National Invest In Veterans Week®

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Veteran Entrepreneurs ONLY: Grants, Resources, and Legislative Innovation

Chris Moore

Presented by National Invest In Veterans Week®

Veterans are uniquely positioned to drive innovation and leadership in business, yet they often face systemic barriers that hinder their entrepreneurial success. National Invest In Veterans Week® is committed to eliminating these obstacles by providing comprehensive resources, actionable insights, and innovative legislative proposals to support veteran entrepreneurs.

This guide combines practical information on small-business grants and financing with a strategic overview of the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act, a transformative legislative initiative to promote veteran entrepreneurship.

Why Pursue Veteran Business Grants?

Grants are powerful tools for veteran-owned businesses. Unlike loans, they provide free funding, reducing financial strain and allowing entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and growth. These resources are designed to:

  • Provide financial relief by covering costs such as equipment, marketing, and hiring.

  • Foster economic equity by addressing systemic barriers to funding.

  • Catalyze growth and innovation through industry-specific opportunities.

Comprehensive Grant Opportunities for Veterans

Top 15 Small-Business Grants for Veterans

1. The Second Service Foundation

  • Mission: Supports veterans and their spouses through the Military Entrepreneur Challenge.

  • Tactics: Complete coaching sessions and submit a proposal for audience-voted prizes.

2. Warrior Rising

  • Mission: Provides grants to "vetrepreneurs" who complete rigorous training and mentorship programs.

3. Hiring Our Heroes’ Small Business Grant Program

  • Funding: $10,000 grants for businesses with 3–20 employees.

  • Deadline: February 15, 2025.

4. Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

  • Target: Veterans in agriculture.

  • Membership: Requires Farmer Veteran Coalition enrollment.

  • Deadline: February 14, 2025.

5. Feed the Soul Foundation’s Restaurant Program

  • Funding: $10,000 grants and six months of expert consultation.

  • Application Window: February 1 – April 15, 2025.

6. Texas Woman’s University Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant

  • Funding: $5,000 for women veterans in Texas.

  • Deadline: January 21 – February 21, 2025.

7. Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab

  • Opportunity: Eight-week training ending in a pitch competition with grant awards.

  • Cohort Start: March 2025.

8. NASE Growth Grants

  • Funding: $4,000 quarterly grants for veteran members.

9. SBIR/STTR Programs

  • Focus: Research and commercialization grants for tech-driven businesses.

10. Veteran Shark Tank

  • Prize: $50,000 for the best business pitch.

11. Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Grant

  • Funding: $1,000 micro-grants awarded to 25 veteran-owned businesses annually.

12. FedEx Small Business Grant Contest

  • Funding: $20,000–$50,000 for businesses with fewer than 99 employees.

13. Venmo Small Business Grant

  • Funding: $20,000 for businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

14. eBay Up & Running Grants

  • Funding: $10,000 awarded to 50 eBay sellers annually.

15. Grants.gov

  • Access: Explore over 1,000 federal grants tailored to small businesses, including veteran-owned entities.

The Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act

Objective: Eliminate systemic barriers faced by veteran entrepreneurs by providing financial incentives, mentorship, and streamlined resources. This Act builds on research from the 2017 and 2018 Jacksonville Vetrepreneur Summits, which identified two primary challenges:

  1. Lack of access to capital.

  2. Desire for networking and mentorship opportunities.

Key Features of the Act

  1. Financial Incentives

    • Startup Tax Credits: $15,000 for businesses in emerging industries.

    • Low-Interest SBA Loans: 2% interest rate reduction for veteran-owned businesses.

    • Hiring Incentives: $6,000 tax breaks per veteran hired.

  2. Mentorship and Training

    • Veteran Entrepreneur Mentorship Network: Connects veterans with industry leaders.

    • Boots to Business Expansion: Specialized tracks in AI, renewable energy, and cybersecurity.

  3. Public-Private Partnerships

    • Innovation Stimulus Grants: $300 million annually to foster corporate collaboration with veteran businesses.

    • Corporate Engagement Tax Credits: Incentives for corporations supporting veteran-led startups.

  4. Streamlined Federal Contracting

    • Priority Access: Reserves 12% of federal contracts for veteran-owned businesses in critical sectors.

  5. Digital and Physical Support

    • Veteran Business Development Centers: Hybrid hubs for training and grant support.

    • Virtual Support Platform: A centralized hub for funding, mentorship, and collaboration.

Additional Resources for Veterans

  • Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs): SBA-funded centers providing mentorship, workshops, and counseling.

  • Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF): Free business training and mentorship based at Syracuse University.

  • VetFran: Discounts on franchise opportunities for veterans.

  • Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP): Free training to help veterans secure government contracts.

Strategic Outcomes by 2030

  • 25% Increase in veteran-owned businesses.

  • 1.5 Million New Jobs created.

  • Economic Equity: Expanded opportunities for underserved veteran groups, including women and minorities.

  • Global Competitiveness: Strengthened U.S. leadership in critical industries like AI and green technology.

Final Call to Action

Veterans are vital to the nation’s economic future. Through grants, innovative legislation like the Invest in Veterans Stimulus Act, and tailored mentorship, they can thrive as entrepreneurs and leaders.

Are you ready to deploy your vision? Begin your journey today with resources from National Invest In Veterans Week®.