VETransfer is a business accelerator program that’s funded through the Department of Veteran Affairs Innovation Initiative. The program offers free entrepreneurial services to qualifying veteran owned companies.
The focus behind VETransfer is to provide professional mentoring and coaching skills to veterans and assist them in transferring their military skills into private sector entrepreneurship. The program helps veterans start, restart or take their companies onto the next level.
Businesses range from construction, consumer products, engineering, marketing, retail, technology, medical, wellness, the list goes on. The program provides guidance as Vets begin to build and accelerate their companies.
Below is a little about the company’s history:
“In March of 2011, VETransfer co-founders Ted Lasser, Nick Wichert, and Greg Meier won a $3.12 million grant through the VAi2 Innovation Initiative. VAi2 is a flagship program that utilizes the talent and expertise of individuals both inside and outside government to generate new ideas to produce new, innovative solutions that advance the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) ability to meet the challenges of becoming a 21st-century organization.
When VETransfer began accepting applications in May of 2011, the VA established a goal: to support 40 Veteran owned businesses over the course of the two-year pilot project. Only one year later, the program has exceeded these expectations, offering support to over 275 Veteran entrepreneurs.
In March of 2012, VETransfer was recognized as a White House Champion of Change as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative. The program has also drawn attention from a variety of local, regional, and national media.”
So I went to VETransfers’ brand new offices on Market Street and spoke to Co-Founder and Director, Nick Wichert along with the very first veteran to take part in the VETransfer Program, A-Sun Truth.