Women veterans launch entrepreneurship collective in Washington

Two veterans nonprofits launched a free national platform in Washington, DC, to connect women Veteran entrepreneurs with mentorship, training and vetted business partners. The new collective aims to close a long-standing ownership gap as women still hold a small share of Veteran-owned businesses nationwide.

Why it matters: - Women Veteran-owned businesses have grown nearly 300% since 2007, but women still own just 15% of Veteran-owned businesses nationwide, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. - The new platform is designed to give women Veteran founders easier access to the networks and support systems that can help businesses scale. - The launch adds a dedicated national resource for a group that is growing but still underrepresented in Veteran entrepreneurship.

What happened: - The Continuing to Serve Foundation and the Women Veterans Interactive Foundation launched the Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Collective, or WVEC, during A Toast to Service at Ned’s Club Washington, DC. - The invitation-only Women Veterans Day celebration brought together women Veteran entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, policymakers, Veteran advocates and community partners. - The event marked the official debut of WVEC as a free national platform for women Veteran entrepreneurs. - The launch also included networking, a champagne reception and remarks centered on women Veterans as founders, executives, innovators and changemakers.

The details: - WVEC connects women Veteran entrepreneurs to a curated ecosystem of vetted mentors, training, education and entrepreneurial partners. - Members can network with fellow women Veteran entrepreneurs through a single point of access instead of searching separately for programs and resources. - The platform launched at no cost with Founding Funding Partner support from the Continuing to Serve Foundation. - Attendees at the launch represented government, technology, defense, finance, healthcare, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. - The full announcement is available here. - WVEC also shares updates through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Between the lines: - The launch reflects a broader push to turn recognition of women Veterans into practical business support. - By combining mentorship, education and partner access in one place, WVEC is aiming to reduce friction for founders who often have to piece together resources on their own. - The event also signals cross-sector interest in women Veteran entrepreneurship, with public, private and nonprofit leaders all present.

What's next: - WVEC will keep convening entrepreneurs, executives, investors, mentors and advocates through networking opportunities, educational programming, mentorship initiatives and strategic partnerships. - Women Veteran entrepreneurs can join WVEC at no cost. - The founders are positioning the collective as an ongoing platform to accelerate the success of women Veteran-owned businesses.

The bottom line: - WVEC is trying to turn a celebration into a durable business infrastructure for women Veterans.