The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University is celebrating five years of leading programs for veteran-owned small businesses with two veteran and military spouse entrepreneur competitions with more than $100,000 in cash prizes.
These are for veterans, military spouses and veteran-owned businesses. There are two innovative business competitions: the VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge and the Virtual Elevator Pitch Competition. These programs add to the IVMF’s portfolio of premier initiatives created to empower, train and support veteran and military spouseentrepreneurs.
Through programs including Boots to Business (B2B), Boots to Business Reboot, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) and Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE), the IVMF has trained over 50,000 potential and practicing veteran entrepreneurs. The 3,300 graduates of their EBV and V-WISE programs alone have generated more than $329 million in revenue. The new initiatives demonstrate IVMF’s expanded commitment to helping veterans, service members in transition and military spouses create and sustain successful businesses.
Unique Veteran Business Growth Challenge Offers Capital and Expert Coaching
The VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge is a national competition offering recipients elite coaching and business capital with a first place prize of $50,000. It is offered through the generous support of the Marcus Foundation and is open to all U.S.-based veteran-owned businesses. Winners will receive exposure to a distinguished judging panel and up to three months of individualized coaching in addition to the prize money. The application deadline for the contest is Dec. 10, 2016. Visit the VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge for more information.
Virtual Elevator Pitch Competition Sharpens Skills and Awards Thousands in Prizes
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) and EBV-Families (EBV-F), with financial support from Prudential Financial, are sponsoring The Virtual Elevator Pitch Competition. Graduates of EBV and EBV-F are challenged to give their best 90-second elevator pitch for a new innovation, current product or business service. Graduates are asked to submit their pitch video by midnight, Nov. 4, 2016. The top five pitches receive between $500 and $4,000.
“More than 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the United States employ over 5 million people,” said IVMF founder and Syracuse University’s vice chancellor, Mike Haynie, Ph.D., “the success of these businesses is tremendously important to sustaining a vibrant, thriving economy. These new initiatives are one way the IVMF is broadening its commitment, backed by longstanding, dedicated partners to support the long-term success of the military community post-service.”
