The SBDC provides entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for veterans owning or considering starting a small business.

Ask your local SBDC what special services they provide for veterans.

If you are a well established veteran owned business, the federal government has special procurement rules for your benefit that you should know about.  Contact our Government Marketing specialists to find out more.

Veterans' Entrepreneurship Programs

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)
An entrepreneurship and management training program run by Syracuse University with companion programs at UCLA, Florida State, Texas A&M, Purdue, and UConn. Open to service-disabled veterans of Post-9/11 conflicts, this free program involves the completion of an online curriculum followed by a 9-day residency (all costs included) at the host university and a year of free business support thereafter. This is a highly rated program (probably the premier program of its type) with a good record of success.

Women Veterans Ignite the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)
A similar program to EBV also run by the Whitman School at Syracuse. This free program is aimed at female veterans. It consists of an online course and a three day residency at Syracuse, followed by a period of mentoring. It soon plans to expand across the country, like EBV did. The 3-day residency in Syracuse is paid for, but transportation is not.

Operation Endure & Grow
Another spin-off program of EBV, this one is aimed at National Guard members, reservists, and their families. This is online training that has two different tracks. One is for small business start-up and the other track is for small business growth. The program is mostly supported by the SBA. However, there is a registration cost of $75 for eight weeks of online training.

Veterans with Disabilities Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)
This program is for veterans that are disabled as a result of their military service. It is hosted at Oklahoma State and it is free to those qualified veterans accepted into the program. It is a two-month online course followed by an all-expenses paid 8-day residency at Oklahoma State. This course offers training in entrepreneurship and small business management.

Wall Street Warfighters Foundation
This is a Philadelphia-based program that trains disabled veterans for work in the finance industry. It is a rigorous six month program where students rotate through classes and internships. It must be noted, however, that the objective of this foundation is to steer students towards jobs in large firms rather than starting up small businesses.

VETWORK your Business
A Philadelphia-based networking program that helps veteran business owners network with each other and that hosts workshops on marketing to the federal government and private industry in the Philadelphia area. This program is run by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Veteran's Entrepreneur Boot Camp
The Riverside Center for Innovation (RCI) offers this camp which is free training for veterans and their spouses. It is a 13 to 15 week course designed to teach those interested in starting a small business. It is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Other Resources and Links


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