The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Prepared - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Prepared for: Prepared for: American Council on Education American Council on Education June 6, 2008 June 6, 2008

Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship: A Way Forward A Way Forward The Facts: The Facts: • Self ‐ ‐ employment is ( employment is ( and always has been and always has been ) an avenue for veterans to advance ) an avenue for veterans to advance • Self themselves, support their families, and to engage their communities. themselves, support their families, and to engage their communit ies. • Of the approximately eighty million small businesses in the United States, ted States, • Of the approximately eighty million small businesses in the Uni four million (about five percent) are veteran ‐ four million (about five percent) are veteran ‐ owned owned (Small Business Administration, 2007). (Small Business Administration, 2007). • The success rate of veteran business startups is high in comparison to other ison to other • The success rate of veteran business startups is high in compar business startups, partially due to the experience the veterans have gained in business startups, partially due to the experience the veterans have gained in the Armed Services (Small Business Administration, 2007). the Armed Services (Small Business Administration, 2007). • • Americans with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be Americans with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be self ‐ self ‐ employed employed than the general population than the general population (US Census). (US Census). • And the intangibles • And the intangibles… … ‘ ‘sole custody of your future sole custody of your future’ ’

Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship: A Way Forward A Way Forward The Challenge: The Challenge: Starting a business is hard… …most fail. most fail. • Starting a business is hard • Programs and resources focused on training our veterans • Programs and resources focused on training our veterans • and people with disabilities in entrepreneurship and small and people with disabilities in entrepreneurship and small business management are limited. business management are limited. Without demonstrated skills & training, access to capital is Without demonstrated skills & training, access to capital is • • difficult. difficult. Enter Syracuse University Syracuse University … … • Enter •

The EBV: Scholarship in Action The EBV: Scholarship in Action A Program designed to make a difference: designed to make a difference: • A Program • – World World ‐ ‐ class training in entrepreneurship and small business class training in entrepreneurship and small business – Absolutely free to veterans with disabilities, funded privately – Absolutely free to veterans with disabilities, funded privately – 3 Phase/14 month intervention – 3 Phase/14 month intervention – Designed to both educate and motivate… …create an experience create an experience – Designed to both educate and motivate –

The EBV: Scholarship in Action The EBV: Scholarship in Action A Difference… … one hero at a time one hero at a time • A Difference • EBV Class #1: – EBV Class #1: – 20 students • 20 students • Representing 14 states • Representing 14 states • • All four military service branches All four military service branches • Average age is 26 • Average age is 26 • Each with a service connected disability AND AND… … • Each with a service connected disability • A passion for entrepreneurship… … • A passion for entrepreneurship •

EBV Consortium of Schools: EBV Consortium of Schools: Program Program Phase 1: EBV Online Phase 1: EBV Online ( approx. 20 calendar days ): • Innovation, online course • Staffed by faculty and MBA students • Focused on business fundamentals • Textbooks donated by Prentice ‐ Hall & McGraw ‐ Hill Phase 2: EBV Residency Phase 2: EBV Residency ( approx. 8 calendar days ): • Classroom ‐ based course • An ‘experience’ • Designed to educate and motivate Phase 3: Mentorship Phase 3: Mentorship ( ongoing ): • Virtual Mentorship via online portal • Content area experts • Local mentor initiative Whitman EBV Video

The EBV: Scholarship in Action The EBV: Scholarship in Action A Difference… … one hero at a time one hero at a time • A Difference • EBV Class #1… …6 months later: 6 months later: – EBV Class #1 – 16 of 20 actively engaged with EBV (business plan, mentorship, etc) • 16 of 20 actively engaged with EBV (business plan, mentorship, etc) • Many without college have enrolled • Many without college have enrolled • 6 new businesses created • 6 new businesses created • • 3 SBA loans pending 3 SBA loans pending • • 1 accepted in Lockheed small business mentorship program 1 accepted in Lockheed small business mentorship program • 1 applied/accepted to law school at SU • 1 applied/accepted to law school at SU •

Our Way Forward: Our Way Forward: The EBV Consortium of Schools The EBV Consortium of Schools To advance entrepreneurship as means to open the door to business ownership opportunities for veterans with disabilities, and to design and deliver educational programs to assist veterans with disabilities in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture.

EBV Consortium of Schools: Organization EBV Consortium of Schools: Organization EBV Curriculum Local Funding, Funding, Local Consortium Content, Design, Staffing, & Staffing, & Member Logistics Logistics Outcomes EBV Marketing Consortium Local Funding, Funding, Local Brand, Materials, Staffing, & Staffing, & Member National Campaign Logistics Logistics Admissions Consortium Local Funding, Funding, Local Administration, Staffing, & Staffing, & Member Selection, Placement Logistics Logistics Assessment Consortium Local Funding, Funding, Local Evaluations, Staffing, & Staffing, & Member Outcomes Logistics Logistics

Questions? Questions? “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, in any war, “ no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they perceive the rceive the no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they pe veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated.” veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated. ” ‐ General George Washington, 1777 ‐ General George Washington, 1777