VetsinTech NYC launch of VetCap for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Details
Inspired by the White House Veteran Entrepreneurship Workshop initiatives, VetsinTech is kicking off an innovative national program to help veteran entrepreneurs called VetCap (capital for veterans). VetsinTech is an independent non-profit organization made up of technology industry leaders and veterans with a mission to help train, connect and find jobs for veterans interested in technology careers.
VetCap is a new initiative for a national series of workshops to help train veteran entrepreneurs on where and how to raise capital, and to connect them to a network of financing sources. A 2011 Small Business Administration (SBA) study (http://www.sba.gov/content/factors-affecting-entrepreneurship-among-veterans) concluded that "veterans are at least 45 percent more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed." The founders of the VetCap initiative came up with this concept following a White House and Joining Forces Veterans Entrepreneurship Workshop in February, bringing together private-sector innovators and entrepreneurs to brainstorm and accelerate the development of new programs to help veterans find and grow their businesses. VetCap is an independent initiative inspired by these discussions and was organized by VetsinTech and other private-sector partners nationwide; VetsinTech and VetCap are not affiliated with any government organization.
“Veterans represent some of our nation’s brightest and most dedicated entrepreneurs. A big hurdle for them, however, can be determining where and how to raise the capital they need to grow their business. VetCap is an innovative initiative inspired by a White House call to help veteran entrepreneurs,” said Craig Hanson, General Partner and Co-Founder of venture capital firm Next World Capital and Co-Founder of VetCap.
“VetsinTech is proud to be launching the first workshop of what we hope will be a nationwide series of workshops and a network to connect veterans to capital providers,” said Katherine Webster, Founder and Executive Director of VetsinTech.
A panel of expert investors/lenders from the major capital categories will lead discussions on “Where to Raise Capital” and “How to Pitch to Investors”. The audience will consist of roughly 50 veteran entrepreneurs from around the country, including up to ten veterans who will be pitching their startups to the panel of experts. You must register at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/vetsintech-nyc-launch-of-vetcap-for-veteran-entrepreneurs-tickets-11779441627 and please indicate your interest in pitching. Executive Summaries can be sent to kwebster@vetsintech.co. Panel members and investors are as follows:
VC - Brad Harrison - Scout Ventures
Corporate Ventures
Angel Investor - Damion Hankejh - Investor, Smithsonian Laureate and CTO Majestyk Apps
Crowd Funder - Julio Terra - Community Manager @Kickstarter
Bank/Lender - Regina Chien - Entrepreneur Banking @ Silicon Valley Bank
Small Business Administration (SBA) - Rhett Jeppson, Associate Administrator and Office of Veterans Small Business Development
AGENDA:
6:30pm Networking Reception
7:00pm Welcome and opening remarks
7:05pm Panel discussion "how to pitch to me" w/Q&A
8:00pm Veteran Entrepreneur pitches and feedback
9:00pm Adjourn
Space is limited for this event - please register ASAP! Requests to pitch at this event ends on June 12th - please indicate if you are interested in pitching on the order form when registering thru eventbrite!
Media Contacts:
Donald Coolidge
(646) 233-4511
Katherine Webster / Founder, VetsinTech
650-888-8377
VetsinTech is a national organization with the mission to help train, connect and find jobs for veterans interested in careers in technology, with programs in Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment. VetsinTech is a non-profit public benefit corporation organized under California law. VetsinTech has filed an application for recognition of exemption as a 501(c)(3) which is still pending. For more information visit vetsintech.co (http://www.vetsintech.co/). Follow us @VetsinTech #VetCap
VetsinTech NYC launch of VetCap for Veteran Entrepreneurs