Free entrepreneurship programs for veterans
Training, boot camps, mentoring and funding for veterans who own or want to start a business.
39 programs listed. 33 are free with no VA benefit needed, 1 is free or paid through a VA benefit (GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC 2.0), and 5 are paid or have unclear cost. 7 closed programs are listed last. Last checked Sep 30 to Oct 4, 2026.
Use the program finder to filter by who you are, your benefits, state and format. Questions about benefits? See the FAQ.
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on each program's official page. Verify details = some details not fully confirmed.
Programs (39)
- SBIR/STTR (America's Seed Fund)
U.S. federal agencies via SBA · Free
Non-dilutive R&D funding ($50K to $2M+) for small tech businesses
- SBA VetCert (SDVOSB/VOSB certification) Verify details
SBA · Free
Free Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certification for federal set-asides
- Amazon Ads Academy certifications
Amazon Ads · Free
Free courses plus certifications (Sponsored Ads, Retail, Programmatic, Video, Amazon Marketing Cloud, Campaign Planning, Twitch Ads) with a digital badge and certificate
- EBV (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans), 9 host universities
Saint Joseph's University / Syracuse IVMF EBV Consortium · Free
3-phase entrepreneurship training: online Phase I, 8-9 day residency, 12 months mentorship
- Dog Tag Fellowship Verify details
Dog Tag Inc. / Georgetown University · Free
5-month fellowship: Georgetown business admin cert + hands-on work in Dog Tag Bakery + wellness
- The Vetted Accelerator Verify details
Vetted (VC) · Free
Accelerator with investment: 10-day Tel Aviv bootcamp, online mentorship, 10-day Miami work-up
- HP LIFE: AI for Beginners
HP LIFE (HP Foundation) with UNIDO · Free
Free short AI course (key concepts, generative AI, LLMs) with a certificate of completion; part of 30+ free HP LIFE courses
- Shopify Academy free courses (marketing and commerce)
Shopify · Free
Free Shopify courses and learning paths (e.g. Marketing Fundamentals); badges are earned by passing a proctored assessment
- APEX Accelerators (formerly PTAC) - North Carolina
DoD Office of Small Business Programs / NC APEX · Free
Free government contracting counseling (SAM, bids, SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business))
- Boots to Business (B2B)
SBA Office of Veterans Business Development · Free
2-day intro entrepreneurship course + 8-week online follow-on (IVMF (Institute for Veterans and Military Families))
- Boots to Business Reboot (online and in-person)
SBA · Free
Boots to Business for veterans off-installation, often virtual
- NC Military Business Center (NCMBC)
NC Community College System · Free
Free help for NC (North Carolina) businesses to win DoD (Department of Defense) and federal contracts; MatchForce
- NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
UNC System / SBA SBDC · Free
Free confidential business counseling incl. SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research)/STTR tech commercialization help
- SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers (all)
SBA · Free
Network of ~28 VBOCs offering free counseling and training
- SCORE Mentoring (veteran mentors)
SCORE / SBA · Free
Free business mentoring and workshops
- STRIVE (Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship)
Syracuse IVMF · Free
Ideation-stage entrepreneurship training
- Vet To CEO
Vet To CEO · Free
On-demand, AI-supported online Veterans Business Accelerator + Pass the Guidon (business acquisition/ETA) training
- Veterans Business Outreach Center - Fayetteville State University (NC/SC/KY)
Fayetteville State University / SBA · Free
Free business counseling, B2B (Boots to Business) Reboot, business plans, lender referrals
- EBV-F (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families) Verify details
Syracuse IVMF · Free
EBV (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans) for family members/caregivers
- Hello Alice Small Business Grants (veteran grants when offered) Verify details
Hello Alice · Free
Periodic grants for veteran-owned businesses
- National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) - Oklahoma State Verify details
Oklahoma State University Riata Center · Free
3-phase VEP (Veterans Entrepreneurship Program): online self-study, 8-day boot camp residency, 5 months advising
- National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) - University of Florida Verify details
UF Warrington Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center · Free
VEP (Veterans Entrepreneurship Program): 5-week online self-study + 5-day in-person bootcamp in May + mentoring
- PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program (Incubator + Accelerator tracks) Verify details
PenFed Foundation · Free
Two-track (Incubator / Accelerator) mentorship and training, no equity
- SBA Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (SDVETP) grantees Verify details
SBA OVBD · Free
SBA-funded entrepreneurship training for service-disabled vets via grantees (e.g., IVMF (Institute for Veterans and Military Families), others)
- SBA Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP) Verify details
SBA OVBD · Free
SBA-funded training for women veterans
- VA Veteran Entrepreneur Portal / VetBiz Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OSDBU · Free
Info hub; VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) Vets First contracting preference for SDVOSBs
- Veteran Loan Fund Accelerator Verify details
Veteran Loan Fund · Free
8-week accelerator + coaching + access to CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) loans/grants
- Warrior Rising Verify details
Warrior Rising · Free
LaunchPoint (for service-disabled veterans: idea to viable business), Warrior Academy (self-paced business plan), Warrior University (advanced), Business Shower live pitch…
- Alpha-Bet (Vetted education program) Verify details
Vetted · Cost unclear
Education program for aspiring veteran founders
- Veteran EDGE Conference Verify details
Syracuse IVMF · Cost unclear (Unknown (selection-based))
3-day business growth conference (Dallas, March) for established veteran businesses
- VR&E Self-Employment Track Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Business plan development, training, and possibly startup equipment/supplies for approved self-employment
- VetFran Verify details
International Franchise Association · Not always free (Discounted (not free))
Franchise fee discounts for veterans
- DAV Patriot Boot Camp Closed
DAV (Disabled American Veterans) · Free
3-day intensive startup program with mentors + pitch contest (non-dilutive prizes)
- Military Founders Lab (formerly Bunker Labs Veterans in Residence) Closed
Syracuse IVMF · Free
Virtual 10-week accelerator for early-stage military-connected founders
- EBV Accelerate (EBV-A) Closed Verify details
Syracuse IVMF (hosted by LSU and FSU in 2026) · Free
Growth accelerator for existing veteran businesses with revenue
- National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) - UTC Closed Verify details
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga · Free
VEP (Veterans Entrepreneurship Program) immersion program (15th year) with residency and mentoring
- Bunker Labs Veterans in Residence Closed Verify details
Bunker Labs · Free
Former accelerator
- StreetShares (veteran business lending) Closed Verify details
StreetShares / MeridianLink · Cost unclear
Former veteran-focused small business lender and veteran business award
- V-WISE (Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship) Closed
Syracuse IVMF / SBA · Not always free (Free/low cost (travel may be on participant))
Online + 3-day conference entrepreneurship training