Free online courses for Veterans needing business start-up or accelerator help

Editor’s note: The sharing of any non-VA information does not constitute an endorsement of products and services on the part of VA. Veterans should verify the information with the organization offering.

Are you a Veteran with aspirations of entrepreneurship and business ownership? Do you need guidance to help you put your idea into action?

Warrior Rising is positioned to help you. A non-profit organization launched by Veterans for Veterans in 2015, Warrior Rising is dedicated to transforming Veterans into “Vetrepreneurs,” providing them opportunities to create sustainable businesses, perpetuate the hiring of fellow American Veterans and earning their future.

Warrior Rising’s next Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurs (SDVET) online course starts Feb. 27, 2025. This free program, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, includes four weeks of web-based instruction, followed by participation in other programs Warrior Rising offers (Warrior Academy, Warrior University – a Veteran Business Accelerator program, virtual-live Coaching and Master Class sessions).

Please note, this program is funded specifically to assist service-disabled Veterans.  

Warrior Rising does have other training programs for Veterans looking to start or accelerate their own business that do not have the service-disability requirement. You can find out more about them on the Warrior Rising website.   

Please ensure accuracy of all information (especially email and phone number) before submitting. This is absolutely critical: if the email or other information is incorrect, Warrior Rising will not be able to provide you with necessary links for the program.  

You do not need a Google account to register for this program. If you meet the requirement of service disability, you will be automatically admitted to the program. 

Warrior Rising will email the link for the session 1-2 days prior to start. Please check your spam folder.

Course Information

Session 1

• Introduction and overview of starting a business, as well as advantages to purchasing an existing business or starting a franchise.
• Identifying opportunities in business.

Session 2

• Understanding markets and competitive space.
• Building your economic model.

Session 3

• Legal entity structuring and insurance.
• Financing options (including latest in capital agreements, CDFI’s, etc).

Session 4

• Business plan creation.
• Government contracting/other available resources and certifications.

The course is offered by Warrior Rising as part of its SDVET Program, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is free to all verified service-disabled Veterans (see qualifications below). Attendees may be located anywhere throughout the U.S. 

When

Please mark on your calendar. Virtual live sessions (via Zoom) are 60 minutes and will be at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on the following days: Feb. 27, March 6, 13 and 20. The Zoom link will be provided to you by email 1-2 business days prior to start of the sessions. If you miss one session you can still join the remaining sessions. The course is offered four times per year if you’re not able to make this session. It is not offered on demand or recorded for later viewing.

Please ensure your information is correct when registering (especially email address). Please check your spam folder (or in some cases, if you have auto-routing rules set up for your email it may be bypassing your inbox altogether and going to trash or another folder you’ve set up in your email). It will be the same link for every session. Also, please be aware that the Warrior Rising email provider also distributes a newsletter and other information. 

If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any messages (including the links for these sessions).

Qualifications

For verification, a DD-214 is required (please blackline or cover your SSN), along with a valid and issued letter of disability from VA (you can cover the benefit amount). Class attendees must also provide documentation from VA showing disability (any disability rating is sufficient). Documents must be less than 1 MB combined; please use online compression software if needed.

Current or widowed spouses of qualifying Veterans may also participate, but you must provide the required documentation above.

Interested Veterans must be pursuing a career as an entrepreneur or business owner at the concept or early stage of business development for this program.

Apply no later than 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 24, 2025, at Warrior Rising SDVET Program Registration. The next presentation of this course will be in late May/early June 2025. Please note that there is no waitlist for future sessions. Registration for all future sessions opens approximately two weeks prior.  

Warrior Rising is a 501c3 non-profit company comprised of Veterans, and it offers free entrepreneurship training to current and former military service members. Visit Warrior Rising for more information or contact it at SDVET@WarriorRising.org. Please include your email address in the body of your message or they will not have a way to respond to you.

Warrior Rising does collect demographic information in the application solely for purposes of reporting for grant purposes and does not use the information for selection or identification purposes.