Veteran Entrepreneur Program - Cohort Application

Accelerator Application
Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

To be eligible for the VEP Accelerator Program, your company must be majority veteran-owned and have a validated or launched product or service. Applicants are evaluated based on their potential to scale and achieve high-growth expansion, ability to grow into a regional or national brand, and leadership commitment. Founders should be working on the business full-time, or as close to full-time as their circumstances allow.
Founder Profile
First Name*
Last Name*
Title*
Company Name*
Email Address*
example@gmail.com
City*
State*
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
LinkedIn*
If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, type N/A.
Are you working on your startup fulltime?*

YesNo
Is the company majority veteran-owned?*

YesNo
Military Branch*
Years of Service*
Rank at Separation*
Do you have a veteran co-founder?*

YesNo
Co-Founder First Name
Co-Founder Last Name
Co-Founder Email Address
example@gmail.com
City
City
State
Co-Founder Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

Company Details
Company Website*
www.example.com
Primary Industry Sector*
What year was your company incorporated? *
State of Incorporation *
Do you have any of the following intellectual property?*

Patents filed or grantedTrademarksOther proprietary technology or processesNone
If yes, please describe.
Current Number of Employees*
Give a brief description of your company.*
When completing this section, use plain language that those outside of your industry will understand.
What problem does your company solve?*
Why does your target audience need this product or service? Are there other options readily available on the market? If so, what makes your product/service stand out?
Describe your product/service. What does it do? *
Please be as specific as possible. When completing this section, use plain language that those outside of your industry will understand.
Is your product already on the market?*

Yes (if yes, you may skip the following 2 questions)No (If no, answer the 2 following questions)
If no, what stage of development is your product currently in?
What is the timeframe for launching your product?
Do you have revenue?*

YesNo
Last 6 months Revenue:*
Forecasted 12 Months Revenue*
If you currently do not have revenue, forecast your revenue from the launch of your product.
Forecasted 5 Year Outlook*
Current Monthly Burn Rate*
List of Debts/Liabilities*
If none, type N/A.
Current Runway*
Summarize your current traction by sharing key metrics that best reflect the progress of your product/company. *
Number of customers, customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, month-over-month growth rate, and/or any key performance indicators (KPIs) specific to your industry. If none, type N/A.
List any tangible, non- revenue funding your company has received (grants, investment, loans, awards).*
If none, type N/A.

Business Strategy
How do you (or plan to) generate revenue?*
What does scaling look like for your business, and what will you do to get there?*
Who is your target market and customer base? *
Share your TAM, SAM, and SOM as estimated yearly revenue in USD? *
Total Addressable Market - the total demand for your type of product/service if you could reach everyone who might want it. Serviceable Available Market - the portion of TAM you can actually serve based on your real boundaries. Serviceable Obtainable Market - the portion of SAM you can realistically capture in a specific time frame, given competition, customer adoption rates, budget, and your ability to execute.
Who are the main alternatives or competitors customers use today?*
What differentiates your business from competitors, and why will customers choose you instead?*
What are your short-term (next 12 months) company milestones?*
Describe your 3-5 year vision for the company?*
What are the top three challenges you've faced as a startup?*
This helps us to connect you with industry experts. Please be as specific as possible.

Other Information
How will participation in the Veteran Entrepreneur Program accelerate your success? What are you hoping to gain from the program?*
What other incubators or accelerators, if any, have you participated in and completed (e.g. VEIP Master's Program, Y Combinator, TechStars, Patriot Bootcamp, Commit Foundation, etc.)?*
If none, type N/A.
How did you hear about the Veteran Entrepreneur Program?*
How did you hear about the Veteran Entrepreneur Program?*

Personal ReferralSocial MediaOnline SearchEvent/ConferenceMedia Coverage
Which specific person, event, or platform led you to the program?

Documentation

Provide documentation in PDF format, labeled [Business Name] - [Last Name], [First Initial]. [Title of Document]
Articles of Incorporation

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Provide your company's executive summary (max 400 words) *

0/400
Founder's Bio*

Please attach a short bio, not a resume, that includes your educational background, your military background and how it might influence your business, relevant civilian work experience, awards/recognition, and any other information about your background and experience that might be helpful. If you have a Co-Founder, you may include their information here as well.
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Founder's Most Recent DD214*

PDF documents are preferred, labeled [Last Name], [First Initial]. DD214
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Co-Founder's Most Recent DD214

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Supplemental Materials

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Other Relevant Links
Product demo, pitch events, company YouTube, etc.

Acknowledgements
By submitting the information contained above, I confirm that the information submitted above is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

I confirm that I have the authority to act as a company founder or co-founder and that the company is at least 50% veteran owned.

If selected, I commit to attending the 3-day seminar for my designated cohort as well as the 6-week webinar and mentoring series that follows.

I acknowledge that, if selected, I will be required to sign a media release, and my company name and logo as well as the founder's (and co-founder's, if applicable) name and photo will be used to promote the Veteran Entrepreneur Program (the "Program") in print, on the Foundation's website, and on social media.

The PenFed Foundation Selection Committee will review all applications and respond to each application individually. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Please note that if you are not selected for the cohort for which you are applying, your application will be held under consideration for one calendar year. If not selected after one calendar year, you must resubmit an application if you wish you apply again.
I agree that the information herein are true and correct.*

Yes
I understand that my acceptance into the Program is subject to review of DD-214 for time in service and nature of discharge.*

Yes
I acknowledge that as a participant in the Program, I agree to maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary information, business ideas, and intellectual property shared by fellow cohort members, and I will not disclose, use, or replicate such information without explicit written permission.*

Yes
I acknowledge and will adhere to the expectations of being selected as a cohort member of The PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program.*

Yes
Name*

First NameLast Name
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Should be Empty:

Accelerator Application

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

Founder Profile

Company Details

Business Strategy

Other Information

Documentation

Acknowledgements