Utah Veteran Business Resource Center

What Utah Veteran Business Resource Center does

The Utah Veteran Business Resource Center (VBRC) is a nonprofit program operated under Salt Lake Community College that delivers entrepreneurial support services to Utah's military-connected population, including veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, guardsmen, and military spouses. Established in 2017, VBRC is funded by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, Salt Lake Community College, the State of Utah, and the U.S. Small Business Administration, and provides all of its services free of charge to participants. Its core offerings include the STRIVE Program — a six-week entrepreneurship training course delivered in partnership with Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), one of only seven such programs in the United States — and the Utah Veteran Business Registry, a state-recognized verification system operated jointly with the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. Supplementary offerings include one-on-one business advising (booked via the Utah SBDC), the Minnow Tank pitch competition for STRIVE graduates, the UVEN regional networking events held across Sandy, Utah County, and Davis County, the Strategy Stack and Founders Campaign webinar series, the Digital Decal Program for verified veteran-owned businesses, and the Silicon Slopes Military Chapter (a workforce/education/entrepreneurship initiative co-led with Neumont University and the State of Utah).

VBRC does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a content website, a public state registry portal, social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube under the @UtahVeteranEntrepreneurs handles), and VBRC TV video programming. The business model is grant-funded and free-at-point-of-use, with no pricing tiers, subscription revenue, or fee-for-service offerings. Reach is exclusively Utah-based, with the headquarters located at 9690 South 300 West in Sandy, UT, hosted on the SLCC campus. Distribution is event-driven and partner-mediated: VBRC acquires aspiring veteran entrepreneurs through webinars, workshops, UVEN networking events, and referrals from IVMF, SBDC, and VBOC networks, and sustains engagement through STRIVE cohorts, 1:1 advising, and the Silicon Slopes Military Chapter. The center holds no patents, trademarks, or third-party certifications of note, and reports no revenue figures.

Growth is driven by the steady accumulation of partner relationships and program surface area rather than by equity funding, headcount expansion, or product-led mechanics. The addressable market is the 18,879 identified veteran-owned businesses in Utah per the U.S. Census Bureau. VBRC's competitive position is anchored in the institutional weight of its state, federal, and university partners, and in its position as one of only seven IVMF-affiliated STRIVE sites nationwide, rather than in technology differentiation or scale economics.

Name

Utah Veteran Business Resource Center

Legal name

Utah Veteran Business Resource Center

Website

https://utahvbrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Utah Veteran Business Resource Center is a nonprofit program under Salt Lake Community College that provides free entrepreneurship training, 1:1 business advising, and state-recognized veteran-owned business verification to Utah's military-connected entrepreneurs, including veterans, active-duty members, reservists, guardsmen, and military spouses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Business Support Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG), Business Law, Ethics & Compliance (Contracts, IP Basics) (EDAMAHAL)

Keywords

• Small business advising
• Entrepreneurship training
• Business mentorship services
• Veteran business support
• Nonprofit resource center

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Institutional Support: VBRC is a nonprofit resource center funded by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, Salt Lake Community College, State of Utah, and U.S. Small Business Administration. Services are provided free of charge to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VBRC provides free entrepreneurship training, one-on-one business advising, business registration and state recognition, and networking events for military-connected entrepreneurs (veterans, active-duty, reserve/guard, and military spouses) in Utah. Core offerings include the STRIVE Program (a six-week training in partnership with Syracuse University's IVMF), the Utah Veteran Business Registry with digital decal verification, one-on-one business advising, the Minnow Tank pitch competition, the Strategy Stack and Founders Campaign webinar series, and UVEN networking events across Utah counties.

Product overview

The Utah Veteran Business Resource Center (VBRC) provides a suite of entrepreneurial support services for veterans, active-duty members, reserve/guard service members, and military spouses in Utah. The core offerings include the STRIVE Program (a six-week entrepreneurship training in partnership with Syracuse University's IVMF), the Utah Veteran Business Registry (for business recognition and verification), VBRC TV (video content platform), and one-on-one business advising. VBRC also organizes UVEN networking events across Utah counties, hosts the Minnow Tank pitch competition for STRIVE graduates, delivers webinar series (Strategy Stack, Founders Campaign), and operates the Silicon Slopes Military Chapter with a three-pillar focus on workforce, education, and entrepreneurship. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support from business ideation through launch and growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STRIVE Program: Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship - an entrepreneurship training program offered through Syracuse University's IVMF and NACCE, providing in-depth training for aspiring veteran entrepreneurs. The program offers both a traditional course and a women-only course.
• Silicon Slopes Military Chapter
• Minnow Tank Pitch Competition
• Strategy Stack Webinar Series
• Founders Campaign Webinar Series

Products and services

• STRIVE Program Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship (STRIVE) is a six-week entrepreneurship training program offered in partnership with Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). The program helps veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs take early-stage business ideas through rigorous training, with post-program support through the IVMF alumni network. The program is offered completely free for military-connected participants (veterans, active-duty, reserve/guard, military spouses, and IVMF graduates), with both a traditional course and a women-only course.
• Utah Veteran Business Registry (with Digital Decal) A registry system that helps veteran-owned businesses gain recognition and visibility by providing formal state recognition and access to exclusive opportunities. Registered businesses can request a Digital Decal verifying them as a Utah veteran-owned business, issued after verification of veteran status by the Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs and business license verification by VBRC. Printed vinyl decals are also available for pickup.
• One-on-One Business Advising One-on-one mentoring and counseling sessions with VBRC business advisors providing focused attention on business needs and helping entrepreneurs map out next steps for their businesses. Sessions are available via Zoom or in-person and registered through Utah SBDC, delivered free of charge to eligible military-connected entrepreneurs.
• Minnow Tank Pitch Competition A pitch competition for STRIVE graduates where participants present business ideas for seed funding prizes. The event fosters networking and long-term relationships among veteran entrepreneurs and supporters.
• Webinar Series (Strategy Stack and Founders Campaign) Educational webinar series equipping veteran entrepreneurs with actionable strategies to build and grow sustainable businesses, including Strategy Stack (actionable business strategies) and Founders Campaign (support for veteran entrepreneurs at every stage). Past topics have included cyber careers, brand protection, and SBA programs. Available via LinkedIn livestream.
• UVEN (Utah Veteran Entrepreneur Networking) Events

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Utah Department of Veterans and Military AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state-level partner providing institutional backing and verification services for the Utah Veteran Business Registry. The department verifies veteran status for businesses registering with the VBRC.
• Salt Lake Community College (SLCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for VBRC, providing administrative infrastructure and educational resources. Becky Guertler serves as Director of VBRC while affiliated with SLCC.
• Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing the STRIVE Program curriculum and post-program alumni network. VBRC is one of only seven IVMF-affiliated STRIVE program locations nationwide.
• National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the STRIVE program delivery through community college networks.
• Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for business advising registration and ongoing support services for VBRC clients.
• Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional VBOC covers Utah as part of their three-state territory, providing additional business advising capacity for VBRC clients.
• Silicon SlopessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSilicon Slopes Military Chapter supports veteran entrepreneurship in Utah's tech ecosystem through networking events, the annual summit, and workforce development initiatives.
• Neumont UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMo Reeder, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Neumont University, co-leads the Silicon Slopes Military Chapter's educational pillar.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Syracuse University D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF): National veteran-focused education, policy, and research institution that licenses the STRIVE curriculum to VBRC — a strategic partner that also operates adjacent programs (e.g., V-WISE) targeting the same veteran entrepreneur population.
• National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE): Membership organization advancing entrepreneurship education across community colleges — VBRC's STRIVE delivery partner and a broader incumbent shaping the community-college entrepreneurship ecosystem VBRC operates within.

Direct peers

• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, training, and resources to entrepreneurs — closely aligned with VBRC's mission of free small business advising, training, and community education, though not veteran-specific.
• Bunker Labs: National nonprofit supporting military-connected entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and community programs — the closest direct peer in the veteran entrepreneurship space, competing for the same founder cohort.
• Warrior Rising: Nonprofit providing veteran entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and capital access — directly comparable in mission and free service model, with national reach that exceeds VBRC's Utah-only footprint.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBDC Program): Federally funded Small Business Development Centers deliver free 1:1 business advising and training — directly overlapping VBRC's advising and STRIVE training offerings, and an explicit VBRC distribution partner.
• Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program: SBA-funded program delivering business training, advising, and resources specifically to veteran entrepreneurs — Big Sky VBOC actually partners with VBRC to serve Utah, making it both peer and collaborator.

Emerging players

• Veterati: Digital platform connecting veterans to mentors for career and business advice — overlapping VBRC's 1:1 advising function via a technology-led model that contrasts with VBRC's in-person and webinar delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UtahVeteranEntrepreneurs
• Facebookfacebook.com/UtahVeteranEntrepreneurs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utah-vbrc
• Instagraminstagram.com/utahveteranentrepreneurs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Utah Veteran Business Resource Center