Fifteen years ago, the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga set out to answer a simple but powerful question: What happens when you give a veteran the tools to build something of their own?
This Saturday, we’ll welcome the 2026 cohort of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program who are ready to build. They come from different branches, different backgrounds and different business ideas — but they share the same drive that carried them through their military service.
It is a fitting symbol of what VEP has always been about: veterans lifting each other up.
From service to startup
Our nation’s military veterans bring with them a rare combination of skills that few civilian professionals can match — risk management, performance under pressure and leadership. VEP was built on the belief that those same skills, with the right support, can fuel the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Now in its 15th year, VEP offers a highly innovative immersion program built around hands-on learning, personalized interaction and exposure to inspiring mentors, with a mission to foster the creation of successful, profitable ventures owned by veterans.
A three-phase journey
The intensive VEP bootcamp starting on July 18 is just one element of the comprehensive, integrated three-phase program.
Before delegates ever set foot in Chattanooga, they participate in a five-week self-study curriculum developed for VEP, facilitated by an online discussion and assessment module moderated by entrepreneurship faculty from the Rollins College of Business.
Then comes the boot camp. Like a military boot camp, this eight-day residency in Chattanooga is intense, rigorous and demanding. It’s an opportunity for hands-on learning and interaction with faculty, guest entrepreneurs, business experts and peer delegates. This year’s boot camp runs July 18–25 on the UTC campus.
All instruction, materials, travel expenses, lodging and meals are provided at no cost to each delegate, with costs underwritten by sponsors and private donors including presenting sponsor Walden Security.
After delegates return home, the work continues. Participants receive ongoing mentorship and peer-to-peer networking to refine their business strategies and overcome challenges.
15 years of results
The numbers tell a compelling story. Since its inception, the VEP at UTC has graduated over 200 veterans. Combined, their businesses have generated $167 million in revenue and created more than 548 jobs.
Behind every statistic is a person who made a leap. As VEP graduate Paul Whitten put it, “I started my business because of this program. I probably wouldn’t have launched otherwise,” he said. “If you are a veteran and want to start a business, you would be crazy not to participate in VEP.”
For VEP Program Director Sandra Cordell, the transformation is personal to witness every year. “Every year, we get to witness an incredible transformation. Veterans come to the program with drive and determination, and over the course of VEP, you can see their confidence grow as their ideas take shape,” she said. “They leave not just with a business plan, but with a renewed sense of purpose and belief in what’s possible.”
We cannot wait to see what this cohort creates as they go through VEP bootcamp and beyond.
Visit utc.edu/vep to learn more about the National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at UTC.
