Founded at UConn in 2009, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) program offers cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small-business management to post-9/11 veterans at no cost. To date, the program has graduated 269 veterans and military spouses.
“The EBV took all the guess work out of it. If I didn’t take this course, it would have taken me years to figure it out on my own. The EBV has been priceless for me,” shares Tony Audette, Audette Motorcycle founder and president, who served a nine-month combat tour in Afghanistan and went through the program.
The program is run by Ret. 1SG Nicholas Martinelli who officially joined the team in February of 2023 following the sudden passing of long-time director and founder LtCol. Michael Zacchea. Nicholas served in the Army for 22 years before retiring in June of 2022. One of the highlights of his military career was working on counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) missions both in Iraq and Afghanistan. His unit was the first to use land-based defense systems against enemy attacks in Iraq. While serving, Nicholas also earned master’s degrees in both education and business administration. His experience aligns closely with EBV’s mission to provide focused, practical training in the tools and skills of new venture creation and the establishment of a support structure for graduates of the program.
We could not offer this program at no cost to our veterans without your support. Together, we can continue our commitment to veteran entrepreneurship and to serving those who have served.
