Veteran-Owned Business Resources
Supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses
We are committed to elevating the success of Veteran-owned businesses. Below is a curated list of funding, programs, and resources offered by various organizations who support Veteran-owned businesses. If you have any resources that should be added to this list, please reach out to communications@publicprivatestrategies.com.
Funding Opportunities
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grants.gov | Grant | Grants.gov is a database that features more than 1,000 federal grant programs. These small-business grants are offered by a variety of government agencies, such as the Department of Labor, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Commerce. |
| Hivers and Strivers Angel Fund | Investment | The StreetShares Foundation is committed to creating access to capital opportunities for military veteran and military spouses entrepreneurs who are looking to start or grow a business venture. This award is designed to boost small business owners who are creating a social impact in their community. |
| Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab | Grant | For small-business owners in Michigan, Grand Valley State University operates the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab. This three-month program offers startup training and networking opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs and their spouses. During the program, participants prepare for their business launch — identifying potential customers, finding the right tools and meeting with industry experts. MVE-Lab concludes with a pitch competition in which winning entrepreneurs are awarded small-business grants. |
| Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs | Grant | The SBIR and SBTT programs offer small-business grants to veteran-owned businesses (as well as other companies) that are looking to contribute to federal research and development. The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, coordinates these programs, and 11 federal agencies list grant opportunities on the SBIR website. Funding amounts vary based on the individual grant. |
| State and local governments | Grant | Many state governments allot funds specifically to support veteran small-business owners. Some states offer certifications for veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to help those entrepreneurs compete for government contracts. Florida's Office of Supplier Diversity, for instance, certifies veteran-owned businesses and gives them access to a portal that lists government contracting opportunities. Certification and recertification are free Through your state, you may be able to take advantage of veteran-focused training programs, webinars and networking opportunities. The Economic Development Administration in your city or state may also be able to connect you with local funding options, including business grants. |
| Streetshares Foundation | Grant | The StreetShares Foundation is committed to creating access to capital opportunities for military veteran and military spouses entrepreneurs who are looking to start or grow a business venture. This award is designed to boost small business owners who are creating a social impact in their community. |
| TFX Capital | Investment | We are a Veteran-led venture capital firm uniquely focused on investing in high performing, accomplished, and commercially-tested former military leaders building early stage technology (B2B) and technology enabled businesses. |
| The Second Service Foundation | Grant | The Second Service Foundation, formerly the StreetShares Foundation, runs the Military Entrepreneur Challenge, which gives veterans and their spouses the opportunity to win grants for their businesses. To compete in the challenge, you must submit an application that includes a two-minute pitch video explaining why your business should be chosen. |
| U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards | Award | The annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards honor a variety of small businesses and their contributions to the American economy. To qualify, you must have a for-profit business that has been operational for at least one year. You must also have fewer than 250 employees or gross revenues of less than $20 million for each of the past two years. The grand prize Dream Big winner is awarded a $25,000 grant. Additional category-specific awards are available, including the Veteran-Owned Business Achievement Award and the Woman-Owned Business Achievement Award. Applications are closed for 2022, but you can sign up to receive information on the next award cycle. |
| Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant | Grant | Texas Woman’s University offers this small-business grant to female veterans who are starting or own a business. The annual grant program awards $5,000 grants to business owners throughout Texas. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, including equipment, machinery or technology purchases, marketing or advertising campaigns and property improvements. To qualify, you must provide documentation that your business is 51% or more women-owned or -controlled. You also need to provide documentation showing your veteran status. |
| Warrior Rising | Grant | Warrior Rising is a nonprofit that helps veterans transition to “vetrepreneurs.” The organization runs a six-step business development program that includes training, coaching, mentoring and networking. Through the process, veterans may have the opportunity to present their business idea and compete for a startup business grant. |
Business Expertise
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Boots to Business | Training Program | Boots to Business (B2B) is an entrepreneurial education and training program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The course provides an overview of entrepreneurship and applicable business ownership fundamentals. Active Duty Service members (including National Guard and Reserve), Veterans of all eras, and spouses are eligible to participate. |
| Bunker Lab | Support Organization | Bunker Labs provides community, programs, and courses to help military veterans and military spouses start and grow successful businesses and startups. |
| Coalition for Veteran-Owned Business | Support Organization | The Coalition for Veteran Owned Business (CVOB) is a group comprised of industry leaders committed to providing opportunities and growth for veteran and military spouse-owned businesses. This first-of-its-kind national initiative supports the success of veteran, service member, and military spouse-owned businesses by connecting them with entrepreneurial education and training, small business resources and solutions, and commerce and supplier opportunities to help connect and educate both sides on doing business together. |
| D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University | Training Program | The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University offers multiple programs that can help veterans start and build businesses. Its EBV-Spark, a virtual program, uses videos, discussions, and other tools to help participants evaluate the feasibility of their business ideas and hone their skills in value creation and delivery, sales, finance, and other functions. |
| Department of Veterans Affairs, VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PORTAL | Support | Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization VEP makes it easier for small businesses to access federal services, regardless of its source—and quickly connects Veteran entrepreneurs to relevant ‘best-practices’ and information. |
| Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) | Training Program | The EBV opens the door to economic opportunity for veterans by developing their competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. Founded at Syracuse University in 2007, the program has since expanded to additional universities across the U.S., including Texas A&M, UCLA, the University of Connecticut, Louisiana State University, The Florida State University, Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Missouri –with Syracuse University serving as national host of the consortium of schools. |
| FRANNET | Franchise Opportunities | Franchise ownership can be an excellent opportunity for veterans and military spouses looking to become entrepreneurs. If you're considering this option, FranNet is an ideal pathway to explore. Their team of franchise experts can guide you through the process and help you achieve your dream of owning a business. Don't hesitate to reach out to learn more about how you can get started. |
| National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) | Training Program | National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) is a comprehensive entrepreneurship training and support program for veterans with a service-connected disability. It includes a self-study portion, eight-day residency program in Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Florida, followed by five months of support and mentorship. All travel, accommodation, meals, materials, and instructional costs are covered by the VEP. |
| Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (VA) | Government Support | To support the Secretary’s priorities by enabling Veterans to gain access to economic opportunities by developing policies and programs, informed by customer feedback, that improve market research, increase direct access, and maximize the participation of procurement ready Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses in federal contracting. |
| Patriot Boot Camp (PBC) | Training Program | Since 2012, Patriot Boot Camp has been on a mission to assemble and activate an inclusive community that advances military members, veterans, military spouses in their mission to become creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs leading the new economy. |
| Reboot | Training Program | This one or two day in-person course is offered off installation and provides participants with an overview of business fundamentals, while introducing techniques for evaluating the feasibility of business concepts. The course covers a range of entrepreneurial business concepts and provides resources for accessing startup capital, contracting opportunities, and more. |
| SCORE | Support Organization | SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Our network of more than 10,000 mentors can meet with you via phone, video, or email to answer your business questions. Some of our mentors also served in the military. They understand your challenges because they’ve faced them, too. They can help you translate military skills into business success by navigating available services, funding opportunities, government contracts and more. |
| The National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) | Membership Organization | The National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) is the largest non-profit trade association in the country representing veteran- and service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (VOSB and SDVOSB) in the Federal marketplace. NVSBC works to ensure that veteran small businesses are given first consideration for federal prime and subcontract procurement opportunities. |
| The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) | Support Organization | NaVOBA provides a direct link for contracting between corporate America and Certified Veteran’s Business Enterprises™ (VBE) and Certified Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprises™ (SDVBE). |
| The Rosie Network | Training Program | Our mission is to build stronger military families by developing entrepreneurial programs and support services that empower active-duty, veterans and military spouses to realize the American Dream of small business ownership, increasing financial stability and self-sufficiency of those who have served our country. |
| The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses program | Government Support | The federal government aims to award at least 3% of all federal contracting dollars to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) each year.Competition is limited for certain federal contract opportunities to businesses that participate in the SDVOSB program.Joining the SDVOSB program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. You can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs you qualify for. |
| USAA Business Resource Center | Support Organization | This Business Resource Center is a page dedicated to business discounts (TurboTax, FedEx, and travel discounts) through USAA. The best part is that any military member or Veteran can sign up for a free USAA account to take advantage of these deals. |
| Veteran Business Outreach Centers | Government Support | The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. SBA has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). |
| Veteran Business Project | Support Organization | The Veteran Business Project promotes military, veterans, and spouses small business ownership opportunities. We do this by proudly offering our unique “vharmony™️” business match-making service, connecting veterans/spouses seeking to acquire established businesses with business owners wanting to divest. Our “vharmony™️” service includes a caseworker to facilitate the often challenging road to purchase, as well as a seasoned business mentor after the completed transaction. |
| Veteran Institute for Procurement | Training Program | Taught by subject matter experts from industry and government, VIP offers five (5) accelerator training programs for owners, principals, and C‐level executives of VOSB/SDVOSBs that specifically address the complexities of federal procurement. |
| Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship | Training Program | Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, or V-Wise, is a three-phase program that offers tools to help female veterans become successful entrepreneurs. Coordinated by IVMF, the program includes a 15-day online training course and a three-day, in-person event as well as ongoing mentorship, resources and support for launching or growing a business. V-Wise costs $75 and is open to all honorably discharged female veterans, active-duty female service members and the female partners or spouses of the above (including widowed spouses or partners). |
| Veteran Women's Enterprise Center | Support Organization | To position Entrepreneur Women Associated with the Military (EWAM) inclusive of veterans, Active Duty, Reservist and/or military spouses as our nation’s leading small business revenue generators and employers. |
| Veterans and Entrepreneurship - USDA | Government Program | Access to Capital, Land and More – USDA can help veterans transition into farming, ranching, and other agricultural opportunities by connecting you with financial, educational and training resources, and business planning support. |
| Veterans Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program | Government Support | The Veterans Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program offers opportunities for veteran independent inventors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and intellectual property (IP) professionals to connect and learn about useful resources. |
| Veterans Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) | Training Program | Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) is a premier training program in entrepreneurship and small business management. V-WISE helps women veterans and female military spouses/partners find their passion and learn the business savvy skills necessary to turn an idea or start-up into a growing venture. V-WISE is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the generous philanthropic support of corporate and foundation partners nationwide. |
| VetFran | Membership Organization | Over 600 franchise companies are members of VetFran, leading their industries in making a tangible commitment to recruiting veterans. For VetFran member companies, veterans are a part of their corporate culture and empowering veterans to become small business owners within a franchise brand is both a calling and a smart business decision. Many of these companies have found that veteran franchisees are some of their strongest performers, and they want more of the same. We're proud to introduce you, the veteran opportunity seeker, to these companies. |
| VETRN | Training Program | Our mission is to provide veteran small business owners and family members an opportunity, free of tuition, to attend a program in entrepreneurship that is being put on exclusively for veterans in order to provide them with the skills, resources, mentoring and networking necessary to grow their own small business. This program is a six month VETRN program based on a course in strategic business planning, business cash flow and financial management. |
| Vets First Verification Program | Training Program | The Vets First Verification Program provides verified firms owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans the opportunity to compete for VA set-asides. VA also trains and certifies Verification Assistance Counselors to provide application assistance to SDVOSBs/VOSBs that want to become verified. Free counseling services are available to veterans free of charge at Procurement Technical Assistance Centers throughout the country. Free webinars and extensive educational resources are also available online. |
Additional Business Expertise
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| VETtoCEO | Training Program | The VETtoCEO core program is a free virtual program that runs for 7 weeks, one night each week, from 7-9 PM EST. Our next program runs from December 14th through February 1st - enrollment is open! You'll join a group of fellow qualified veterans and Active, Guard, and Reserve military who are either exploring entrepreneurship as a career path choice or aggressively completing their business plan. |
| Veterans Entrepreneurship Training | Verification Program | The VFL’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) programs, a free 12-week series of classes designed to provide aspiring business owners with the knowledge and skills they need to launch civilian enterprises. APEX, another VFL initiative, is a nine-month incubator program that provides mentorship, support, and other resources entrepreneurs need to start and grow their companies, including office space and legal services. |
| Warrior Rising | Support Organization | Warrior Rising empowers u.s. military veterans and their immediate family members by providing them opportunities to create sustainable businesses, perpetuate the hiring of fellow american veterans, and earn their future. |
| Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (WVET) | Training Program | The Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (WVET) Program offers a multitude of in-person and online training opportunities, as well as one-on-one advising for women veterans aspiring or actively operating small businesses in the State of Texas. Women that are transitioning service member or spouses of active duty military or veterans are also encouraged to take advantage of our services. |
| WOVEN – Women Veteran Entrepreneurs Network | Support Organization | WOVEN fuels economic independence among military-connected women by facilitating professional alliances, entrepreneurial guidance and informal mentoring. |
Created by Olive + Ash.
Managed by Olive Street Design. 