Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program
Stay tuned! Pending annual grant awards, we will have more information soon. In the meantime, please click the link below to let us know your interest in the FAU Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program (VFEP).
2023-2024 Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program
The VFEP, sponsored (fully-funded) by Veterans Florida, is an immersive and comprehensive educational program designed for current or future business owners. The 6/8-week programs provide Veterans with the knowledge and skills needed for starting and/or growing businesses. In addition to the in-depth educational program, all Veterans are paired with a successful entrepreneur who provides direct guidance and mentorship throughout the program and beyond.
Startup Cohorts: If you join one of our VFEP Startup Programs, you will complete and produce a Business Model Canvas with the assistance of a mentor. You will determine if your idea, business, or new product or service is or is not validated and marketable. After successfully completing the program, you will be eligible to enter FAU's annual Business Pitch Competition to compete for Startup seed funding.
Growth Cohort: If you join our VFEP Growth Program, you will receive training designed to provide you with plans to grow and expand your business. You are not required to have any employees but should have a business generating revenue. You will create a Business Model Canvas with the assistance of a mentor and will determine if your business is validated/marketable and if it is scalable/expandable.
Pre-requisites:
- Must be a Florida resident.
- Must be one of the following:
- An Honorably discharged veteran; must be able to provide copy of DD214 Member 4 copy or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs letter verifying honorable discharge.
- An Active duty member of the United States military within 12 months of End Term of Service (ETS), or a member of the National Guard or United States Reserves; Partners must collect the letter confirming guard/reserve or active duty status.
- a spouse who attends with another participant of a qualifying category.
- Registered business entity or incorporated with the State of Florida on Sunbiz and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). (For Growth Program only.)
Veterans Florida Expo
Veterans Florida hosts an annual statewide pitch competition where FAU may recommend
a pitch contestant from one of the cohorts listed above. The Expo is a two day event
for veterans, separating or retiring service members, entrepreneurs, and spouses.
It includes a career fair, entrepreneur resource fair with a pitch competition, and
benefits exhibition to showcase everything veterans and their families need to know
about working and living in Florida.
FAU Veterans Business Pitch Competition
Each year, FAU holds an annual Business Pitch Competition with a Veterans track sponsored by Eric. H. Shaw and Office Depot. Veterans who successfully complete the Veterans Florida Startup Program will be eligible to enter the competition to compete for Startup seed funding.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Veterans Business Pitch Competition, sponsored by Eric. H. Shaw and Office Depot!
- 1st place | $1,500: Clinical Fitness (Dr. José L. Matta)
- 2nd place | $1,000: DealHero LLC (Erik Ducharme)
Congratulations to all who competed. We wish you all much success in your entrepreneurial endeavors!
| Business | Founder |
| Land O'Plenty LLC | Bruce Bitterman |
| Clinical Fitness | Dr. José L. Matta |
| Digital Lab Miami | Phillip Davis, Jr. |
| Raiselink | Chris Houghtaling |
| DealHero | Erik Ducharme |
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Get Help Starting Your Veteran-Owned Business
FAU's Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program | VFEP
This entrepreneurship course, sponsored by Veterans Florida, is an immersive and comprehensive educational program designed for current or future businesses owners. The 6 or 8-week programs provide Veterans with the knowledge and skills they need for starting and/or growing their businesses. In addition to the in-depth educational program all participants are paired with a successful entrepreneur who provides direct guidance and mentorship throughout the program and beyond.
Registration is still open for the Spring 2023 Growth Program. Register HERE.
April 27 - June 1, 2023 | Thursdays, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Boca Raton campus
This accelerated 6-week program provides Veterans with the knowledge and skills they need for growing their businesses.
Veterans Florida is a non-profit corporation created by the State of Florida to help veterans transition to civilian life. The organization connects veterans to employers and connect employers with grant funds to hire and train veterans while educating veterans on how to open their own businesses in Florida.
Florida Atlantic University is a network partner of Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program that offers on-campus instruction and access to local resources such as business leaders and mentors. We encourage veterans to sign up for entrepreneurship courses!
VISIT THE VETERANS FLORIDA WEBSITE
FAU Veterans Florida Alumni Success Stories
Steve Edwards, founder of PremierVirtual, virtual job fair platfrom continues expansion and success
Governor's Young Entrepreneur Award goes to FAU Veteran Entrepreneurship Program graduate
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Boca Raton businessman Logan Skees received the Governor's Young Entrepreneur Award in 2017 as a graduate of the Florida Veterans Entrepreneurship program offered by FAU Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
Contact Us
Roland Kidwell
Director, Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
kidwellr@fau.edu
Kevin Cox
Assistant Director, Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
kcox24@fau.edu
Maria Neira
Program Manager, Veterans Program
mneira2014@fau.edu
Cell: +1 (561) 324-6632
Adams Center for Entrepreneurship
777 Glades Road
DeSantis Pavilion DS-201
Boca Raton, FL 33431
adamscenter@fau.edu
phone: +1 (561) 297-3654