Description/Abstract
This brief is designed for funders, program leaders, and policymakers working to build stronger veteran entrepreneurship ecosystems. This paper brings together insights about veteran entrepreneurial ecosystems from Military Entrepreneurship Forum (MEF) roundtable conversations, the National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs (NSMAE), and other entrepreneurship research. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, this paper lays out a set of components that communities can use to strengthen their own ecosystems. Veteran entrepreneurship is a lens into broader questions of economic mobility, local resilience, and civic leadership. But systems matter. With veteran-serving organizations facing revenue declines and donor fatigue, coordinated entrepreneurial ecosystems are a necessity. Veteran entrepreneurship is not just a matter of personal success; it’s a strategy for national resilience, economic revitalization, and civic strength. While each community is different, these recommendations offer adaptable building blocks rooted in research and veteran experience.
Document Type
Brief
Disciplines
Military and Veterans Studies
Extent
12 Pages
DCMI Type
Text
Keywords
Veteran entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship ecosystem, Collaboration, Veteran serving organizations, Entrepreneurial journey
Publisher
Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University
Date
8-22-2025
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Maury, Rosalinda V. and Pritchard, Adam, "A Framework for Advancing and Strengthening the Veteran Entrepreneur Ecosystem" (2025). Institute for Veterans and Military Families. 496.
https://surface.syr.edu/ivmf/496
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
