Military Founders Lab

10-week virtual program delivers immediate, practical impact with access to business tools, resources, mentorship, and a strong peer network for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs.

Formerly the Veterans in Residence (ViR), Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE), and Bunker Build Up (BBU) programs, IVMF has streamlined and combined these three programs into the Military Founders Lab. Over 10-weeks, this virtual program delivers immediate, practical impact and support for business growth and development with access to business tools, resources, mentorship, and a strong peer network. Military Founders Lab also provides multiple tracks that align participants by shared experiences or industries, creating a tailored support system and stronger connections within each cohort.

Woman participant.

What You Will Experience


  • Build and develop business knowledge and management skills
  • Increase confidence to grow a viable, sustainable business
  • Learn about resources and tools to accelerate business growth
  • Expand professional network among like-minded, veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs at a similar stage of business
Two participants taking a selfie together.

Eligibility


  • Active-duty, veterans, reservists, guard, military and veteran spouses/life partners/adult dependents/caregivers.
  • All must present documentation of honorable service for self, spouse, partner, parent, or veteran receiving care.
  • All eras and all service branches are eligible.

Applicants must also meet the following business requirements:

  • Have been actively working on business development and operations for at least six months.
  • Have a registered business in their state of operations, including sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, or nonprofit organization.
  • Generating revenue under $250K in the last 12 months OR not generating revenue but have capital investment to fund startup or growth operations.

Program Details


Upcoming Cohorts

There are three, 10-week, Military Founders Lab cohorts annually, beginning in winter, spring, and fall each year.

The 2025-2026 schedule is as follows:

  • 25C – 8 September 2025 – 14 November 2025
  • 26A – 19 January 2026 – 27 March 2026
  • 26B – 20 April 2026 – 2 July 2026
  • 26C – 14 September 2026 – 20 November 2026

Program Timeline

10-week business curriculum covering the following topics:

  • Business Model Canvas
  • Value Creation & Delivery
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Leveraging Technology
  • Communications/Public Relations
  • Financial Reports
  • Strategic Planning for Launch & Growth

Live Weekly Speaker Series (webinar led by a Subject Matter Expert) – Mondays at 2pm ET

Choosing Your Track

When applying, identify the track that best fit your needs as an entrepreneur, whether your goal is to grow your network of peers at a similar revenue stage, build a support system of entrepreneurs with shared experiences, or make connections within your industry. Each track requires attending the live office hours.

Track Options and Times

  • Black Founders
    • Tuesday – 1:00pm ET
  • Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Islander Founders (AAPI/NI)
    • Tuesdays – 2:30pm ET
  • Seed stage – pre-revenue with capital investments
    • Tuesday – 3:00pm ET
  • Startup stage – revenue-generating up to $250k
    • Wednesdays – 1:00pm ET
  • Women Founders
    • Wednesday – 2:30pm ET
  • Latinx Founders
    • Thursdays – 1:00pm ET
  • Construction Skilled Trades – all business stages
    • Thursday – 2:30pm ET

*If you are eligible for more than one track, review the office hours times (minimum required attendance is five sessions) for each and select the one that aligns best with your availability. If you indicate an interest in more than one track, the final placement will be determined by the IVMF team. Attendance is essential for success and is required to earn Military Founders Lab Certified status.

Soldiers lifting building houses and lifting wall structure.

Overview


Who

Veteran, military spouse, and military family founders of businesses already generating revenue or that have already fundraised for startup/growth operations.

What

Military Founders Lab is a 10-week virtual program divided into program tracks that align participants by shared experiences or industries to create a tailored support system and stronger connections within each cohort.

Where

The IVMF Military Founders Lab is a live online program experience, empowering participants to engage from anywhere with a reliable internet connection.

When

Military Founders Lab operates three cohorts annually. Each virtual cohort runs for ten weeks. New cohorts begin every winter, spring, and fall.

Why

The IVMF Military Founders Lab provides an opportunity to better equip early-stage and startup businesses for success and sustainability with expert guidance, accountability, resources, and a strong community behind you.

FAQ

Questions? View our FAQ.

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Team Members


Rosie Lee

Rosie Lee

Program Manager | Entrepreneurship and Small Business rlee57@syr.edu
haley-chapman_web

Haley Chapman

Program Coordinator | Entrepreneurship & Small Business hmchapma@syr.edu
Lexi-Jones_web

Lexie Jones

Program Coordinator | Entrepreneurship & Small Business ajone101@syr.edu

FAQ


  • Who is eligible to participate?

    • Active-duty, veterans, reservists, national guard, military and veteran spouses/life partners/adult dependents/caregivers.
    • Must present documentation of honorable service for self, spouse, partner, parent, or veteran receiving care.
    • All eras and all service branches are eligible.
    • Has been actively engaged in business development and operations for 6+ months
    • Operates a registered business (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, or nonprofit)
    • Has generated less than $250K in revenue over the past 12 months or has secured capital investment to fund startup or growth efforts
  • What kind of commitment does the program require?

    • Approximate time commitment of 5-8 hours per week
    • Attend the weekly Speaker Series
    • Complete weekly assignments that align with the webinar content and support business growth
    • Participate in weekly Office Hours with assigned founder track
    • Complete participant surveys throughout the program
  • Is the program virtual? In person? Hybrid?

    Virtual.

  • How big is each cohort?

    • Full cohorts will range from 75 – 230 participants
    • Cohorts tracks will have the following participant limits:
      • AAPI/NI – 30 max
      • Black – 30 max
      • Women – 30 max
      • Latinx – 30 max
      • Skilled Trades – 30 max
      • Seed Stage – 30 max
      • Startup Stage – 50 max
  • Are there fees?

    No.

  • Do I need to be a military veteran to apply?

    You must be one of the following: active-duty, veteran, reservist, national guard, military or veteran spouse/life partner/adult dependent/caregiver with documentation of honorable service for self, spouse, partner, parent, or veteran receiving care. All eras and all service branches are eligible.

  • I’ve already participated in Veterans in Residence, Bunker Build Up, Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship. Can I apply to Military Founders Lab?

    Yes, you can apply!

  • How can I contact IVMF’s Military Founders Lab?

    The Online Programs team manages the Military Founders Lab program.

  • What happened to the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program?

    The Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program has been sunsetted and integrated into the Military Founders Lab. In response to participant feedback, the Military Founders Lab offers a more robust and scalable experience—featuring expanded workshops, office hours, and peer support. By combining the structure of the Veterans in Residence program with BBiE’s inclusive mission, it better serves military-connected entrepreneurs from historically underserved communities.

     

  • What happened to the Veterans in Residence program?

    The Veterans in Residence (ViR) program has been sunsetted and replaced by the Military Founders Lab. Building on the foundation and best practices of ViR, the new program introduces specialized tracks to better support the diverse needs of military-connected entrepreneurs with more targeted resources and guidance.

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