Vets2Vets is currently a project of Empowerment Works, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization.
Our ultimate goal is to advance self-sufficiency for veterans. We help veterans transform into financially independent inventors, entrepreneurs, business owners, farm owners, home owners and potentially Veteran Mentors themselves. Our organizations maintains ongoing capital and donation efforts to support our projects, programs and campaigns. Learn more below:
Vets2Vets’ Mentor power base is comprised of healthy and stable qualified veterans who are successful entrepreneurs, vibrant and active professionals and/or retirees. These dedicated men and women are personally familiar with the esprit d’corps of military culture and therefore are the most empathetic and sympathetic to veterans in need. We are actively seeking out stable and qualified veterans to help their former brothers and sisters in arms with becoming business owners. Just a few hours per week of telephone mentorship and coaching “vet-to-vet” can make a significant difference. Enroll Now>>
We are running four programs during our launch phase December 2015-December 2016. Click below to learn more:
- Hemp for Heroes
- Pints for Patriots
- Founders Retreat
- 2016 Spring NC Veteran Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
- Designing a new app that helps veterans start businesses and navigate veteran entrepreneurial benefits
- Developing specialized trust funds for disabled veteran entrepreneurs to help recoup disability incurred debt and stabilize new business ventures
- Developing low income veteran housing solutions for veteran solopreneurs
Enroll or Donate Now
We have three major capital campaigns:
- Purchase and develop a Veteran Sustainable Farm & Green Building Demonstration Park a USDA designated urban farm in West Asheville, NC.
- Develop our operating budget for staff, mentor out reach, yearly conference and veteran entrepreneur scholarship budget
- Develop capital accelerator fund to invest in veteran focused businesses.
Enroll or Donate Now
We are always compiling a list of relevant and current resources for veteran entrepreneurs:
SBA Office of Veterans Business Development
The mission of the U.S. Small Business Administrations Office of Veterans Business Development is to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their Dependents or Survivors.
- External links:
- SBA Office of Veterans Business Development website.
- Directory of District Veterans Business Development Officers – Each SBA district office has such and officer. This map/directory will help you locate one nearby.
SBA Programs and Resources for Veterans
Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative
This initiative is for veterans and members of the military community who want to establish or expand a small business.
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans
This provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses that can’t be met due to an essential employee being called to active duty.
Loans and Grants Search Tool
Many states and other organizations also provide loans to veterans. This search tool assists in looking for such programs in your state.
Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup
Office of Veterans Business Development
This provides access to training, counseling and assistance.
National Veterans Business Development Conference & Expo
This annual conference focuses on veteran small businesses and federal procurement opportunities.
SBA Resources for People with Disabilities
This offers information about starting, financing and running a small business aimed at disabled persons, including service-disabled veterans.
Veterans Business Outreach Program
The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is an SBA-backed program designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. The SBA has eight organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC).
- External link:
- Veterans Business Outreach Programs (VBOP) – Information about the program and a directory of the eight programs.
The Center For Veterans Enterprise (CVE)
The mission of the Veterans Administrations Center for Veterans Enterprise is to improve the business climate for veterans, to minimize access barriers and to inform the public about the benefits of working with veteran-owned small businesses. The service can be of assistance to veteran-runned businesses who seek to sell services and products to the government as it provide “acquisition teams” that offer procurement coaching, free market research, awareness briefings and awards for noteworthy achievements.
- External link: VetBiz.gov – Center for Veterans Enterprise website
Entrepreneurship Bootcamps for Vets with Disabilities (EBV)
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is a week-long free program provided by university business schools that offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Schools participating: UCLA Anderson School of Management, Florida State University College of Business, Mays Business School at Texas A&M, and the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University.
Business Literate Vets
MISSION #1. One of our missions is to facilitate veteran business literacy. We facilitate entrepreneurial training and one on one business mentoring to advance veteran success. By developing an integrated curricula, syllabus and pedagogy developed by the leading institutions on entrepreneurship and stewardship we hope to curate the next wave of responsible and savvy business owners.
Forward Thinking Vets
Mission #2. Cultivating creativity, innovation and sustainable attitudes figures prominently in our missions. We hope to inspire a new generation of veteran entrepreneurs who have America’s national interests and the entire planets’ ecological sustainability in mind. The world’s security relies on forward thinking business leaders who integrate the triple bottom line into their planning and operations.
Problem Solving Vets
Mission #3. Our focus on supporting veteran owned ventures in the energy, international security & post war reconstruction, information technology, health care, mixed used real estate development and sustainable agriculture sectors points to our desire to address the worlds’ most pressing problems. We hope our veteran graduates are up to the challenge.
Eco Aware Vets
Mission #4. Vets2Vets is dedicated to the principles of sustainable development. We provide green business coaching and adhere to the practices ensure compliance with Equator-Principles, Carbon Principles, United States Green Building Council, Energy STAR, Fair Trade, Capital Market Partnership and other standards that ensure social and environmental responsibility.