WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs and the PenFed Foundation brought together 80 women Veteran entrepreneurs for a six-month accelerator program that sought to prepare them for sustainability and growth in federal and commercial marketplaces.
Participants came from 29 states and are VA Center for Verification and Evaluation verified, have three to five years in business and have past performance as a prime or subcontractor.
Classes were focused on relationship building, product/market analysis, business development and growth preparation. Participants met in small groups and received coaching from industry leaders, such as AstraZeneca and Halfaker & Associates and OptumServe.
The program will culminate with a pitch competition. The participant with the winning pitch will receive a PenFed Foundation grant to be used to grow their business.
“We have a shared goal: to empower women Veterans and create access to capital and systems to support them,” said PenFed Foundation President and retired U.S. Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. “We believe in creating a business ecosystem that establishes service in the U.S. military as the most reliable pathway to successful entrepreneurship."