What The Veteran Business Project does

The Veteran Business Project (VBP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, that addresses veteran unemployment by facilitating business ownership through acquisition. Its core offering is vharmony®, a free matchmaking service connecting veterans and military spouses seeking to acquire established businesses with business owners looking to divest, with each registrant assigned an experienced Business Mentor who guides them through the acquisition process including funding options. VBP's operations span three integrated functions: (1) matchmaking and post-acquisition mentorship, (2) the Living Business School—a hands-on educational program conducted inside the operating restaurant of wholly-owned subsidiary Rosie's Home Cookin' where 100% of profits fund the mission, and (3) legislative advocacy at federal and state levels to expand veteran access to capital (including Illinois SB 324 and the federal Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act). The organization generates revenue through charitable donations (notably from the Duchossois Family Foundation), the Rosie's Home Cookin' social enterprise, and a for-fee Speaker's Bureau ($2,000–$4,000 per engagement led by CEO Lynn Lowder). All direct veteran services are provided free of charge, supported by an ecosystem of strategic partners including the City of Chicago, Kauffman Foundation, American Legion, Bunker Labs, SBA, and Illinois Joining Forces, along with a Chicago Ward Initiative targeting veteran-owned businesses in all 50 city wards.

Name

The Veteran Business Project

Legal name

Veteran Business Project, Inc.

Website

https://veteranbusinessproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Veteran Business Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free matchmaking services (vharmony®) connecting veterans and military spouses with established businesses for sale, supported by mentorship, the Living Business School, and a social enterprise restaurant subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Park Ridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, VBP relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors to fund operations. Services to veterans are provided at no cost.
2. Living Business School (Rosie's Home Cookin'): Rosie's Home Cookin' restaurant operated as a wholly-owned VBP subsidiary. 100% of profits are reinvested into funding the mission to transition veterans from warriors to entrepreneurs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Veteran Business Project (VBP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the vharmony® free matchmaking service connecting veterans and military spouses seeking business ownership with established business owners looking to sell. Each registrant is paired with a Business Mentor who provides hands-on guidance through the entire acquisition process, including SBA and federal/state veteran loan access. The organization also operates the Living Business School at its wholly-owned subsidiary restaurant Rosie's Home Cookin' in Naperville, Illinois, providing real-world business training in an operating restaurant environment.

Product overview

The Veteran Business Project operates as a nonprofit organization offering a coordinated suite of services centered on its core vharmony® matchmaking platform, which connects veterans and military spouses with existing businesses for sale. The ecosystem includes the Living Business School educational program conducted at the Rosie's Home Cookin' social enterprise restaurant, comprehensive business mentoring, Chicago Certification Assistance, a Speaker's Bureau featuring veteran leadership training, and regular networking events. All services are provided free to veterans and military spouses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• vharmony®: Free matchmaking service connecting veterans and military spouses seeking to acquire established businesses with business owners wanting to divest. Includes caseworker facilitation and seasoned business mentor assignment.

Products and services

• vharmony® Matchmaking Service

Quantifiable outcome

• In the nine years following WW II, 49% of veterans owned their own business. VBP aims to replicate this success for modern veterans.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Joining ForcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partnership supporting veteran initiatives and connecting veterans with VBP's entrepreneurship programs
• WOVA (Women of Veterans Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting women veterans with entrepreneurship opportunities
• Mission UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on veteran transition support and business ownership
• City of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Certification Assistance Program partnership helping veterans become VBE certified and access city contracts. Supported by Alderman William Hall (6th Ward) and Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward)
• The Rosie NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport organization for veteran entrepreneurs
• Rush Road HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services provider for veterans, featured in resource directory
• Bunker LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational veteran startup incubator, supporter of Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act and G.I. Bill utilization for business startups
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBP partners with SBA and Treasury Department advancing use of CDFI Fund for veteran access to capital. SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs involvement.
• Syracuse University EBV ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrepreneurship bootcamp program for veterans, supports G.I. Bill utilization for business startups
• American LegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong advocate for veteran entrepreneurship and Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act supporting G.I. Bill funds for business startups
• Kauffman FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner documenting veteran entrepreneur statistics and decline in veteran business ownership
• National Guard Association of the United StatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act legislation
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization supporting veteran entrepreneurship initiatives
• Veterans2CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran business development organization
• Military Business Owners AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supporting veteran-owned business development
• Association of Defense CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting veteran transition and entrepreneurship
• U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis (ret)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe supporting veteran entrepreneurship legislation
• Illinois State Senator Jennifer Bertino-TarrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey advocate instrumental in passing Illinois SB 324 granting veterans access to state-guaranteed loans for small business startups
• Missouri State Representative Dean DohrmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of unanimously passed Missouri pro-veteran small business lending legislation

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Veterans2Commerce: Veteran business development organization supporting veteran-owned business formation and growth. Listed as a VBP partner; directly comparable in mission and audience.
• Patriot Boot Camp: Nonprofit program (originally founded with the U.S. Small Business Administration) that provides veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs with mentorship, education, and access to a national network. Comparable in target audience and service mix to VBP.
• Bunker Labs: National nonprofit incubator built by military veteran entrepreneurs to help veterans and military spouses start and scale businesses. Directly comparable to VBP in mission, programming, and target audience, but operates at national scale with broader venture and corporate backing.
• The Rosie Network: Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military spouse entrepreneurs start, grow, and sustain businesses through mentorship, education, and community. Overlapping mission with VBP's veteran and spouse support services; named as a strategic partner of VBP.
• Military Business Owners Association: Association supporting military business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs through networking and education. Direct overlap with VBP's networking meetings and mentorship programming.
• Syracuse University EBV Program (Institute for Veterans and Military Families): University-hosted Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans program offering training, mentorship, and access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs. Directly comparable educational and mentoring offering; VBP lists IVMF/EBV as a partner.

Regional players

• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): National advocacy organization for post-9/11 veterans that supports veteran entrepreneurship policy and programming. VBP lists IAVA as a partner; comparable in veteran-advocacy focus but broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Veteran Ventures Capital: Venture capital firm focused on investing in and supporting veteran-led startups. Partial overlap with VBP's mission of advancing veteran entrepreneurship, but via capital deployment rather than mentorship/matchmaking.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. SBA Office of Veterans Business Development: Federal government program providing training, counseling, and access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs. Broader scope than VBP, but directly overlaps in SBA resource referral, Boots to Business program, and veteran lending guidance.
• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, workshops, and resources to entrepreneurs. Comparable mentorship and education offering, though not veteran-specific; many veteran entrepreneurs use SCORE alongside VBP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VeteranBusinessProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veteran-business-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Veteran Business Project