BACK A VETERAN. BUILD A FUTURE.You Served. Now it's our turn to serve you.
Your support helps veteran entrepreneurs turn their ideas into real businesses, providing everything from business strategy and branding to financial planning, launch, and access to capital, at absolutely no cost to the veteran.
You Served. Now it's our turn to serve you.
Education
Build the practical business knowledge and strategic foundation needed to turn your experience into a launch-ready venture.
Mentorship
Learn alongside experienced entrepreneurs and professionals who provide guidance, perspective, and support throughout the journey.
Community
Connect with a network of veterans and builders who understand your background and are working toward what’s next together.
For VeteransYour Next Mission Starts Today
Free. Cohort-based. A real business Launch package in your hands.
For SupportersHelp Build the Next Veteran-owned business
Free. Cohort-based. A real business Launch package in your hands.
Why We ExistThe Gap Between Military Service and Business Success Is Real
Veterans are 45% more likely than civilians to want to start a business. Yet most veteran entrepreneurship programs stop at workshops and handbooks. Nobody does the actual work with you - until now.
No Access to Execution Support
Existing programs offer instruction, never implementation. Veterans leave workshops with notebooks full of theory and no business infrastructure built. The gap between ‘learning about’ a business and ‘having’ a business is enormous - and no national program currently closes it.
Capital Gaps Are Structural
Veterans receive an average small business loan of $80k versus $160k for civilians - a 50% capital gap that compounds at every stage of the startup process. This is not a discipline problem. It is a structural disadvantage that requires a structural solution.
Investor Access is Nearly Zero
Less than 3% of veteran entrepreneurs have ever been introduced to an angel investor or VC. Active duty service creates geographic and social isolation from entrepreneurial ecosystems - veterans exit service without a single warm contact in the investment community.
No Legal or Financial Foundation
The majority of veteran startups operate without a formal legal structure or financial model in Year 1, creating compounding risk that destroys businesses before they have a chance to scale. A business plan without a financial model is a vision statement, not a business.
Our Mission
We equip veterans with the resources, guidance, and support they need to turn their skills and ideas into sustainable businesses.
Our Vision
We envision a future where every veteran with the drive to build has a clear path to entrepreneurship and economic independence.
THE PROCESSHow it Works
01
Apply — Free
Submit your free online application describing your business idea, stage, and goals. No business experience is required - just a genuine commitment to show up and do the work. The application takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is reviewed within 5 business days. No fee. No obligation.
02
Discovery Call
A 45-minute call with the VVF Program Director to assess fit, stage, goals, and readiness. You receive a full program overview, a complete Q&A session, and honest feedback about whether the VVF program is the right tool for your specific business situation - no pressure - just an honest conversation.
03
Join Your Cohort
You’re assigned to the next 5-person veteran cohort. The Engagement Agreement is signed, your start date is confirmed, and materials are issued. Three structured sessions per week for 16 weeks. Full attendance at every session is mandatory to ensure each graduate has a launch-ready business infrastructure.
04
Receive Your Build Package
After 16 weeks, you receive your complete VVF Build Package - a professional business plan, 3- year financial model, legal entity setup, full marketing plan and GTM strategy, investor- grade pitch deck, warm investor introductions, and 60-day advisory support.
| Deliverable | Description & Scope | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Branding | Brand strategy foundation, Brand voice & tone definition, Creative direction + moodboards, Complete brand identity system, Art direction system + touchpoints, Guest Experience System - menu + 2 branded customer experience pieces (concept-level), Daily Rotation Kit (3 social templates), Apparel & Merch Design (2 branded merch designs), Brand Guidelines / Brand | WEEKS 1–3 |
| Professional Business Plan | 25–40 page professional plan: market analysis, competitive landscape, go-to-market strategy, operational plan, and 5-year vision. | WEEKS 1–5 |
| 3-Year Financial Model | P&L, cash flow, balance sheet, break-even analysis, cap table framework, and investor-ready financial narrative. | WEEKS 4–8 |
| Legal Entity Setup | LLC or corporation formation guidance, operating agreement, EIN acquisition, IP protection basics, and vendor contract templates. | WEEK 5 |
| Marketing Plan & GTM | Full marketing strategy, brand identity brief, customer personas, channel playbook, social media strategy, and 90-day launch campaign. | WEEKS 6–10 |
| Investor Pitch Deck | 20-slide investor-grade deck: problem, solution, market, traction, business model, competitive advantage, team, financials, and ask. | WEEKS 10–13 |
| Investor Introductions | Warm referrals to VVF's curated angel investor and VC network; facilitated introductions and pitch meeting preparation. | WEEKS 14–15 |
| 60-Day Advisory Support | Post-delivery check-ins at 30 and 60 days; accountability coaching, strategic pivots, and implementation support. | Post-Program |
A $75,000 Business Launch
Infrastructure - Yours, Free
Every component is professional-grade - the quality a VC or lender would expect from a funded startup. These rates reflect Southern California consulting market pricing, and every figure is independently verifiable. Donors fund real, tangible deliverables - not overhead.
A $55,000 Business Launch Infrastructure - Yours, Free
Every component is professional-grade - the quality a VC or lender would expect from a funded startup. These rates reflect Southern California consulting market pricing, and every figure is independently verifiable. Donors fund real, tangible deliverables - not overhead.
*Market values shown reflect standard Southern California consulting market pricing.
Why VVF Is DifferentWe Are Not a Course. We Are Not a Bootcamp. We Build Alongside You.
The VVF model is deliberately different from every other veteran entrepreneurship program in the country. Here is exactly what makes it different - and why it matters to every veteran who joins and every donor who gives.
All-Or-Nothing Commitment
Full participation in all 16 weeks is mandatory. There are no à la carte services and no partial deliverables. This is not a restriction - it is the only way to produce complete, investor-ready outcomes. Partial engagement produces partial businesses, and VVF will not attach its name to an incomplete launch.
Full-Time Salaried Staff
Every component of the VVF Build Package is delivered by full-time, salaried professionals - not volunteers or part-time contractors. Quality is non-negotiable when a veteran’s business is on the line. Seven staff members are on payroll before the first veteran cohort begins.
Cohort-Based Delivery
Six veterans per cohort. You progress together, hold each other accountable, and graduate with a peer network of fellow founders - mirroring the unit cohesion of military service. Veterans motivate each other through shared challenges in ways solo programs cannot replicate.
100% Veteran Ownership
VVF holds no equity, takes no fee, and has no financial stake in any veteran’s business - now or ever. Everything built belongs entirely to the veteran on Day One and forever after. We are the builders. You are the owner. This is non-negotiable.
Warm Investor Network
Warm introductions - not cold contacts - to VVF’s curated network of angel investors and venture capital firms. Your pitch deck is complete before you walk into the meeting. Your introduction is genuine. You arrive with professional infrastructure and a trusted referral.
60-Day Follow-Through
The work doesn’t stop at delivery. Check-in calls at 30 and 60 days post-delivery ensure implementation is on track, pivots are addressed, and momentum is maintained. This period also generates the outcome data VVF reports back to donors with full transparency.
You Earned This. Now Let‘s Build It.
The VVF program is open to any honorably discharged veteran with a desire to become self-employed. All branches. All service lengths.
Honorable discharge required - DD214 with an Honorable characterization of service
All stages eligible - pre-idea through early revenue ($0–$500K ARR
Full 16-week commitment required upon acceptance - no partial participation, no exceptions
6 veterans per cohort - limited spots available per cohort cycle, no waitlist guarantee
Completely free - no cost, no equity, no strings of any kind, now or ever
All branches welcome - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, Reserve
