TJ Breeden ⋅ Durham, NC eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. ⋅ 9 years experience

Hi Kennith:
My organization actually just launched an online startup and professional development series with EdX, and we're offering vets scholarships to take free classes from Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Microsoft, and others. We're actually enrolling students into a small business course from MIT this weekend, called "Becoming an Entrepreneur." I think you could benefit. All you'll need to do is visit: www.emerginginc.org/elaunch and complete an application. In the reference field, please put my name (T.J. Breeden). Spaces are filling quickly, and I hope to receive your application.

Deb Yeagle ⋅ Tampa, FL Plan To Win, Inc. ⋅ 39 years experience

Kennith,
Thanks for your service!
Check out the Florida Small Business Development Center at USF:

http://sbdctampabay.com/

Good luck!
Deb

Michael Olmsted, MBA - former US Army ⋅ Janesville, WI State of Wisconsin ⋅ 20 years experience

Kennith, congrats on wanting to start a business. Good advice already, SBA, Score, etc. Something I found helpful was start looking at the app "meetup" and "eventbrite" for any small business or entrepreneurial meetings you may attend. It's fun and educational to network with like minded people. They aren't experts but they may have great ideas.

Good luck

Mike

Emanuel Carpenter ⋅ Alpharetta, GA SDR Master Class ⋅ 20 years experience

Hey Kennith: If you have any percentage of disabilty per the VA, you can apply to the Veteran's Entrepreneur Program (VEP). I participated in one last year at Oklahoma State University and it was excellent. It is a one-week class and all expenses are paid, including training, food, travel, and lodging. You can apply to any one of them in the country. There is one up at Warrington College in Florida but the deadline for applying is coming soon. Here is a link: http://warrington.ufl.edu/centers/cei/outreach/vep/

Usually, the local Small Business Administration offers free seminars. You might also find that some of the local colleges offer free training to veterans. So reach out to them about entrepreneur programs.

In the meantime, use your local library as a resource. Ask for the librarian's help because the librarian will have access to resources you won't be able to find on your own.

Good luck.

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

https://tampa.score.org/

Joshuah Chrisman ⋅ New York, NY NYC Department of Parks and Recreation ⋅ 1 years experience

Hi Kennith,

Thanks for your service and for reaching out. I would like to invite you to take advantage of ACP's formal mentoring program. Here, we would be able to match you up with a small business Mentor that can potentially help you develop and write up a business plan and start taking steps towards launching the business. Our Mentors are also there to bounce ideas off of and to talk through difficult situations that you may encounter throughout.

In addition, ACP is a high-touch program, so you will also be working with a member of our team here that will supply you with relevant articles, TED TALKS, and websites to help you be successful.

If you are interested in being matched up with one of our Mentors, you can apply directly on our website: acp-usa.org/mentoring.

I hope this helps,
Josh