A guide to grants and funding for veteran-owned businesses, from Warrior Rising and pitch competitions to SBA loans and the 3% contracting set-aside.
Veterans, active-duty service members, and military families bring discipline and leadership to entrepreneurship, but capital is often the missing piece. This guide covers the real grants, competitions, and funding programs open to veteran-owned businesses, with award amounts, eligibility, and where to apply.
TL;DR: Veteran Business Grants at a Glance
- Warrior Rising awards non-dilutive grants from $2,000 to $150,000 to graduates of its free training pipeline through invitation-only “Business Showers.”
- The federal government aims to set aside 3% of its contracting budget each year for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs).
- The SBA’s Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) provides up to $2 million at 4% interest over 30 years when an essential employee is called to active duty.
- Pitch competitions like Rice Business Veterans award $30,000 in total grants ($15,000 / $10,000 / $5,000).
- 71% of majority veteran-owned employer firms regularly use or carry a balance on a business credit card, per the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey, which is exactly why non-dilutive grant funding matters.
Grant Programs for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Warrior Rising. Warrior Rising runs an invitation-only “Business Shower” that awards non-dilutive grants ranging from $2,000 to $150,000 to graduates of its free training pipeline. Its Warrior University track awards up to $20,000 and is open to veterans, active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, and immediate family.
Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Grant. This program awards $1,000 micro-grants to 20 veteran-owned businesses annually (2–100 employees, under $5 million in revenue), a good fit for early-stage founders who need working capital without giving up equity.
NASE Growth Grants. The National Association for the Self-Employed awards $4,000 quarterly to members, and veterans receive a 15% discount on the annual membership fee.
Pitch Competitions
Rice Business Veterans. Rice University’s veteran pitch competition awards $30,000 in total grants: $15,000 for first place, $10,000 for second, and $5,000 for third. Pitch competitions are effectively grants you win by presenting, non-dilutive, fast, and often paired with mentorship.
If you are preparing to pitch, our guide to writing a compelling grant application and how to write a needs statement translate directly to pitch decks.
Federal Programs and Set-Asides
The 3% SDVOSB contracting goal. The federal government aims to set aside 3% of its contracting budget each year for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Getting certified as an SDVOSB (or VOSB) through the SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification program can open a dedicated pipeline of federal contracts.
SBA Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL). For businesses that lose an essential employee to active-duty call-up, the SBA’s MREIDL provides up to $2 million at 4% interest over 30 years. It’s a loan, not a grant, but the terms are far below market.
Veteran-Focused Investors
Not every funding source is a grant. Hivers & Strivers, a veteran-focused angel group, writes checks of $100,000 to $1 million to veteran-led startups, manages roughly $80 million in assets, and reports a 60%+ internal rate of return. For scalable startups, equity investment from a veteran-aligned group can be more realistic than grants alone.
How Grantboost Helps
Grantboost helps veteran-owned businesses and the nonprofits that serve them find matching funders and draft proposals in their own voice. Instead of scrolling spreadsheets of dead links, you get grant recommendations aligned to your mission, deadline tracking, and AI drafting that turns your story into a submission-ready application. Try Grantboost free.
Read next:
Further Reading
- SBA: Veteran-owned businesses
- SBA: Veteran Small Business Certification
- Federal Reserve: Small Business Credit Survey
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.