Twenty Military Veteran Entrepreneurs Will Pitch Their New Businesses to Angel and Early-Stage Investor Groups on Tuesday, October 29 in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Veterans Venture Forum, an initiative of the National Defense University (NDU) Foundation to promote investment in new and early-stage businesses started by America's military veterans, has attracted 20 veteran entrepreneurs deemed ready to present their business plans next week to angel and early-stage investors, it was announced today by NDU Foundation President Cathleen Pearl.

The Veterans Venture Forum Capstone Demo Day will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013 from 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM on the campus of National Defense University (NDU) at Fort McNair in Washington, DC.  Centered on military veterans selected to pitch their businesses to qualified investors, the event will also feature Jay Walker, founder of Priceline.com; curator and chairman of TEDMED, and one of the most successful entrepreneurs in America.

The NDU Foundation created the Veterans Venture Forum and will be hosting Capstone Demo Day in partnership with The Angel Venture Forum, a group of more than 30 active, experienced angel investors from more than 24 angel groups located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  It is expected that up to 80 different angel and early-stage investment groups, representing more than $1 billion in investable wealth and from as far away as Silicon Valley, will participate on October 29 and, ultimately, to invest in veteran-owned start-up enterprises.

"In launching this initiative, our goal was to give military veterans an opportunity to meet directly with experienced investors and pitch their business plans," said Ms. Pearl.  "Next week, in one room at NDU, that goal will be met.  Veteran entrepreneurs will be empowered to pursue investments in their businesses with the same passion and desire they brought to defending our country through military service."

At the Veterans Venture Forum Capstone Demo Day, the 20 veteran entrepreneurs selected from applications will have 15 minutes to pitch their companies to investors.  Military veterans confirmed to participate thus far include widely divergent business sectors, from health care to fashion, cyber-security, brewing, and ground transportation.

Leading up to this culminating event, the NDU Foundation, in partnership with The Angel Venture Forum, has been conducting the NDU Foundation Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs, a series of training and informal education sessions at Fort McNair that began in August and will conclude this evening (Thursday, October 24 from 5 – 7 PM) with a session on business valuation.

Originally intended as a type of "basic training" for military veteran entrepreneurs, the NDU Foundation Boot Camp has proved to be much more than that.  One company led by a military veteran – Ride Scout™ – has already gained angel backing during the boot camp period, and it will be pushing for additional early-stage funding at Capstone Demo Day.  Two other companies also so impressed potential investors during the boot camp that they have entered preliminary due diligence. 

About National Defense University Foundation
National Defense University Foundation, a 501(c) (3) organization, is pleased to support the Veterans Venture Forum. The Forum further advances NDU Foundation's goals of inspiring innovation, achievement and the highest standards of educational excellence and leadership, while also promoting the growth and development of military service men and women through the whole of their life cycles. In addition to participating veteran entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners, NDU Foundation's objective in supporting the Veterans Venture Forum is that it will be a dynamic forum attended by students, faculty, staff members and alumni throughout the NDU community.

www.ndufoundation.org 

About The Angel Venture Forum
The Angel Venture Forum is an ad hoc group of more than 30 active, experienced angel investors from more than 24 angel investor groups located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  Each of our colleagues shares a mission to discover, develop, and invest in strong opportunities.  The Angel Venture Forum makes it easier for companies to meet the highest number of angel investors in one place over the shortest period of time. Learn more about AVF at www.angelventureforum.com.

SOURCE National Defense University Foundation