For almost 80 years, U.S. military veterans have been more likely to start and own a business than non-veterans. After World War II, nearly half of veterans owned or operated a business. With a strong work ethic and dedication to a cause, veterans often have attributes that make them successful entrepreneurs.

Though there has been a decrease in veteran business ownership over the past couple of decades, veterans are still more likely to own a company with about 1.9 million veteran-owned businesses today. Military spouses often struggle with creating a small business or finding long-term careers. With frequent relocations, the military lifestyle can make entrepreneurial success difficult.

That’s where the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship comes in. Created by the Syracuse University D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, V-WISE is a program that gives women veterans business tools, connections and resources to turn their passion into a successful venture.

“V-WISE created this amazing network for women,” said Misty Fox, IVMF director of entrepreneurship and small business. “They were meeting other women who were encouraging them to get started and how to balance family and entrepreneurship. Now we’re looking at 3,800 graduates from the 27 programs we’ve hosted.”

The V-WISE program begins on Monday, Sept. 16 with a 15-day online intensive that prepares participants for the three-day in-person residency in Salt Lake City on Oct. 11-13. For a registration fee of $75, female veterans and military spouses can learn skills to get their business idea off the ground. Lodging and meals are covered 100%.

Following the in-person event, participants receive one year of support focused on their small business creation and growth.

“It’s a time where they can meet with geniuses, or have meetings with subject matter experts,” Fox said. “They have time where they can meet one-on-one with folks to learn how to pitch their business or learn how to break barriers that might be holding back their business. So it’s a time they can immerse themselves and really get going on their business.”

Funding for the V-WISE program comes from the support of corporate and foundation partners across the country. Comcast has a history of supporting military causes and brings a wealth of information to the V-WISE program through a series of topics.

Experts from Comcast Business will help entrepreneurs safeguard against cyber threats, navigate the digital landscape, understand data protection and compliance, leverage data for brand identity, conduct risk assessment and secure business operations. 

“Comcast has been a great supporter of this community for a long time and they’ve done that in several different ways,” Fox said. “With IVMF, they’ve partnered with us to host not only V-WISE but other entrepreneurship programming. In reality, it’s not just a conference or a training sponsorship for them. [Comcast] has just been a really, really good partner in the veteran space for a long time.”

Those eligible to participate in the V-WISE program include honorably discharged women veterans or active duty women service members of any military branch, including the National Guard and reservists. Also eligible are women spouses, same-sex life partners or widows of veterans from any branch or era of service.

“Comcast’s commitment to military causes shines through its substantial support for the V-WISE program, bringing invaluable expertise in cybersecurity and digital navigation to empower veteran entrepreneurs,” said Deneiva Knight, external affairs director, Comcast Mountain West Region. “By partnering with IVMF, Comcast continues its longstanding tradition of fostering veteran success through entrepreneurship, strengthening the program’s impact on women veterans across the nation.”

For more information on Xfinity’s military deals and offers, visit: military.xfinity.com/#/welcome. For more information, or to apply for the V-WISE program, visit ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/entrepreneurship/start-up/v-wise/.