Photo credit: Mark Harper of We Are The Mighty, 2018 Military Influencer Conference

THE veteran small business award

the streetshares foundation is not presently accepting applications for our grant program. stay tuned for information about upcoming cycles.

The StreetShares Foundation presents the Veteran Small Business Award in partnership with Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream program.

The StreetShares Foundation is committed to creating access to capital opportunities for military veteran and military spouses entrepreneurs who have been impacted by the economic downturn prompted by the pandemic crisis. This award is designed to boost small business owners who are innovating and creating a social impact in the changing marketplace. We’re here to support you. Help us tell your story. Submit your application today.

• Qualified applicants will submit an application for the Great American Military Entrepreneur Challenge by filming a simple pitch video and filling out the form on the application page.

• The StreetShares Foundation will select 8-15 finalists

• Finalists are featured on the Foundation website for public vote

• The three entrepreneurs with the highest vote count are required to pitch their business at the virtual Military Influencers Conference on November 10, 2020

• The organization must convey, either in the written application or video pitch, their strategy for resilience in response to the rapid market change prompted by the pandemic crisis.

• The non-profit or business entity will also be evaluated on its positive social, community, educational, military-transition, veterans’ employment, health & wellness, or veterans’ mental health/spiritual impact on the American military and veteran community in addition to or in conjunction with the business or nonprofit functions.

Your application will be evaluated on the following:

1. Social impact on the military community

2. Personal story and business idea/potential

3. What customer need are you filling (product/market fit)

4. Your team and company history

5. How you plan to use the award and the potential impact

6. Innovation in response to the pandemic crisis

AWARDS

1ST PLACE: $15,000

2ND PLACE: $6,000

3RD PLACE: $4,000

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant must be a veteran, reserve or transitioning active duty member of any of the United States Armed Forces, a spouse of a military member or the child or immediately family member of a Military Member who died on active duty (i.e., a "Gold Star" family member)

• Applicant must be a U.S. person and at least 21 years old.

• Applicants must own at least 51% of the business entity described in the application. Business entities, as defined in these rules, include sole proprietorships, legally incorporated LLCs, S-Corps or C-Corps (or formal partnerships) created under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction. If the Entrant is applying in conjunction with a nonprofit organization, the Entrant must be the organization's senior executive director or equivalent in order to be eligible for the grant.

• The grant funding awarded is approved for veterans and military spouses who are low-income or otherwise lack financial means and have a goal to start or grow an early-stage business or nonprofit venture.

• The non-profit or business entity will also be evaluated on its positive social, community, educational, military-transition, veterans’ employment, health & wellness, or veterans’ mental health/spiritual impact on the American military and veterans community in addition to or in conjunction with the business or nonprofit functions.

• The organization must convey, either in the written application or video pitch, their strategy for resilience in response to the rapid market change prompted by the pandemic crisis.

• Entrants will create a short video of 2 minutes or less in duration in which the entrant will introduce their business and/or product and pitch the StreetShares Foundation as to why they should be selected for the award by discussing the vision of their firm, goals and the impact and/or anticipated use of the prize if chosen as the grant recipient. Applications without a video will not be evaluated.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEADLINES

The deadline to apply for the Great American Military Entrepreneur Challenge is Saturday, October 3 at midnight ET. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be evaluated.