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Veteran & Founder Programs
IVMF, Military Founders Lab, CEOcircle and Capital Factory's dual-use centerPublished · By DefDex
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Short answer
What veteran founder programs are available?
Veteran founder programs from Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) include the no-cost Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV), the 10-week virtual Military Founders Lab and the 13-month CEOcircle for growth-stage chief executives. For dual-use companies, Capital Factory's Center for Dual-Use Innovation in Austin connects startups with military innovation units.
Key takeaways
- IVMF's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) is free, including travel and lodging, and accepts applications year round.
- Military Founders Lab is a 10-week virtual cohort, run three times a year, for military-connected founders whose businesses have operated for at least six months.
- CEOcircle is a 13-month peer program for veteran and military spouse chief executives of companies with $1 million or more in annual revenue or $5 million or more raised; it includes no funding.
- V-WISE serves women veterans, service members and military spouses or partners for a $75 registration fee.
- Capital Factory's Center for Dual-Use Innovation in Austin introduces startups to government partners from every military branch.
Which Veteran Founder Program Fits Your Stage?
| Program | Run by | Where |
|---|---|---|
 | D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University | Online plus in-person sessions at partner universities and conference cities |
| D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University | Virtual |
| D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), with JPMorganChase | Virtual, with in-person forums in U.S. cities |
 | Capital Factory | Austin, Texas; Station DC in Washington, D.C. |
IVMF entrepreneurship programs
D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University
Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) runs free or low-cost entrepreneurship training for veterans, service members and military spouses, from idea stage to growth.
What you get
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV): a 30-day online course, an in-person residency at one of eight consortium universities, and 12 months of follow-on support, at no cost including travel and lodging.
- Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE): a four-week online course and a three-day in-person conference, for a $75 registration fee.
- Veteran EDGE: a three-day conference in Dallas for veteran and military spouse business leaders.
- Boots to Business: the Small Business Administration (SBA) entrepreneurship course in the military Transition Assistance Program; IVMF delivers it at some installations outside the continental U.S.
- Who it’s for
- EBV is for post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members in the early start-up phase; V-WISE is for women veterans, service members and military spouses or partners.
- How to apply
- EBV accepts applications year round. V-WISE 2027 runs online March 15 to April 9, with the conference April 16 to 18 in Atlanta.
- Where
- Online plus in-person sessions at partner universities and conference cities
Sources: IVMF: Entrepreneurship programs · IVMF: EBV · IVMF: V-WISE · SBA: Boots to Business
Military Founders Lab
D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University
Military Founders Lab is a 10-week virtual cohort program from Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) for military-connected founders of early-stage businesses.
What you get
- Ten weeks of coursework covering business model, sales, marketing, financial reports and growth planning.
- A weekly live speaker series and track-based virtual office hours (Founders Exchange), with peers grouped by stage, identity or industry.
- Tracks include seed stage (pre-revenue with capital), startup stage (revenue up to $250,000), skilled trades, nonprofit and several founder-identity tracks.
- Who it’s for
- Service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses, partners, dependents and caregivers whose registered business has operated for at least six months and has under $250,000 in revenue in the past 12 months, or has capital in place.
- How to apply
- Three cohorts a year (winter, spring, fall). In 2026: January 26 to April 5, April 20 to July 5, and September 14 to November 22.
- Where
- Virtual
Sources: IVMF: Military Founders Lab · IVMF: Entrepreneurship programs
CEOcircle
D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), with JPMorganChase
CEOcircle is a 13-month peer accountability program for veteran and military spouse chief executives of growth-stage companies. It is run by Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) with JPMorganChase.
What you get
- Monthly virtual huddles in groups of 10 to 12 at a similar stage, plus four in-person fly-in forums with guest speakers.
- Access to dedicated JPMorganChase Commercial Banking liaisons.
- No funding is included; participants pay their own travel and lodging for the fly-in forums.
- Who it’s for
- Veteran or military spouse chief executives, senior executives or controlling shareholders of companies with $1 million or more in annual revenue or $5 million or more raised.
- Defense angle
- Open to all industries; past cohorts have included government contracting firms.
- How to apply
- Applications open June through August; the cohort runs November to November. The 2026 cohort has 60 members.
- Where
- Virtual, with in-person forums in U.S. cities
Sources: IVMF: CEOcircle · IVMF: CEOcircle 2026 cohort
Capital Factory: Center for Dual-Use Innovation
Capital Factory
Capital Factory is an Austin-based startup investor and hub. Its Center for Dual-Use Innovation (CDI), called the Center for Defense Innovation until a 2024 rebrand, brings military innovation units together with startups.
What you get
- Introductions to government partners from every military branch, and help with non-dilutive funding.
- Fed Supernova, an annual three-day event connecting startups, government and industry on dual-use technology.
- Dual-Use Academy training on pursuing government customers, from contracts to working with acquisition officers.
- Separately, Capital Factory's Texas Fund makes cash investments in Texas deep tech companies.
- Who it’s for
- Startups, especially Texas deep tech companies, building dual-use technology for government and commercial markets.
- Defense angle
- AFWERX and the Defense Innovation Unit came to Capital Factory in 2018 and the center opened in 2019; the Army Applications Laboratory is also based there.
- How to apply
- No fixed cohort for government programs; contact the federal team (government@capitalfactory.com) or pitch the Texas Fund directly.
- Where
- Austin, Texas; Station DC in Washington, D.C.
Sources: Capital Factory: Government & Defense · Capital Factory: home · Army Applications Laboratory: FAQ
Checked against each program’s own pages on Oct 12, 2026. Terms and deadlines change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can veterans get free entrepreneurship training?
Yes. Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) runs the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) at no cost, including travel and lodging. EBV combines a 30-day online course, an in-person residency at one of eight consortium universities and 12 months of follow-on support. It is for post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members in the early start-up phase and accepts applications year round.
What is Military Founders Lab?
Military Founders Lab is a 10-week virtual cohort program from Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) for military-connected founders of early-stage businesses. It covers business model, sales, marketing, financial reports and growth planning, with a weekly live speaker series and track-based virtual office hours. It runs three cohorts a year; the fall 2026 cohort runs September 14 to November 22.
Who is eligible for Military Founders Lab?
Military Founders Lab is open to service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses, partners, dependents and caregivers. Their registered business must have operated for at least six months and have under $250,000 in revenue in the past 12 months, or have capital in place. Tracks include seed stage, startup stage, skilled trades, nonprofit and several founder-identity tracks.
What is CEOcircle?
CEOcircle is a 13-month peer accountability program for veteran and military spouse chief executives of growth-stage companies, run by Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) with JPMorganChase. Members meet in monthly virtual huddles of 10 to 12 and attend four in-person forums. Companies need $1 million or more in annual revenue or $5 million or more raised. No funding is included.
Are there entrepreneurship programs for women veterans?
Yes. Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE), from Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), is for women veterans, service members and military spouses or partners. It combines a four-week online course with a three-day in-person conference for a $75 registration fee. V-WISE 2027 runs online March 15 to April 9, with the conference April 16 to 18 in Atlanta.
What is Capital Factory's Center for Dual-Use Innovation?
Capital Factory's Center for Dual-Use Innovation (CDI), called the Center for Defense Innovation until a 2024 rebrand, brings military innovation units together with startups in Austin, Texas. It offers introductions to government partners from every military branch, help with non-dilutive funding, the annual Fed Supernova event and Dual-Use Academy training. The Army Applications Laboratory is also based at Capital Factory.
What is Boots to Business?
Boots to Business is the Small Business Administration (SBA) entrepreneurship course in the military Transition Assistance Program. Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) delivers it at some installations outside the continental U.S., alongside its other programs such as Veteran EDGE, a three-day conference in Dallas for veteran and military spouse business leaders.
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