Veterans Entrepreneurship Program

VEP offers a unique, highly innovative training program built around hands-on learning, personalized interaction and exposure to inspiring role models. Our purpose is to foster the creation of successful, profitable ventures. A team of world-class faculty, distinguished entrepreneurs and industry experts work closely with delegates, providing a challenging, interactive and informative experience.

Attention all veterans! The National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) provides a great learning opportunity for veterans interested in or considering starting a business. This program helps veterans gain financial independence, along with assisting them to grow their businesses profitably.

Please email us at
[email protected] for further information!

Veterans! Are you interested in starting a business? The National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) provides a rigorous entrepreneurial learning and development opportunity for disabled veterans and those who distinguished themselves in their military careers.
For more information, email us at [email protected]!

Veterans!

The Oklahoma State University National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is accepting applications for our 2024 cohort! VEP is designed for veterans interested in starting a venture to gain financial independence or having an existing business they would like to grow profitably.

Our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program Application is open until December 10, 2023, at Midnight. Applicants are notified on a rolling basis until December 13, 2023. We highly recommend applying early!

Program Overview

Phase One 👉 January 16-February 18, 2024: Concept Development & Self-Study
Phase Two 👉 February 24 – March 3, 2024: VEP Boot Camp
Phase Three 👉 April 1 - August 31, 2024: Advising and Venture Development

Click the link below to learn more about the VEP program and to apply! https://business.okstate.edu/riata/vep.html

We are excited to kick off our 2023 Veteran's Entrepreneurship Program starting tomorrow! We would like to first thank our sponsors for our gift bag donations, and our catering and hospitality sponsors for lunch and dinner throughout the next week! 🤠🧡🖤

Gift Bag Sponsors
For Pete's Sake Coffee Bunker Visit Stillwater Typo Market Murphy's Department Store Eskimo Joe's Brown's Bottle Shop The Gourmet Gallery Wagon Creek Ranch

Catering Sponsors
Chick-fil-A Stillwater
McAlister's Deli Louie's Grill & Bar
Jersey Mike's Subs
Pizza Hut Jimmy John's Buffalo Wild Wings Fuzzy's Taco Shop Mexico Joe's RibCrib BBQ - Stillwater Da Vinci's Stillwater It's Just Wings Bad Brad's Bar-B-Q
The Ranchers Club IRON MONK Stonecloud Brewing Company Anheuser-Busch Taylor's Restaurant

Veterans!

Applications are closing THIS Sunday at Midnight!

The Oklahoma State University National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is accepting applications for our 2023 cohort! VEP is designed for veterans interested in starting a venture as a means to financial independence or having an existing business they would like to grow profitably.

Our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program Application is open until December 11, 2022, at Midnight. Applicants are notified on a rolling basis until December 14th, 2022.

Program Overview

Phase One 👉 January 16-February 19, 2023 Concept Development & Self-Study
Phase Two 👉 February 25 – March 4, 2023: VEP Boot Camp
Phase Three 👉 April 1 - August 31, 2023: Advising and Venture Development

To learn more about the VEP program and to apply, check out our website! http://ow.ly/VBfY50LGnqW

Veterans!

The Oklahoma State University National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is accepting applications for our 2023 cohort! VEP is designed for veterans interested in starting a venture as a means to financial independence or having an existing business they would like to grow profitably.

Our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program Application is open until December 11, 2022, at Midnight. Applicants are notified on a rolling basis until December 14th, 2022.

Program Overview

Phase One 👉 January 16-February 19, 2023 Concept Development & Self-Study
Phase Two 👉 February 25 – March 4, 2023: VEP Boot Camp
Phase Three 👉 April 1 - August 31, 2023: Advising and Venture Development

To learn more about the VEP program and to apply, check out our website! http://ow.ly/VBfY50LGnqW

In Honor of Veterans Day, we are proud of our servicemen and women who served and sacrificed for our country.

At the Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we are grateful for everyone who fights and has fought for our freedoms. We are incredibly thankful to work with Veteran entrepreneurs each year through our Veteran Entrepreneurship Program.

We thank you today and every day. SSpears School of Business - Oklahoma State University 🇺🇸

Have you heard the good news yet!? The 2023 OSU Cowboy100 applications and nominations are live! Visit our website below to apply or nominate another OSU graduate!!

https://lnkd.in/gPsTCAmq

Cowboy100 - Oklahoma State University April 1, 2022: Nominations & Applications OpenAugust 31, 2022: Nominations CloseOctober 31, 2022: Applications CloseFebruary 2023: Alphabetical List AnnouncedMarch 31, 2023: Cowboy100 Honoree Gala

Our VEP delegates had a surprise visitor last night! Thank you Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum for supporting and encouraging our veteran entrepreneurs.

Just 2 more days until the VEP Pitch and Poster and Closing Banquet!

A final big thank you to our dinner and hospitality sponsors for this year's Veterans Entrepreneurship Program!

The Ranchers Club, RibCrib BBQ - Stillwater, Mexico Joe's, Olive Garden, Jimmy John's, Bad Brad's Bar-B-Q, Meditations Weddings & Events, Anheuser-Busch, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Oklahoma, IRON MONK, and Bruce and Janet Barringer

Thank you to our lunch sponsors for feeding our veterans this week! VEP wouldn't be the same without the generosity of so many. Thank you!

Chick-fil-A Stillwater, Panera Bread, Pizza Hut, Jersey Mike's Subs, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fuzzy's Taco Shop, Louie's Grill & Bar, McAlister's Deli, and Celebrations

Tomorrow we are thrilled to welcome to Stillwater the 19 delegates of the 2022 Veterans Entrepreneurship Program!

Over the next week delegates will hear from our stellar line-up of speakers and compete in a Pitch and Poster competition.

This year's VEP delegates will be welcomed with some awesome gift bags.

Thank you to Wagon Creek Ranch, Plenty Mercantile, Livesay Orchards, and Soy Candle Cottage for making them possible!

Another Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, another amazing set of donations! Over the next week we will be highlighting some of our sponsors.

Thank you to Clauren Ridge Vineyard and Winery, The Gourmet Gallery, Rick's Fine Chocolates & Coffees, Three Dog Bakery Stillwater, and Visit Stillwater for adding to these amazing gift bags for our delegates!

Today we kick off phase 1 of our annual Veterans Entrepreneurship Program! 21 delegates are starting their online coursework in preparation for the week-long phase 2 at the end of February.

Have advice for our new cohort? Drop it in the comments 👇👇

Starting a food truck in 8 days sounds impossible, but 2020 VEP delegate Lyndsay Gutierrez did it!

Check out the Riata Center's latest Buzz on Business podcast and hear how Lyndsay is seeking to revolutionize how we eat.

Listened wherever you find your podcasts!
Spotify: http://okla.st/Spotify
Apple Podcast: http://okla.st/ApplePodcast
Podbean: https://buzzonbusiness.podbean.com

Happy 1st Birthday to the United States Space Force!

We cannot wait to have our first Space Force delegate in the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” - G.K. Chesterton

Happy Veterans Day, and thank you to all who have served in our military!

In the Riata Center and the School of Entrepreneurship, we are grateful for every person who fights and has fought for our freedoms. And we are lucky enough to work with veteran entrepreneurs every year through our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.

Did you know it's proven that being in nature can help spark creativity? This exciting announcement by the National Parks Service means that it will be easier than ever for veterans and their families to enjoy more time outdoors in this great country.

Who know, maybe you'll find the inspiration for your next business 🌲🌸🌵🌺

To commemorate Veterans Day and honor those who have served in the military, National Park Service entrance fees will be waived for ALL visitors on November 11. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt previously announced that beginning on Veterans Day, Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans will be granted free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas into perpetuity. These areas include our magnificent national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and other lands and waters managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters.

Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: Sun light streams through the Marine Corps War Memorial on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. NPS/Mark Maloy

Oorah 245 years!! Happy Birthday to the Unites States Marine Corps.

Thank you for the honor, courage, and commitment you bring to VEP.

Congratulations to our VEP giveaway winner Grayson Stalvey!! Grayson, send us a message and we will send you your new swag!

Thanks to everyone who participated and keep your eyes peeled for future giveaways 👀

Fall is here and it's time for a VEP giveaway! 🎁

The winner of the giveaway will receive a L or XL jacket, any size Riata T-Shirt, Riata mug, VEP padfolio, and VEP notebook!

How to enter 👇
Like this post = 1 entry
Tag a friend in the comments = 1 entry (for each person you tag!)
Share the post to your page = 5 entries

The giveaway closes Tuesday, November 6th at noon CST and a winner will be chosen at random.
You must be following this page to win!

It's anchors away for the 245th Birthday of the US Navy!

Until we meet once more, here's wishing you a happy voyage home!

Looking for a way to increase business during a pandemic?

Attend 5 sessions and receive a Customer Recruitment and Enhancing Business Revenue Certificate from the OSU Spears School of Business. Or if you prefer to enroll in individual sessions, click on the particular topic where you would like to register and it will lead you through to individual registration.

The September discount pricing is $95 per session or $500 per person if you have 3 or more people enrolled in the entire six-session certificate. If interested in registering contact, Lynsey Turlington at [email protected] to receive the discount.

Follow this link to learn more!
https://business.okstate.edu/cepd/open-enrollment/webinars/driving-customers-to-your-business.html

Driving Customers to Your Business - Oklahoma State University For further information regarding this virtual presentation series, please contact the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development.

Happy 73rd Birthday Air Force!!

If we've learned anything from VEP it's that "Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!"

This or that? Po-tay-to or po-tah-to?

IRON MONK Brewery Tour or the Hospitality Room at The Atherton Hotel at OSU?

We know it's impossible to choose, but vote for your favorite! React with a ❤️ for Iron Monk or a 👍 for the Hospitality Room!

We are so grateful for all the supporters that make VEP possible!

Did you know we're on LinkedIn?

Like and share our new public page for additional announcements and resources! Our support doesn't end after phase 3, we want to continue to help you personally and professionally.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/osu-veterans-entrepreneurship-program/

OSU Veterans Entrepreneurship Program | LinkedIn OSU Veterans Entrepreneurship Program | 5 followers on LinkedIn | The VEP offers cutting edge training in entrepreneurship to military personnel disabled as a result of their service. | The Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and sma...

This or that? Po-tay-to or po-tah-to?

The 2020 Chad poster or any other poster...ever...?

Vote for your favorite! React with a ❤️ for Chad or a 👍 for every poster in VEP history.

This or that? Tom-ay-to or tom-ah-to?

Opening reception or closing banquet?

We want you to vote for your favorite! Like this post for opening reception or react with a heart for closing banquet.

Cheers to 11 years! So much has changed in our world since the inception of VEP, but our commitment to helping veteran entrepreneurs never will.

Join us in reminiscing and comment with one of your favorite VEP memories!

Veterans Entrepreneurship Program updated their website address.

VEP is more than just a program, it's a community.

We want to support you and we want you to support each other!

If your business has social media, let us know in the comments so our VEP community can keep up with all of your success.

Quarantine Query Series

How have our delegates been handling the coronavirus shutdown?

Our next interview is with Grayson Stalvey, founder of Grayson Stalvey Financial Coaching.

"Grayson Stalvey Financial Coaching guides young families through simple, actionable steps to get from financial frustration to financial freedom. I help you get clear on what really matters to you in life and teach you how to put your money toward those things. I help you come up with a plan to get from where you are now to where you want to be, then walk that path with you as an accountability partner and guide."

How has the coronavirus impacted your business?

"The biggest impact has been the switch to 100% virtual meetings. Prior to everything shutting down we were already at around 90% virtual sessions, but quarantine and stay home orders pushed us to 100% virtual."

How are you making the best of this situation?

"This has been an unprecedented time for everyone. There has been a ton of financial uncertainty, and much of that uncertainty still exists. We've been doing a lot of work in the community, including holding free webinars on how to budget and pay off debt, creating free disaster preparedness resources, and partnering with local organizations to address the racial economic gap in our society.
We've also got a new offering coming up that I'm really excited about! It's a group coaching program for teens ages 14-18. It uses a combination of video game-based lessons and virtual group coaching sessions to teach the basics of personal finances to teens...it's all the stuff we wish we had learned in high school before going out into the real world!"

How can we support you through this?

"I'd love it if you'd follow me on instagram and facebook, and share those pages with your friends! The biggest challenge is getting more people aware of what financial coaching is. I had never heard of a financial coach when I was on my debt free journey, but I wish I had!"