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Want to start a business but don’t know where to begin? A free course from Warrior Rising helps service-disabled Veterans take the first step.
You’ve probably heard it before…“There are benefits out there for Veteran entrepreneurs.” But knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming.
What should you build? How do you know if it’s a real business idea? Do you need a plan? Funding? A degree?
Most Veterans stop here before they start. But the benefits aren’t the means to a successful business—the right opportunity is.
That’s why Warrior Rising created SDVET LaunchPoint—a free, 4-week virtual course in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), designed specifically for service-disabled Veterans who are ready to explore business ownership.
What is SDVET LaunchPoint?
It’s a starting point. It is a place to explore ideas, test assumptions and begin aligning what matters most.
Warrior Rising can help you connect the dots between:
- What you’re interested in.
- What you’re skilled at.
- What you’re passionate about.
- And how that becomes a viable market opportunity with the resources you have available.
Whether you’re just beginning your entrepreneurial journey or already running a business and want to vet a new idea, this is the place to do it with structure and with fellow Veterans who understand the mission.
You’ll meet weekly on Zoom, learn from other SDVETs who’ve built businesses of their own, and walk away with clarity, confidence and a plan to move forward.
And yes, it’s completely free.
Course details
- Course Name: SDVET LaunchPoint.
- Start date: June 5, 2025.
- End Date: June 26, 2025.
- When: Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT.
- Where: Live on Zoom (1-hour weekly sessions).
- Deadline to Apply: June 1, 2025.
What you’ll learn
This is about mindset, mission and mapping your next step.
Each week builds on the last. By the end, you’ll have:
- A clear understanding of whether business is the right path for you.
- 1–2 solid business ideas shaped by your experience.
- Insight into your ideal customer and your competitive space.
- A simple model to test your idea’s potential.
- An overview of Warrior Rising and other resources for SDVETs
Who can apply?
To be eligible for SDVET LaunchPoint, you must:
- Be a U.S. military Veteran with an honorable discharge.
- Have a service-connected disability rating.
- Be in the idea or early-stage of building a business.
- Or be a current business owner exploring a new direction.
- Be ready to learn, build and take action.
Spouses of qualifying Veterans may also apply with the appropriate documentation.
Verification includes:
- A DD-214 (with SSN blocked) showing honorable discharge.
- A current VA disability letter (any rating accepted).
Apply by June 1, 2025.
There is no waitlist.
Registration for future sessions opens two weeks before the next launch.
About Warrior Rising
Warrior Rising is a nonprofit built by Veterans for Veterans. Since 2015, it has helped thousands of military-connected entrepreneurs start businesses through real-world training, coaching and community.
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Statement of Endorsement
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
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I guess I was too late, but is there another one coming up that would be able to register? I was just thinking about something like this with another group but that group is all over the place. Is there someone I can contact and talk to you about this? Thank you.
This sounds like a fantastic program! I want to know how to launch our small custom woodworking site but am bogged down with all the essential of website, social media connections, security from the trolls & scoundrels, the software programs, how to know the government requirements for selling our custom woodworking, etc. Though still teachable disabled Veterans, both my husband & I are now in our 60’s and the “how sales are made today safely” is a whole new ballgame. I need help how to push through all the disconnects
Neither of us have run our own small businesses but we want to & do it efficiently & effectively with all the social media connections as good stewards. It is as if we are stuck, as it is just overwhelming!
Reading the comments below, I do not see any comments on a successful meet up. Did anyone connect with the courses offered?
I never got any feed back after applying for the meeting. It is 10 minutes into the meeting time, but no email, text link. I have tried emailing and calling, the phone line is constantly busy.
I’ve applied to the course and received a “you’re accepted” notification. But have not heard a single word since.
There should be a follow email with a zoom link and code to join the zoom meeting, but I have nothing in my email (including spam and trash folders)
The communication from this has been absolutely terrible.
The link didn’t work when is the next course.
Will there be repeats of this class? It appears to be full this cycle.
May I still apply?
Link would not open to apply
Is it too late to apply for this course. The link to apply would not open..
Sylvia Scally
HELP I TIRED TO APPLY AND IT GAVE ME A ERROR MESSAGE
Do you have a secure fax number for documents to be faxed. Google links is not secure enough to upload my DD214
I was unable to upload my DD-214. I do have a copy of it on my phone
I can’t upload my documents to sign up. it says server error. I even tried that link to compress but it is a subscription service ?
I have been trying repeatedly to submit my application to join this class unsuccessfully. The 1 mb limitation is preventing me from uploading my documents. I have tried several websites to reduce the pdf size but 1.3 is the smallest I can get it. I called the VA helpline, WR, and NPRC. I am at a lost on what to do next. This class is important to me but I have no way to join. Please help
Went to sign up but the process involves not only creating a gmail account (which was ok), but it also would not allow me to go any further unless I signed up for one of the gmail business accounts which has a monthly fee. That felt icky.
This went from a free class that sounded like it may have had value to one that is not free and now your process is questionable.
I will without a doubt use this tool
Would this course be good if we are at the grass roots level of starting a non-fit?
How come you can’t send a picture of your forms it’s easier for me to do that but you don’t have a option for that
I am a military spouse with a nonprofit organization (501c3). My husband have a DD214 rating but his disability rating is in the appeal stage. My plan is to house women veterans who struggle with drug addiction, homelessness and mental health after prison release. I desperately need resources to continue the project.
Thanks ?
Rhonda White-Raub
Why can’t veterans who aren’t diagnosed as disabled use this this route to success? This sounds kind of like it limits the success rate of varying vets by setting some up for failure. I don’t like this.
To whom it may concern,
I have two business ideas I’d like to bring into life for service to our community. One is musical entertainment and the other is an ebike service shop. I am a Air Force veteran with an honorable discharge but without a military connected disability. Is their a program that would help me.
I have a patent. I have a prototype. My husband, bill white, was a ww11 veteran who was on 100% disability when he died. We tried to develop this product (the TraValise) but got so far and stopped as Bill became more and more disabled.
You want me to submit my DD214 to a Google Doc? Nobody should be submitting that form through a google doc, and you guys shouldn’t be taking in requests to join in this way, highly insecure and inappropriate.
Agreed. ID.ME is designed for this very purpose.
Hello. Im interested in the next vourse please. I can not commit to June bc im teaching most of the month. Please keep me posted on the next course. Thank you!
Maria Dykes
I am a U.S.veteran with Honorable discharge. I would love to be a member of this organization
I would like to learn more about this program
this would be great but living in Alaska it at 2pm on thursdays. that makes it difficult to attend during working hours