VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM Veteran Entrepreneurship Is Great For

VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM Veteran Entrepreneurship Is Great For Texas

Veteran Entrepreneur Program • Launched as a Pilot Program in 2012 – Initial focus was to bridge the gap between available resources and Veteran Entrepreneurs. – Response to Pilot efforts exceeded expectations and clearly demonstrated a need for Entrepreneurship Education within the Veteran Community. • Signed into Law on Memorial Day 2013 – Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 1476 into law and officially established the Veteran Entrepreneur Program.

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Veterans in Texas • • • Texas is home to approx. 1. 67 million Veterans Texas receives more than 35, 000 Veterans each year Veterans own 9. 2% (199, 203) of all private companies in Texas o Employ nearly 500, 000 o Estimated annual receipts totaling more than $99 Billion o VEP assisted more than 4, 000 Veterans toward Entrepreneurship since launching the pilot in 2012.

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Veteran Entrepreneurship in Texas Veteran Population is Highly Concentrated • 41% of Texas Veterans reside within 5 counties • Direct correlation to the 5 cities with the highest concentration of Veteran Owned Businesses

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Core Areas of Service Veteran Entrepreneur Seminars One-on-One Business Consultation Veteran Entrepreneur Academy

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Veteran Entrepreneur Seminar Series • • Seminars held across Texas More than 1, 950 participants to date. Connect with local business resources. Opportunity to learn from fellow Veterans. Large segment of the Veteran population wants to own / start a business and do not know where to start.

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Veteran Entrepreneur Academy • Open to all Veterans, Veteran Spouses, and Veteran Family Members • Locations held throughout Texas • 5 -month course • Hybrid format (onsite and online) • 2 -year mentoring • Capital (loans) available upon successful completion Graduate of Inaugural Academy receiving “Big Check” • 4 Graduates of Inaugural Class received a combined total of $130, 000 to date • 3 Graduates with applications pending • Restrictions and Limitations apply

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Veteran Entrepreneur Academy (1) Round Rock Arlington Texas (February – June 2015) (2) Arlington (February - July 2016) Round Rock Houston (3) Houston (May – October 2016) 2017 Dates and Locations to be announced on the TVC VEP website

Veteran Entrepreneur Program ONE-on-ONE Business Consultation • Provides Assistance and Training in the areas of business required to operate a successful business model that is repeatable, sustainable, scalable, and profitable. • Each VEP Consultant is a Veteran with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and successful Entrepreneur with a combined total of more than 70 years of business experience in a broad variety of fields. Business Concept / Modeling Business Finance Information Regarding Franchise Opportunities Business Plan Development Business Mentorship Local Resources Business Marketing Government Procurement / Information Business Leadership

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Questions? Austin Arlington Texas Veterans Commission Veteran Entrepreneur Program 1700 North Congress Avenue, Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 Texas Veterans Commission Veteran Entrepreneur Program University of Texas at Arlington 701 South West Street Arlington, Texas 76019 http: //www. tvc. texas. gov/Entrepreneur-Program. aspx