Warrior Rising Partners with Virginia Tech for Veteran-Driven Tech Accelerator Initiative

Warrior Rising Partners with Virginia Tech's Boeing Center

In a major advancement for veterans and military spouses looking to make their mark in the technology scene, Warrior Rising has announced the launch of a new online partnership with Virginia Tech's Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families. This collaboration introduces Activate, an innovative eight-week accelerator program specifically tailored to these individuals as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys in technology and SaaS (Software as a Service).

The Purpose Behind Activate

The Activate program is pioneering in its focus on execution over mere pitching. It is designed for veterans** founders at the pre-seed stage—those who require substantive customer insights and proof of their products' viability rather than just developing pitches for investors. The program's emphasis is on practical, hands-on experience that guides participants through the challenging phases of validating their ideas, engaging with potential customers, and developing minimum viable products (MVPs).

Debbie Bradbard, the Director of the Boeing Center, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “Activate builds upon Warrior Rising's Warrior University entrepreneurship programs and connects founders to Virginia Tech's expertise in early-stage technology and innovation. This partnership truly leverages the strengths of both organizations.”

Structure and Benefits of the Program

Delivered in a fully virtual format and scheduled quarterly, Activate is designed to take participants through a structured experience that pushes them from initial assumptions to grounded evidence. Founders will work to establish vital milestones each week, engaging directly with customers, testing their assumptions through structured experimentation, and evolving their products to a deployment-ready state.

Graduates of the Activate program will finish with a thoroughly validated understanding of their target customer problem, along with a functional product that demonstrates early traction. Participants will receive a certificate from Virginia Tech and will join a selective cohort aimed at preparing them for future pilots, non-dilutive funding opportunities, and seed-stage accelerator programs.

Founders Share Their Enthusiasm

“I’m thrilled to partner with Virginia Tech to work with military-connected tech and SaaS founders,” shared an enthusiastic spokesperson from Warrior Rising. “Founders often express, 'We wish we had known this earlier; it would have saved us time and money.' That’s why we created a pre-accelerator focused on establishing the foundational skills they will depend on throughout their entrepreneurial path—from seeking initial funding to securing spots in the nation’s most competitive accelerators.”

The inaugural cohort for Activate is now open for applications, and veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs are encouraged to learn more and register through the provided link.

About Warrior Rising

Warrior Rising, established in 2015, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering U.S. military veterans and their families in their journey toward entrepreneurship. The organization provides crucial resources through education, mentorship, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships. With programs like Warrior Academy, Warrior University, Business Showers™, and now Activate, Warrior Rising transforms veterans' experience into sustainable business success.

Learn more about them at warriorrising.org

About the Boeing Center

The Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families was founded in 2024 in Alexandria, Virginia, as a collaborative effort involving Boeing, the Virginia Department of Veteran Services, and Virginia Tech. The center strives to harness the partners' resources, offering workforce-focused education, upskilling, and entrepreneurship training to help veterans and military families thrive in today’s innovation economy.

For more information, visit Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families.