Veterans bring discipline, leadership, and mission focus to entrepreneurship - and there's a network of programs built specifically to fund and support veteran-owned businesses. Some offer real cash grants; others offer something arguably more valuable: free training and federal contracts. This guide covers the legit programs, who qualifies, and how to apply, while being honest about which ones actually hand you money.
Top programs for veteran founders
| Program | What it is | Typical value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior Rising | Nonprofit training + grants | Up to ~$20,000 | Grants via "Business Shower," program completion required |
| StreetShares / Second Service Foundation | Veteran Small Business Award (now via Second Service Foundation) | $4,000-$15,000 | Cyclical; verify current round |
| Hivers and Strivers | Angel investment group | $250K-$1M equity | Investment, not a grant; service-academy grads |
| SBA OVBD / VBOCs | Free training & counseling | No cost (not cash) | Boots to Business, ongoing support |
| SDVOSB / VOSB (VetCert) | Federal contracting certification | Contract access | Certification, not a grant |
Warrior Rising
Warrior Rising is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports military-connected entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and community. Founders work through its program, and those who complete the advanced "Warrior University" track can be invited to pitch at a Business Shower for grants of up to roughly $20,000 in non-dilutive funding. Eligibility extends to veterans, military spouses, and immediate family. Note the grant is gated behind program completion and an invitation - it's earned, not a quick application. See warriorrising.org.
StreetShares Foundation
The StreetShares Foundation's Veteran Small Business Award has historically granted $4,000-$15,000 to veteran-owned businesses with a positive impact on the military or veteran community. Eligibility typically includes veterans, reservists, or transitioning active-duty members who own at least 51% of the business. Note: the StreetShares Foundation has rebranded as the Second Service Foundation, which now runs veteran pitch and capital programs such as the Military Entrepreneur Challenge. Award names, amounts, and windows change between cycles, so check the current status on the Second Service Foundation site - programs run in cycles and may be closed between rounds. (The old streetsharesfoundation.org domain is no longer the foundation's site.)
Hivers and Strivers (investment, not a grant)
Worth knowing but commonly misunderstood: Hivers and Strivers is an angel investment group that backs startups founded and led by graduates of US service academies (West Point, Annapolis, etc.). It typically invests $250,000 to $1 million per round in exchange for equity. This is dilutive investment capital, not free grant money - but if you're a service-academy grad building a scalable startup and raising a round, it's a relevant investor. See hiversandstrivers.com.
SBA and VA resources: support, not cash
A lot of veterans search for an "SBA veteran grant" or "VA business grant" and come away disappointed. Here's the reality - and why these resources are still worth using:
- The SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) does not issue general cash grants. Instead it runs free programs and funds the partners below.
- Boots to Business is a no-cost, two-day entrepreneurial training program for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses - a strong, free on-ramp to business basics.
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) provide free counseling, training, and mentorship to veteran entrepreneurs nationwide. Find your nearest one through the VBOC program page.
- The VA's biggest lever for veteran businesses is contracting, not grants. The federal government and VA set aside billions in contracts for veteran-owned firms.
The contracting advantage: SDVOSB and VOSB certification
If you sell products or services the government buys, certification can be worth far more than any grant:
- VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) and SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) certifications unlock federal and VA set-aside contracts.
- Certification is now handled by the SBA through VetCert at veterans.certify.sba.gov. Self-certification for these set-asides has been phased out, so you need to be formally certified to compete for them.
- The VA reserves a meaningful share of its contracts specifically for certified veteran-owned firms, and there are government-wide SDVOSB goals on top of that.
This is a certification, not a grant - but for many veteran businesses, the recurring contract revenue it opens up is the real prize.
Eligibility patterns
- The business is at least 51% owned and controlled by a veteran (or service-disabled veteran for SDVOSB).
- The owner is a veteran, reservist, transitioning service member, or - for some nonprofit programs - a military spouse or immediate family member.
- It's a legally registered, for-profit US business.
- Some grants require a veteran-community impact or specific revenue/operating history.
- Service-academy grads have a unique investor path (Hivers and Strivers); service-disabled veterans have a contracting edge (SDVOSB).
How to apply
- Start with a VBOC or Boots to Business. Free counseling will sharpen your plan and point you to the programs currently open - and it costs nothing.
- Build a reusable application kit: DD-214 or proof of service, business registration, EIN, financials, a one-paragraph description, and a concrete use-of-funds statement.
- Enter the nonprofit grants - work through Warrior Rising's program toward a Business Shower, and watch StreetShares for its annual window.
- Get certified if you sell to government. Pursue SDVOSB/VOSB through VetCert; it's the highest-leverage move for many veteran businesses.
- Confirm every deadline on the official page. These cycles open and close; third-party roundups go stale fast.
- Avoid scams. No legitimate grant charges an upfront "processing fee," and no one can guarantee you a government grant.
Be realistic about odds: the cash grants are small and competitive, and the SBA/VA "grant" most people imagine doesn't exist. But the combination of free training, nonprofit grants, and - above all - veteran contracting certifications gives veteran founders a genuinely strong, underused toolkit. Use all three, and treat the grants as a bonus rather than your funding plan.