NYU Tandon Opens Applications for VET-1, Training Program for Veteran Entrepreneurs
The six-session course helps veterans and military spouses build the skills to launch a business, with applications due August 25.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Veterans Future Lab (VFL) opened applications for VET-1, the first level of its Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) program, with an application deadline of Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Designed for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs who are new to business ownership, VET-1 introduces the foundational building blocks for starting a venture in today's competitive business environment.
The program is offered at no cost to participants thanks to funding from the State of New York, with special recognition to New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Steve Stern.
"The veterans who so valiantly served our country already have what it takes to be successful entrepreneurs: they work hard, think on their feet, and expect the unexpected. What they need—and deserve—from us is support," said State Senator Gounardes. "This training program gives them the tools they need to thrive after their military service, and to continue serving our communities in a new way. I'm proud to have contributed funding for this important program. Thanks to NYU Tandon for making it happen."
“As the Chairman of the Veteran’s Affairs Committee of the New York State Assembly, I am honored to work with and for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our great nation,” said Assemblyman Stern. “I am proud to support NYU Tandon’s Veterans Entrepreneur Training (VET-1) program. This vital six session training lab is a critical step in helping our veterans and military spouses achieve success as small business owners. Particularly during these challenging times, this training will help ensure that our veterans are well-prepared to succeed. I encourage all who are interested to apply before the August 25th deadline.”
Participants need not have prior business experience, just an existing business or a business idea they'll develop throughout the course, which includes six online sessions delivered in the evenings over two weeks beginning September 8.
Veteran-owned businesses have been on the decline in recent years. Their share of all U.S. businesses fell from 11.0 percent in 2014 to just 8.1 percent by 2020, according to a 2023 U.S. Small Business Administration analysis, a drop the agency attributes in part to a lack of new veteran entrepreneurs entering the pipeline as older business owners retire.
"The declining numbers of veteran entrepreneurs underscores the ongoing barriers that today's veterans face in launching businesses, including limited access to startup capital, professional networks, and entrepreneurial support," said Gabriela Q. Bell, VFL Instructor. “Programs like VET-1 are designed to help reverse that trend by giving the next generation of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs the tools to get started.”
Bell brings her own entrepreneurial experience, as founder and CEO of Organized Q, a company that has drawn national recognition, including a spot on a Forbes list of "upstart entrepreneurs," for building its staffing model around military spouses and other nontraditional talent.
NYU Tandon began the VET program in 2015, when its first cohort of 14 veterans pitched their startups at a public demo day. The program has grown steadily since then, and more than 350 people have now completed the program.
A second, identical VET-1 session is also planned to run October 13-26, with applications opening on September 2. Successful completion of VET-1 prepares participants to continue their entrepreneurial journey through VET-2 – the next one scheduled for November 2-13, with applications opening September 8 – which aims to deepen early-stage entrepreneurs' understanding of core business concepts and introduces more advanced frameworks and processes.
Applications for the next VET-1 session can be submitted through the Veteran Support page on the NYU Tandon website by clicking "Apply Now.” Selected applicants will be notified the week of August 31, 2026.
The VFL is part of the NYU Tandon’s Future Lab network, the first public-private partnership with New York City tasked with creating a sustainable incubation program focused on increasing the success rate of new ventures and generating positive economic impact.
