From September 14-16, 168 female veteran and military-connected entrepreneurs attended the 20th Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-Wise) conference in San Diego at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa on Mission Bay.
The San Diego conference offered two tracks for participants—a start-up track for new and emerging businesses and a growth track for more established entrepreneurs looking to take the next step in their business venture. Participants enjoyed sessions on social media, building communications plans, business law, human resources and building capital are available to all participants. Attendees also had the opportunity to attend a showcase of San Diego businesses and recourses available, pitch parties to practice engaging with potential lenders, mentors and investors and a dedicated discussion with established business owners about what obstacles and challenges they are facing.
The conference included notable guest speakers including Transformers actor and former Navy seal, Remi Adeleke, Angie Bastian, Co-Founder of Boom Chicka Pop Popcorn, Larry Broughton, Co-Founder and CEO of BROUGHTONadvisory and Founder and CEO of broughtonHOTELS and Neale Godfrey, founder and CEO of Children’s Financial Network.
“Veterans’ military experience uniquely positions them to succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor and founder/director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). “The ambition, passion and perseverance exhibited by the group of entrepreneurs in San Diego was palpable and to be part of their journey as they work to live the very American dream they fought to protect is a true honor.”
The V-Wise training program helps women veterans and military spouses find their passion and learn the business savvy skills necessary to turn an idea or start-up into a growing venture. V-WISE is part of IVMF’s entrepreneurship programs, offered to veterans, service members and their families through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF.)
About Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)
Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) is a premier training program in entrepreneurship and small business management. V-WISE helps women veterans and female military spouses and partners find their passion and learn the business savvy skills necessary to turn an idea or start-up into a growing venture. V-WISE is operated by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). V-WISE is one of eight national entrepreneurship programs and three resources, which provides a full suite of programs designed to meet veterans where they are on their entrepreneurial journey.