Last year, Army Reserves veteran Dr. Stephannie L. Addo-Zuniga was knee-deep in the trenches on a daily basis from 8 a.m. to midnight, relying on her tenacity and perseverance to pull her through.
This wasn’t army bootcamp, but an intense learning initiative offered through Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities at the University of Connecticut.
EBV is a free, annual national program with three components: a 30-day online class, an intense 11-day immersion class encompassing 81 hours of instruction and 45 hours of homework, and a 12-month mentorship period featuring connections to business professors, industry leaders and subject matter experts.
“Nothing is sugar-coated,” says the 31-year-old Bronx native entrepreneur, who is launching a childcare center for children with autism. “With our mentors, they continuously pushed us to be the best that we can be. Those are the same values across all branches of the Army.”
Some of her biggest lessons learned: giving a presentation, pitching investors and managing cash flow. Her business was “just a thought” upon starting EBV; upon completion, she had a business plan.
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs in 2013, 3.6 million of small businesses out of 26 million nationally were owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans. Vetpreneurs employ over 1.8 million workers and generate over $1.6 trillion in revenue.
With our mentors, they continuously pushed us to be the best that we can be. Those are the same values across all branches of the Army.
- Dr. Stephannie Addo-Zuniga
Michael Zacchea witnesses this burgeoning interest firsthand every year in EBV. The retired Marine Corps officer brought the year-long national program to the University of Connecticut in 2009; the latest class began sessions in late August. He explains, “[Vets] realize they are not alone. They form a unit and they all talk to each other; they visit each other, forming an entrepreneurial community.”
This sense of unity and community — not unlike in the military — is necessary to succeed in an entrepreneurial concrete jungle for an otherwise isolated pursuit of the American dream, says Scott L. Girard, Jr., editor-in-chief of business resources site Expert Business Advice and co-author of “Starting a Business: Learn What You Need in 2 Hours.”
“Boot camps are designed for groups to learn how to work together and develop as a team,” says Girard. “That aspect will reduce the feeling of isolation, and likely create bonds that will carry on beyond the program.”
That’s what 33-year-old Midtown resident Robert Seo experienced after participating in Patriot Boot Camp presented by Techstars in Manhattan last year. The free three-day program for active duty military members, veterans and their spouses features education, 30-minute speed mentoring sessions and pitch competitions.
“I wanted to join a community of fellow veteran entrepreneurs who wanted to learn more about entrepreneurship,” Seo says.
Marine Corps Reserves veteran Donald Coolidge, 29, from Kips Bay, can also attest to the skills and business growth such programs offer. Coolidge attended VetCap, launched by VetsinTech which connects vets in technology to educational, employment and entrepreneurial pursuits. Its series of events and workshops helps veterans identify ways to fund their small businesses or startups.
Coolidge was fundraising for CogniToy, which offers Internet-connected smart toys that learn and grow along with the children who play with them.
He recalls, “At my first pitch the feedback was both good and bad,” but since the event, he has raised $275,000 on Kickstarter and another $1.1m from angel investors.
Coolidge says his military background lends itself well to being in the startup brigade.
“The military has really shaped who I am. The ability to operate in a small team as well as a part of a much larger team was a skillset I learned in the U.S. Marine Corps and it’s a great asset as an entrepreneur.”