Entrepreneurship program helps veterans launch and grow businesses
5 – minute read
Lia Curfman wanted to combine her deep love for dance with her desire to be an entrepreneur. She achieved this with the Contempo Dance Club in Naples, where she has created a safe space for women to disconnect from the world and “discover the irresistible allure of their inner dancer.”
This would not have been possible without the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, which is run through the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University.
“I am forever grateful for this program that I stumbled upon over five years ago on Facebook,” says Curfman, who enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 and served as a 92 alpha (automated logistical specialist) in Fort Bliss, Texas.
“It has truly been life-changing. I’ve been able to quit my 9-to-5 job and fully pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. I’ve grown so much as a person and have met incredible mentors and people who continue to support me to this day. FGCU has always been there for me, and I’m thankful for their ongoing support.”
The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program at FGCU began in fall 2016 as a way to support individuals transitioning from the armed forces to civilian careers.
With a $100,000 donation from philanthropist and veteran William Schoen, the program was launched to provide veterans with the tools, mentorship and resources to succeed as entrepreneurs. A regular guest lecturer at FGCU and a strong advocate for veterans, Schoen partnered with what is now called the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship, which supports the school through curricular programing like the veterans initiative.
“Veterans possess qualities that align closely with the entrepreneurial mindset, such as discipline, leadership and resilience,” says Jonathan Schaffer, the institute’s outreach manager. “However, transitioning from military service to business ownership can be complex.
“The decision to focus on helping veterans was driven by a desire to provide tailored support that helps them harness these strengths and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. The Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship team saw this program as a way to give back, empowering veterans to succeed in business, thrive in their post-military careers and contribute to the local economy.”
According to Schaffer, one of the greatest benefits of the program is comprehensive, hands-on support, including access to equity-free seed funding. Through FGCU’s Business Model Canvas and Growth Cohorts, they have awarded over $923,000 to veteran-owned businesses, thanks to generous contributions from dedicated donors. This funding directly supports participants in launching or scaling their businesses, allowing them to invest in their operations and growth.
The program, which recently received the Model Community Entrepreneurship Accelerator/Incubator Award from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, also offers participants the opportunity to build a strong network with other Southwest Florida business owners and entrepreneurs. Through this program, veterans connect with local business leaders, mentors and other entrepreneurs to create valuable relationships that extend beyond the program itself. These connections not only help veterans grow their businesses but also integrate them into the broader business community in Southwest Florida.
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Derrick Aguilar completed the program in 2020 and continues to serve the Southwest Florida community through his welding and fabrication business, American Veteran Welding. As a corporal in Cherry Point, North Carolina, he was a welder repairing and fabricating on military equipment. His experience in heavy equipment repairs translated to a civilian career providing structural steel work services to commercial and residential projects — all with the help of FGCU’s veterans program and staff.
“I used the seed funding to buy a commercial service truck, welding machines, equipment and tools — everything I needed to start a welding business,” he says. “It was a massive jump of growth for our business. Besides the funding, the business connections and mentors introduced throughout the FGCU program were essential to developing those business skills you won’t learn anywhere else.”
Schaffer anticipates the coming year will be historic. They expect to surpass $1 million in equity-free seed funding distributed through the program; Veterans Florida, their partner since 2016, is celebrating its 10th anniversary; and they have expanded the program by offering three cohort-based programs instead of two, along with more workshops to reach a larger group of local veterans.
“Veterans in the program aren’t just launching businesses; they’re creating jobs, providing services and fostering growth in Southwest Florida,” Schaffer says.
“Each success story reinforces the program’s transformative power and drives our team to keep pushing forward. The achievements we’ve celebrated so far fuel our passion to help even more local veterans turn their dreams into reality, knowing that their businesses have far-reaching impacts.”