The ‘Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities’ (EBV) at Anderson School of Management was held July 12, 2014 to July 20, 2014. EBV offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The intent of the EBV is to open the door to entrepreneurial opportunity and small business ownership by developing your competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture and also by helping you coordinate your efforts with programs and services for veterans and others with disabilities.
This year’s program hosted 18 veterans from around the country who came to UCLA Anderson for the weeklong residency program. Originally launched at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, the program provides free entrepreneurship training to veterans with a service-connected disability.
The program seeks to set veterans on the right path to business creation. From marketing and branding and public relations to human resources and legal issues, classroom lectures cover the gambit of possible issues participants will face in their new ventures. The week ended with each veteran pitching their ideas, and receiving feedback and evaluation from a team of judges.
“EBV has helped me greatly to focus on key success factors during execution and how to posture the company to make short-term decisions that are in line with our long-term future goals,” said Marc Hunter, a veteran who attended the event.
The program also includes a 30-day, pre-residency, online curriculum and12 months of ongoing support and mentorship from faculty experts and EBV resource providers. Registration for the program can be completed online for the next event.