Syracuse, NY (July 22, 2017) – Veterans from across the nation and beyond are set to converge today at Syracuse University for the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) – a nine-day intensive on starting and building a business, powered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University.
This year’s 28 participants come from nine states and Japan, and represent all five branches of the military. They will spend the week attending classes, networking events and presentations, learning the fundamentals of running a business from over 30 accomplished entrepreneurs and professors. They’ll stay at the Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center, situated right next door to the Whitman School of Management.
EBV is run in three phases – a 30-day online course, a nine-day in-person seminar at a participating university, and 12 months of post-conference support. It’s offered free of charge to participants and any veteran with both a service-related disability and a passion for entrepreneurship is eligible to apply.
The courses cover a comprehensive range of topics, from financing and accounting to legal issues, marketing, human resources and more.
Some featured speakers include:
- Seth Jordan, owner and founder of Dog Tag Brewing
- Ted Lachowicz, serial entrepreneur and founder of the EBV Foundation
- Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor at Syracuse University and founder/director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families
- Brian Horn, Chief of Staff at the U.S. Business Leadership Network
- Ralph Galati, Director of Veterans Services at St. Joseph’s University
- John Wildhack, Syracuse University Director of Athletics
“We are proud to again host the EBV program here on the campus of Syracuse University and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of our Nation’s veterans,” said Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor and founder/director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). “We have a long and impactful history of educating military veterans and their families. This initiative leverages all the SU community has to offer our veteran entrepreneurs — the business experience of the Whitman School, the entrepreneurial expertise of the IVMF, and the local business network in CNY — to position them for success in their small business journey.”
Since its founding at Syracuse University in 2007, EBV has expanded to a consortium of ten schools across the country and has graduated over 1,400 aspiring entrepreneurs. Of those 1,400, 72% have gone on to start their own business and 92% of those are still in business. In total, EBV graduates have made over $288 million through their ventures.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Salanger
Director of Communications & Media
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
Institute for Veterans and Military Families
T 315.443.5690 M 315.378.8171
ssalange@syr.edu
About the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education, and policy issues impacting veterans and their families. Through its professional staff and experts, the IVMF delivers leading programs in career, vocational, and entrepreneurship education and training, while also conducting actionable research, policy analysis, and program evaluations. The IVMF also supports communities through collective impact efforts that enhance delivery and access to services and care. The Institute, supported by a distinguished advisory board, along with public and private partners, is committed to advancing the lives of those who have served in America’s armed forces and their families. For more information, visit IVMF and follow the IVMF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV)
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is a first-of-its-kind initiative that transforms veterans into entrepreneurs. Delivered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, the EBV leverages the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members with service-related disabilities. Founded at Syracuse University in 2007, the program has since expanded to nine additional universities across the U.S., including Cornell University, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Purdue University, Saint Joseph’s University, Texas A&M University, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Connecticut and University of Missouri. Assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), corporate partners and donors allows participants to attend the program at no cost. For more information, visit Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and follow the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About The Martin J. Whitman School of Management
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University educates students to become successful entrepreneurial leaders in a rapidly changing global economy. The Whitman School offers BS, MBA, MS and PhD programs, all accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The school’s faculty includes internationally known scholars and researchers, as well as successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. Whitman continues to be ranked among the nation’s top business schools by U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek and the Financial Times. For more information about the Whitman School, visit whitman.syr.edu and follow us on social media at whitman.syr.edu/follow.