A prominent Dayton university is hosting a localized entrepreneurial opportunity turning spirited veterans into successful business owners.
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) program is a nationwide initiative turning veterans into entrepreneurs. The EBV program leverages the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education institutions to offer experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans, according to the official website.
The three-phase EBV program aims to aid veterans in creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. Founded at Founded at Syracuse University in 2007, the program has since expanded to additional universities across the country.
In partnership with Reynolds and Reynolds, and Syracuse University, Wright-State University will host its second entrepreneurship bootcamp for veterans (vetrepreneurs) August 10-17.
Elizabeth Harding, program manager for the EBV at Wright State University, said the military puts weeks, months or years into training someone to perform well. However, when someone in active duty leaves the military, they “at most” receive a day of training to transition back to civilian life.
“Civilian life and military life are two completely different cultures operating within the same sort of space,” Harding said. “A lot of veterans are left trying to figure out what to do. This program helps fill in that gap a little bit.”
The in-person portion of the program runs across eight, 12-hour days. Following the first and second phase’s flood of information, Harding said phase three is where the success of the program falls into place.
In the final phase, Vetrepreneurs are plugged into Syracuse University’ nationwide network of veteran entrepreneurs, where veteran-owned businesses and people who support them, offer resources at low cost or no cost.
“it's kind of a fire hose method of instruction,” Harding said. “But we don't give that to them, send them home and say, ‘good luck’. I think the ongoing support afterwards is what really set the EBV program apart from other programs. There’s not a cutoff date. It allows them to be more successful and continue to be plugged into a greater community of people that want to see them succeed.”
The Dayton EBV program’s first cohort launched in August 2023 with 13 participants. The 2024 cohort is closed with 22 participants, most of which are located outside of Ohio. The Ohioans participating in the Dayton cohort are working on ventures in health care, logistics and IT.
A local program success story from the EBV program at another university is Nick Riplinger, who went on to form the growing Battle Sight Technologies. The company’s innovative line of products aims to enhance communication and rescue capabilities on the battlefield.
Among the 2023 Dayton cohorts, local Tim Green is making headway on his CNC laser engraving business TG Design. An out-of-state cohort, Louis Gonzales, has since launched his business The Modern Barber in New Jersey, following the Dayton program.
“One of the things a lot of people said they miss, when they leave the military, is that sense of community that they don't get as much outside the military,” Harding said. “This is one of the ways that we can give that back to them a little bit.”
Harding said Dayton’s draw for out-of-state cohorts is likely a result of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the region’s stop government contracting presence and its notoriety as a hub for entrepreneurship.
“Dayton is at its heart and for a long time has been entrepreneurial in spirit – The Wright Brothers and lots of other things have been started in this area,” Harding said. “When people find that out, they're really intrigued to come to Dayton.”
The Dayton cohort program is still seeking mentors. Harding said mentors do not have to be veterans. Interested professionals can sign up here until the week before the in-person program begins.
“If you are a business owner or a content expert, you have something of value to offer,” Harding said.
The Dayton program is supported by Reynolds and Reynolds, which donated $3 million in 2022 to support participants’ travel and accommodations throughout the program. Harding said the initial donation garners an additional $200,000 year over year, to fund the program long term.
