members interested in creating a business:


Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)

Discharge after 9/11; application and selection process; cost free to veteran (air, hotel, food, class). Offered at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, Anderson School of Management at UCLA, Florida State University's College of Business, Mays Business School at Texas A&M, Krannert School of Management at Purdue University, University of Connecticut School of Business, E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University, School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University (focus: hospitality, food, beverage).

Great video: 60 Minutes segment about the EBV vet business bootcamp ("Succeeding as Civilians")– Youtube 2013

EBV Entrepreneurship bootcamp class details and history – Youtube 2013 ("Succeeding as Civilians: EBV on 60 Minutes")


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Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families (EBV-F)

Same as the veterans bootcamp, but this is for caregiver family members of disabled vets. Offered at Syracuse University and The Florida State University.


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Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)

Weekend program at various US cities.

Remaining 2013 programs: Seattle (August, 2013); Denver (November, 2013).


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VetNet Entrepreneur

Live Google hangout business classes and Q & A, twice weekly. Scroll down here to see sessions previously recorded.


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Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF)

IVMF website

IVMF on Facebook


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Vocational Rehabilitation (Veterans Administration)

VA Voc Rehab now recognizes self-employment as a valid option, and can assist with getting you on your way towards that goal. This means that in Voc Rehab you can now work towards creating your own business (instead of pursuing a career that would lead to being employed by someone else).

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

Soldier to CEO

Profit and Laws will be holding a one-day boot camp for veterans and their families this Saturday June 15, 2013 in Chicago. The full day event will provide training on how to start and run a successful business. For veterans and their families, admission is free.

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

“From Battleground to Breaking Ground: A Transformational Journey,” gives military veterans interested in farming or ranching the opportunity to get information on aspects of starting, developing and funding an agriculture-based business

Agriculture workshop for military veterans to be held July 25 in San Antonio | AgriLife Today

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Paid internship for qualifying vets for learning the ag biz (Marin County)

The Farmer Veteran Coalition has programs for employment and education in agriculture | US Veterans Magazine

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

Check it out.

>>The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) and the Bob Woodruff Foundation announce a strategic partnership for the second year to assist post-9/11 service-disabled veterans in attending the 2013 National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo Aug. 6-8 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The partnership will allow veterans to apply for grants that will cover conference admission fees, lodging and transportation to promote entrepreneurship and small-business ownership in the veteran community. Conference grants and applications will be administered through the IVMF. Qualified applicants must be post-9/11 service-disabled veterans who own, or aspire to own, a small business. Grants are awarded on a first-received basis.

IVMF and Bob Woodruff Foundation collaborate to send service-disabled veterans to VA National Small Business Conference | IVMF

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Check it out.

>>The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) and the Bob Woodruff Foundation announce a strategic partnership for the second year to assist post-9/11 service-disabled veterans in attending the 2013 National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo Aug. 6-8 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The partnership will allow veterans to apply for grants that will cover conference admission fees, lodging and transportation to promote entrepreneurship and small-business ownership in the veteran community. Conference grants and applications will be administered through the IVMF. Qualified applicants must be post-9/11 service-disabled veterans who own, or aspire to own, a small business. Grants are awarded on a first-received basis.

IVMF and Bob Woodruff Foundation collaborate to send service-disabled veterans to VA National Small Business Conference | IVMF

There were a scant 20 grants remaining as of earlier this morning.

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

- National Defense University Foundation (NDUF) recently partnered with the Angel Venture Forum, a mid-atlantic investment group, and created the Veteran’s Venture Forum. NDU Foundation President, Cathleen Pearl says: "Our goal is to give military veterans an opportunity to meet directly with experienced investors and pitch their business plans. Veterans have a unique set of skills and discipline, and the NDU Foundation is pleased to provide those with the passion and desire to start a business the chance to present their plans to a large group of seasoned angel and early-stage investors."


- Scout Ventures is on its second venture capital fund with a target size of $25MM. Its founding partner is an Army veteran.
"Scout Ventures enables entrepreneurs to build great businesses by providing them the strategic support and capital necessary to grow and reach new markets. We engage and utilize our proprietary network to identify smart and scrappy entrepreneurs who are adapting to changing markets, disrupting established business models and creating products that matter. We seek entrepreneurs beginning at the seed stage, and we complement them by taking an active role in business development, marketing, recruiting and product development."


- Hivers and Strivers is a mid-atlantic angel group. Its members are comprised of US military veterans and they only invest in veteran-led start-ups.
"Hivers and Strivers is an Angel Investment Group focusing on early stage investments to support start-up companies founded and run by graduates of the U.S. Military Academies."





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Early-Stage Military Veteran Startups Are Trending

Scout Ventures

Hivers and Strivers

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

A man leaving the military wants to be an entrepreneur.

Blunt, no nonsense Larry Winget advice applicable to any entrepreneur.


[video=youtube;dn_G1gicosQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn_G1gicosQ[/video]

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

SBA Announces New Measures to Help Get Small Business Loans Into the Hands of Veterans


WASHINGTON – The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced new measures to help get small business loans into the hands of veterans by setting the borrower upfront fee to zero for all veteran loans starting January 1 authorized under the SBA Express program, which supports loans of up to $350,000.

“Our nation’s veterans are highly-skilled and highly-trained leaders in their communities,” said Acting SBA Administrator Jeanne Hulit. “This initiative that will set fees to zero for SBA Express loans to veterans of up to $350,000 is part of SBA’s broader efforts to make sure that veterans have the tools they need to start and grow a business. As we honor our veterans and thank them for their service and sacrifice, let’s continue to identify ways to support them when they come home.”

Of all SBA loans that go to veterans, 73 percent are $350,000 and below. The SBA Express Loan Program, which supports loans under $350,000, is one of SBA’s most popular loan delivery methods, with nearly 60 percent of all 7(a) loans over the past decade being authorized through the program. Since the program’s inception, it has also been the most popular delivery method for getting capital into the hands of veteran borrowers.

Building off SBA’s recent announcement that for the current fiscal year, fees on loans for $150,000 and under are set to zero, this policy announcement means that veteran borrowers will no longer have to pay an upfront fee for any loan up to $350,000 under the SBA Express program. This new initiative will go into effect January 1 and for the duration of the fiscal year. This will make the loans cheaper for the borrower, another way SBA is looking to serve small business owners as they look for ways to access capital.

Today’s announcement comes during SBA’s National Veterans Small Business Week, an initiative on the part of the Small Business Administration to reach out to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. During Veterans Small Business Week, SBA staff all across the country will be working with partner organizations on educational efforts, mentoring, and trainings to make sure veterans have the tools they need to start or grow their business.

SBA provides veterans access to business counseling and training, capital and business development opportunities through government contracts. In FY 2013, SBA supported $1.86 billion in loans for 3,094 veteran-owned small businesses. And since 2009, the dollar amount of SBA lending support to veteran-owned firms has nearly doubled.

For more information about these and other SBA programs, visit the SBA website at www.sba.gov, or contact your local SBA field office. You can find contact information for your local SBA office at http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html.

OVBD Blog - http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/...-help-get-small-business-loans-hands-veterans

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship conference (V-WISE) will be held in Long Beach January 17 - 19, 2014.

The application deadline is December 4, 2013.

http://www.whitman.syr.edu/vwise/

Lady veterans, active duty, & spouses may apply.

Most attendee on-site expenses (hotel, food) are covered by donors and sponsors.

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

BUSINESS BOOTCAMP – Veteran Symposium & Expo


>>CPS Energy aims to achieve a forum for education, communication and networking between business owners, city/state/governmental agencies, and those with special interest in veteran business growth in San Antonio. The Symposium will offer various classes and presentations from CPS Energy, Local associations & chambers, as well as City/State/Governmental agencies. At the Expo you will be able to meet face to face with various agency and corporate representatives who are looking to increase veteran contracting opportunities. You won’t want to miss a single minute of the FREE Event!


January 14, 2014
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Norris Conference Center
San Antonio, Texas
FREE Admission & Parking


http://www.cpsenergy.com/About_CPS_Energy/Vendors_Suppliers/Bid_Opportunities/Contracting_events.asp

 

[MooreMillions]

This event has come and gone, but this resource is available year round.

 

[recon187]

Thanks for posting, as a disabled vet I was truly moved by the 60 min. video.

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

Veterans own one out of 10 agricultural firms, according to the Small Business Administration.

Regardless of the economic sector, a veteran is 45 percent more likely to be an entrepreneur than other American adults: 2.4 million vets own businesses that employ 5.8 million workers.

- Ex-military swelling ranks of entrepreneurs

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

MBA in Entrepreneurship for Veterans

>>Whitman School of Management announced December 18th, 2014 the new MBA for Veterans. This is an accelerated, 14 month, 54 credits MBA for veterans. The program starts in May 2014 and applications are being accepted now (Deadline January 15, 2014).

The MBA for Veterans at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management focuses on leveraging veterans’ military experiences that are easily transferable into entrepreneurship and leadership. The MBA for Veterans is based on the MBA with entrepreneurship track, which will empower its graduates to become visionaries, leaders and innovators.

Syracuse University was ranked 4th in the nation in the 2014 US News and World Report: Best Colleges for Veterans listing and is recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as a military friendly school. Veterans can leverage their G.I. Bill (SU is a Yellow Ribbon partner school) or other benefits such as Voc Rehab, if they qualify, toward their tuition.

To learn more visit http://Whitman.syr.edu/mba4vets .

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Now accepting entrepreneurship program applications from post 9/11 USA disabled vets:

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country.

2014 biz bootcamp programs

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

Exciting news for craft brewing veterans!


Auburn University’s Graduate Certificate Brewing Science & Operations has been approved for use of VA Education Benefits.

Veteran VA benefits students who are accepted into the program and wish to their VA benefits should the university's Veterans Resource Center at: veterans@auburn dot edu, or visit the office in Foy Hall at Auburn University.

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Vetrepreneurship Round-up: 100 Great Sites for Military Veteran Businesspeople

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

Are you a graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)? New small biz loan program for EBV-graduates in partnership with Accion:

"Accion is the largest nationwide micro- and small business lending network, which connects small business owners with the financing and support it takes to create or grow healthy businesses. Loans range from $200 to $300,000 (No lines of credit), and the average loan size so far has been $10,000. "

For info, contact EBVTAP @ syr . edu .

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

7-Eleven to give away a franchise to a veteran

"One veteran will be awarded a 7-Eleven franchise worth $190,000 as part of "Operation: Take Command," the company's first franchise giveaway contest."
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/careers/civilian/2014/11/13/7-eleven-franchise-giveaway-veteran/18927591/

 

[exiletalon]

As a disabled marine, this information is quite enlightening. Thank you for sharing this, and thank you to all the other veterans here. I look forward to seeing the successes and hopefully meet many of you.

 

[Charnell]

7-Eleven to give away a franchise to a veteran

"One veteran will be awarded a 7-Eleven franchise worth $190,000 as part of "Operation: Take Command," the company's first franchise giveaway contest."
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/careers/civilian/2014/11/13/7-eleven-franchise-giveaway-veteran/18927591/

Hehe, read through the article only to get to the bottom and see prohibited states...turns out I'm in one of em. Wouldn't be fun anyways, getting Snickers stolen weekly.

 

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[Mrs. BRKb]

Here's a vetreprenuer business plan competition offered by Veterans Business Battle in Houston TX at Rice University February 26-27, 2016.

Business plans are due January 8, 2016. Finalists will be notified by February 1 of their invitation to compete in the finals on February 26-27.

To apply, see www.vetbizbattle.com .

 

[Mrs. BRKb]

FYI......



>>
“SHARK TANK” SALUTES THE MILITARY WITH ALL VETERAN AND MILITARY SPOUSE ENTREPRENEURS ON THE FEBRUARY 5 EPISODE OF “SHARK TANK”

“Episode 719” – Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs try to enlist the Sharks’ investments in their products—will it be a mission accomplished? Two military spouses from Murfreesboro, TN have built a handbag empire using upcycled military materials and piecework from other military spouses—but will the $200+ price point for a bag deter a deal? A former Marine from Columbia, MD and his business partner from Dallas, TX try to sell the Sharks on their gloves that put wireless control of your phone at your fingertips, even while on the ski slopes and motorcycles. A former Air Force Major from Phoenix, AZ looks to franchise her personal organization business that can keep Americans’ homes “majorly” de-cluttered. Two veteran army rangers tout their product line, which empowers locals who make “cool products in dangerous places”—namely Colombia, Afghanistan and Laos—from sandals to sarongs and jewelry. They promote peace through business instead of bullets. “Shark Tank” revisits Air Force veteran Kristina Guerrero of La Pine, OR, owner of Turbopup, the canine meal bars, in which Daymond John invested last season, to see how her business has expanded in just 18 months, on “Shark Tank,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 (9:00--10:01 p.m. EST) on the ABC Television Network.
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