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The Entrepreneur Program

Florida is First for Veteran Businesses

Cohorts, mentors, and grant access for veterans, military spouses, Florida National Guard, Reserves, and active-duty servicemembers who want to start or grow a veteran-owned business in Florida. Funded by the State of Florida.

7,700+

Veteran and Spouse Entrepreneurs Served

$57.7 Billion

Annual Veteran Generated Sales

3rd Largest

Collection of Veteran-Owned Businesses

How We Can Help

From Idea to Success

The Entrepreneur Program meets you at your stage, from a first idea to a mature business preparing for exit.

Modeling Cohorts test demand with real customers before you commit time you don't have. Getting Started Cohorts handle the foundational work: registering with the state, accounting, marketing.


Growth Cohorts move you from founder to CEO, scaling revenue and your team. Workshops and Networking keep you connected to Florida's veteran founder community at any stage.

Who’s Eligible

Veterans + Active Duty

Veterans of any branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard. Plus active-duty servicemembers preparing for the next chapter. Florida residency and discharge above Bad Conduct required.

FL National Guard & Reserves

Current members of the Florida National Guard or any branch of the Reserves. The program runs around drill weekends and deployment cycles, not against them.

Military and Veteran Spouses

Spouses apply directly. Under new Florida law, military and veteran spouses no longer need to attend with a servicemember. Your business, your application.

Why Choose Florida?

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Zero state income tax. Low cost of doing business.

A statewide network of trainers, mentors, and veteran founders who already know what it takes to run a Florida company.

The Entrepreneur Program connects you to all of it through partner universities and entrepreneurship centers in every major region of the state.

Meet Our Partners

Cohorts run year-round through partner universities and entrepreneurship centers including Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Nova Southeastern University, St. Petersburg College, and Valor2Venture. Regional partners cover every major Florida market.

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floridaatlanticuniversity
universityofwestflorida
novasoutheasternuniversity
saintpetersburgcollege
swflinc
sparkingachangeforveterans
acceleratebrevard
floridagulfcoastuniversity

Hands On Support to Grow Your Business

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Two people collaborate over a laptop and notebook, representing Veterans Florida's Modeling Cohort business validation training for veteran entrepreneurs in Florida.

Modeling Cohorts

Toss the business plan. First, test your business idea to see if customers want it. Identify key risks to starting and growing.

A veteran sits at a desk writing notes beside a laptop, representing Veterans Florida's Getting Started Cohort teaching new veteran-owned business registration, marketing, and accounting in Florida.

Getting Started Cohorts

Learn practical steps to get your business up and running – registering with the state, marketing, accounting, and more.

A smiling male entrepreneur sits in a bright workspace holding a phone, representing Veterans Florida's Growth Cohort helping veteran founders scale revenue and grow their teams in Florida.

Growth Cohorts

Transform from Founder to CEO and become scalable. Mindset and practical steps to bring in revenue and grow your team.

A group of professionals attend a business workshop presentation, representing Veterans Florida entrepreneur networking events and workshops for veteran-owned businesses in Florida.

Workshops & Networking

Workshops present general business topics for any business. Networking events expand your professional contacts to develop new business opportunities.

Florida's Pro-Business Climate

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Individual Income Tax

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Corporate Income Tax on Subchapter Corporations

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Real Veterans. Real Results.

Thousands of veterans and their families have made Florida home. Here's what they found when they arrived.

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"I wanted to extend my sincerest appreciation to you and the Veterans Florida team for your guidance and support throughout my transition from the U.S. Navy into retirement. After 30 years of service, stepping into a new chapter can be both exciting and challenging, and your support greatly eased this process for me and my family."

Paul R.

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"The whole program surprised me. Although I didn't know what to expect, it was a pleasant surprise on how much information is shared and the support that is provided throughout and beyond."

Taliah W.

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"The experience was outstanding. Considering it's veteran run and veteran attended, I would expect nothing less."

William M.

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"For me, doors were beginning to open and opportunities were starting to show up — and that was all thanks to SkillBridge. Veterans Florida made it the smoothest part of the transition."

Drake L.

 

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"Participating in the entrepreneur program has given me far more than I expected in just seven weeks... I'm leaving with confidence - confidence in myself as a founder and in my ability to grow my business into a sustainable, impactful brand."

Shenikia A.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Entrepreneur Program runs cohorts, workshops, networking, mentorship, and coworking access for veterans, military and veteran spouses, Florida National Guard, Reserves, and active-duty servicemembers who want to start or grow a veteran-owned business in Florida. Cohorts run year-round through partner universities and entrepreneurship centers across the state. The program is funded by the State of Florida and provided at no cost to participants.

Eligibility is open to veterans across every U.S. military branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Active-duty servicemembers, members of the Florida National Guard, Reserves, and military and veteran spouses are also eligible. Spouses apply directly. Participants must be Florida residents with a discharge above Bad Conduct.

There is zero cost to participants. The Entrepreneur Program is funded by the State of Florida. All veteran business support is provided at no charge, including cohorts, workshops, networking, mentorship, and coworking access through our partner network.

The Entrepreneur Program runs four activity types: Modeling Cohorts test customer demand, Getting Started Cohorts cover state registration and accounting, Growth Cohorts move you from founder to CEO, and Workshops and Networking keep you connected to Florida's veteran founder community. Veteran coworking opportunities are accessible through the statewide partner network.

Yes. Florida law provides that military and veteran spouses may attend Veterans Florida entrepreneur training on behlf of thier own business. Spouses apply directly and access every cohort, workshop, networking event, and all other resources available to start or grow their own veteran-owned business in Florida. Your business, your application.

Cohorts and networking run year-round through partner universities and entrepreneurship centers. Regional partners cover every major Florida market.