“Veterans bring unparalleled discipline and leadership to the business world,” says Rick Brown, director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center at Big Sky Economic Development and a facilitator for IVMF’s Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship, or STRIVE program. “But the transition to entrepreneur requires specialized training and support.”

STRIVE began with a core group interested in business training for Veterans and military-connected family members.

One of that group was Rick, a Veteran, lawyer, and then the director of an entrepreneur program at Salt Lake City Community College that supported Veterans, active duty, Reserve Guards, and spouses in Utah.

STRIVE first focuses on “nuts and bolts” training, such as finding their target audiences, researching the market, and testing their products or services. In addition, STRIVE now includes a new, intensive financial readiness component, the Veteran Capital Readiness Initiative (V-CAP), that focuses on what businesses need before seeking funding.

“Cash is king, and we have to hammer that very quickly and very strongly because mismanagement of cash is one of the reasons a lot of companies fail,” says Rick. “We make sure they have the financial controls to understand when they’re making money versus [only] moving money.”

As the program grew at Salt Lake, Rick hired Becky Guertler, a marketing and management specialist, to direct the STRIVE program. With her business contacts, Becky helps Veterans connect with bankers, other businesses, and advisors.

The program emphasizes personal support. Participants meet with a business advisor, often a Veteran entrepreneur, at least twice during the course for hands-on work with their businesses.

“It’s not just about the curriculum. It’s about helping them work on their businesses,” says Becky, “That’s what really moves the needle, what makes the economic impact.”

Rick agrees: “We have seen some true impact. One of our students started an app to help farmers connect to local people who want to purchase their stuff locally. And now he has an investment into his company at $450,000.”

Some of the businesses helped through the Salt Lake program include

• From the Farm (mentioned above)
• Swell Retreat, retreat and recreation venue
• Alpine Home Experts, electrical, plumbing and HVAC services
• Chicken Boy, food truck serving gluten-free fried chicken

Becky says if she could give one piece of advice to potential Veteran entrepreneurs, it would be “Just fill the freaking application out. Bite the bullet. Be brave and ask for that letter of recommendation.”

You can learn more about V-CAP and veteran or military-connected entrepreneurship opportunities at Salt Lake Community College.