Free business course for service-disabled Veterans
Service-disabled veterans exploring business ownership now have access to a free four-hour virtual course designed specifically to help them determine whether entrepreneurship is the right path forward. Warrior Rising, a veteran-focused nonprofit organization, created the SDVET LaunchPoint program in partnership with the Small Business Administration to provide an accessible entry point for veterans considering starting their own businesses. The course addresses a common challenge many veterans face: knowing that resources exist for veteran entrepreneurs but not knowing where to begin or whether their business idea is actually viable.
Warrior Rising has operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since 2015, built by veterans specifically to support military-connected entrepreneurs. The organization has already worked with more than 30,000 military-connected entrepreneurs through various training, coaching, and community programs, and has helped create and fund over 100 veteran-owned businesses. The SDVET LaunchPoint course serves as the gateway to Warrior Rising's full program track, which includes additional offerings like Warrior Academy, Warrior University, and Business Shower pitch competitions where veterans can compete for funding and support.
Eligibility for the program is limited to service-disabled veterans who hold a VA disability rating of at least 10 percent. Applicants must be honorably discharged and provide a current VA disability letter showing their rating as part of the verification process. Spouses and immediate family members of qualifying veterans may also apply if they provide appropriate documentation. This focus on service-disabled veterans recognizes that this population may face unique challenges in traditional employment and could particularly benefit from the flexibility and control that business ownership can provide.
The single-session course is designed as a no-pressure exploration rather than an intensive commitment, helping veterans connect their existing leadership skills to potential business opportunities. Over the four-hour virtual session, participants work through fundamental questions about what kind of business to build, whether their ideas are viable, and what initial steps make sense before worrying about formal business plans, degrees, or funding. The course also provides connection to a community of fellow veterans who understand the transition from military service to entrepreneurship, addressing the isolation that can accompany starting a business alone.
For disabled veterans, this program represents an important recognition that benefits and resources alone do not create successful businesses. The right opportunity, proper guidance, and peer support matter just as much as financial assistance or preferential contracting programs. Many service-disabled veterans possess leadership, problem-solving, and operational skills from their military experience but lack a structured way to translate those capabilities into civilian business ventures. Programs like SDVET LaunchPoint fill that gap by providing education and community without requiring veterans to commit significant time or money before understanding whether entrepreneurship aligns with their goals and circumstances.
Veterans interested in the program should verify their eligibility by confirming they have an honorable discharge and a current VA disability rating of at least 10 percent. Registration for future sessions opens on a regular basis, and thousands of veterans have already completed the course. Because this is a non-VA program offered by an outside organization, veterans should review program details directly with Warrior Rising and ensure they have their current VA disability letter available for the verification process required during application.