VetBiz

What VetBiz does

VetBiz is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (legal entity: The Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.) founded on May 30, 1996, and headquartered at 4220 Duncan Ave, Suite 201, St. Louis, Missouri. It operates as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, delivering free business counseling, entrepreneurship training, and community support to Veterans, active duty service members, and military spouses across Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois. Its core program stack includes Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot training (delivered via the DoD TAP pipeline), one-on-one confidential business counseling through the SBA eCenterDirect portal, peer advisory groups (VetCEO Roundtables), a multimedia platform (VetReach), and the annual Veterans IN Business Conference held in St. Louis and Kansas City. The organization maintains a six-person staff led by Executive Director Melody Fugazzotto (former U.S. Navy Mustang) and VBOC Director Mitchell Fitzpatrick, supported by a board refreshed in 2025.

The business model is donation and grant-funded: VetBiz generates no revenue from end users, as all counseling, training, and events are provided at no cost. Funding streams include an SBA cooperative agreement for VBOC operations, individual donations (501(c)(3) tax-deductible), corporate sponsorships across VetReach, Veteran Business Connect, VetCEO Roundtables, and the Veterans IN Business Conference (sponsorship tiers from $1,000 to $25,000), foundation grants (notably the Berges Family Foundation), and the VetBiz Advantage Scholarships program offering up to $1,500 per Veteran per year for business education and accelerators. Sub-brands include VetConnex (strategic partnership arm), VetReach (multimedia), Veteran Business Connect (resource hub), and the VetBiz Navigator, an AI-enabled business counseling intake tool that prepares Veterans for productive live counseling sessions by guiding them through business planning, financial assumptions, and market validation.

Since 1996, VetBiz has trained 4,900+ Veterans, assisted 1,437 entrepreneurs, delivered 8,451+ counseling sessions, and helped secure $28.7M+ in capital for Veteran entrepreneurs. The organization is currently undertaking a proactive rebrand because the name 'VetBiz' is a federally registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the SBA, creating legal and branding constraints on future growth, partnerships, and credibility. Strategic and resource partners include SCORE, SBDCs, Women's Business Centers, universities, RSM Federal, Spry Digital, Sage Door Realty, Highwind Brewing, and the Berges Family Foundation.

Name

VetBiz

Legal name

The Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://vetbiz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VetBiz (The Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and SBA-funded Veterans Business Outreach Center that delivers free business counseling, entrepreneurship training, and community support to Veterans, active duty service members, and military spouses across Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Louis

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: VetBiz is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The organization accepts one-time and recurring gifts from individual donors.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships across multiple programs including VetReach, Veteran Business Connect, VetCEO Roundtables, and the Annual Veterans IN Business Conference. Sponsorship tiers range from $1,000 to $25,000 depending on program and level of visibility.
3. VetBiz Advantage Scholarships: Scholarships providing Veteran Business Owners up to $1,500/year in direct-use funds for business education, coaching, consulting, accelerator programs, certifications, and conference participation. Funded by donor contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VetBiz (The Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) under an SBA cooperative agreement. It provides no-cost business counseling, entrepreneurship training (Boots to Business, Reboot), resource navigation, peer roundtables, and community events to Veteran Business Owners, active-duty service members, and military spouses across Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois. The AI-enabled VetBiz Navigator tool serves as a structured entry point for business concept development before formal counseling.

Product overview

VetBiz is a nonprofit organization (The Veterans Advocacy Foundation, Inc.) operating as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) funded through an SBA cooperative agreement. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of no-cost services for Veteran Business Owners and Entrepreneurs across Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois—from idea to exit. The core offerings include Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot training programs, One-on-One Business Counseling, and the AI-enabled VetBiz Navigator tool for initial business planning guidance. The VetConnex sub-brand encompasses Veteran Business Connect for resource navigation, VetReach for multimedia outreach (podcasts/webinars), and VetCEO Roundtables for peer advisory groups. The annual Veterans IN Business Conference and scholarship/disaster recovery funding programs round out the portfolio. All services are designed to help Veterans and military spouses achieve sustainable business success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VetConnex: Strategic partnership arm of VetBiz dedicated to forging connections that accelerate Veteran business success through podcasts, webinars, and curated business resource networks.
• VBOC (Veterans Business Outreach Center)
• VetReach
• Veteran Business Connect
• VetCEO Roundtables
• VetBiz Navigator

Products and services

• VetBiz Navigator AI-enabled business counseling tool designed to help Veteran entrepreneurs think through their business with clarity and structure. It guides users through business planning, goal setting, financial assumptions, market validation, research, and next steps, serving as a starting point before formal one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Boots to Business (B2B) SBA-approved entrepreneurial education and training program offered as part of the DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP), providing an overview of entrepreneurship and business ownership fundamentals for active duty service members, Veterans of all eras, and spouses.
• Boots to Business Reboot (B2B-Reboot) One-day training program providing participants an overview of business ownership as a career vocation, an outline of business plan components, a practical exercise in opportunity recognition, and an introduction to available public and private resources.
• One-on-One Business Counseling No-cost, confidential counseling for Veteran Business Owners and Entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. Advisors help with business planning, financing, marketing, operations, and growth strategies.
• VetReach Multimedia platform dedicated to storytelling, education, outreach, and connection for Veteran entrepreneurs through podcasts, webinars, and targeted marketing campaigns that share real stories and amplify available resources.
• Veteran Business Connect Central hub connecting Veteran Business Owners and Entrepreneurs with vetted resources across the tri-state region, from startup guides and marketing help to legal, financial, and educational support, including follow-up to ensure continued progress.
• VetCEO Roundtables Peer advisory groups connecting established Veteran business owners with fellow CEOs in facilitated, confidential peer groups. Monthly sessions provide strategic decision-making support, accountability, and growth guidance for post-startup Veteran business owners.
• Veterans IN Business Conference Annual regional conferences held in St. Louis (May) and Kansas City (November) that convene Veterans, resource partners, corporations, and community leaders to elevate Veteran-owned businesses and connect them to valuable support systems.
• VetBiz Advantage Scholarships (VAS) Scholarship program providing Veteran Business Owners up to $1,500/year in direct-use funds applied toward business education, 1:1 coaching, accelerator programs, certification programs, conference booths, and other approved business growth services.
• Disaster Recovery Fund Rapid-response financial assistance program providing emergency micro-grants, temporary operational support, basic equipment and materials, and connections to disaster recovery partners for Veteran-Owned Businesses affected by environmental crises.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,900+ Veterans Trained
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sage Door RealtycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSage Door Realty serves individuals, families, and real estate investors throughout the Kansas City region with professionalism and integrity. They have been a valued community partner supporting organizations that strengthen local communities. They have hosted VetBiz Reboot events and support Veteran entrepreneurs in the region.
• Highwind Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighwind Brewing Company is a veteran-owned craft brewery in Junction City, Kansas, dedicated to bringing people together through exceptional hospitality and community engagement. Located minutes from Fort Riley, they have opened their doors for VetBiz events, creating a welcoming space where Veterans, business owners, and community leaders can connect, learn, and grow together.
• Spry DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpry Digital is a St. Louis-based company that creates custom digital solutions. CEO Sheila Burkett helped propel VetBiz in a new direction by masterfully facilitating the 2025 Board Retreat to establish new vision, mission, goals, and objectives with a new board. Their People-Centric approach helped engage a new group of board members.
• RSM FederalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSM Federal, led by Managing Partner Joshua Frank (MBA), is a leading authority on government sales and tactics to win government contracts. Josh has been Board Chair for over 5 years, a panelist, mentor, and coach for VetBiz clients. RSM Federal Tactics and Strategies have helped companies win more than $14.6 Billion in government contracts.
• SCOREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner connecting Veterans to mentorship and business guidance services.
• SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing business development support to Veteran entrepreneurs.
• Women's Business CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing entrepreneurship support services.
• UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational resource partners supporting Veteran entrepreneurship through academic programs and research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit providing a broad portfolio of programs to wounded veterans including economic empowerment and transition support — a much larger veteran-services incumbent that touches veteran entrepreneurship indirectly.
• SCORE: Nationwide network of volunteer business mentors providing free counseling, workshops, and resources. Already a VetBiz partner; broadly overlapping small business advisory mission though not veteran-specific.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBA-funded nationwide network providing small business advisory services. A VetBiz partner; overlapping general small business development mission though broader than veteran-focused offerings.
• Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University: Leading academic center advancing veteran and military family economic wellness through entrepreneurship programs (e.g., V-WISE) — an established peer in the veteran entrepreneurship support ecosystem.

Others

• Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit supporting veteran career transition, including self-employment and entrepreneurship pathways. Adjacent in mission to VetBiz but weighted more toward employment placement.
• StreetShares Foundation (now part of Klarity): Veteran-focused small business funding platform offering capital access, scholarships, and educational resources — adjacent peer addressing capital access, one of VetBiz's core problem areas.

Direct peers

• Bunker Labs: National nonprofit dedicated to empowering veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs through community, education, and resources. Closely comparable mission and target audience to VetBiz, with national scale.
• Warrior Rising: Nonprofit that helps veterans build and grow businesses through mentorship, training, and capital access. Directly comparable veteran entrepreneurship focus and service model.
• National Veterans-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA): National nonprofit certifying and advocating for veteran-owned businesses and connecting them to corporate and government procurement opportunities. Comparable mission centered on veteran business growth.

Regional players

• Final Salute Inc. Nonprofit serving veteran and military spouse populations with housing and economic stability programs. Comparable veteran-services nonprofit operating model with regional service emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vetbiz
• Xx.com/vetbiz
• Facebookfacebook.com/VetBiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vetbiz1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 VetBiz