Warrior Rising Entrepreneurship Programs
Warrior Rising
Free programs + selective grants
Researched for this program: 3 rejection traps · 3 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Veteran entrepreneur pathway from idea to funding
Nonprofit providing a four-program entrepreneurship pathway for veterans, military spouses, and immediate family members. The pathway runs from free self-paced training (Warrior Academy) through live online instruction (LaunchPoint for service-disabled veterans; Warrior University for growth-stage businesses) to invite-only pitch competitions with non-dilutive funding (Business Showers). No equity taken. All programs free to eligible participants. Business Showers funding is awarded selectively to participants with demonstrated traction and growth potential — top finalists receive grants of $2,000 to $150,000 (grant-format, no strings attached).
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Private
- Amount
- Training programs are free. Business Showers pitch competition awards non-dilutive grants to select participants — top finalists receive $2,000 to $150,000. Business Showers are invite-only.
- Realistic amount
- Most participants receive free training and mentorship, not cash. The Business Showers funding pathway is invite-only and competitive — awarded to a minority of program graduates.
- Deadline
- Rolling — Warrior Academy available on-demand. LaunchPoint and Warrior University run live cohorts; check warriorrising.org/programs for current schedule. Business Showers are invite-only.
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Veterans (any era, any discharge status accepted at program discretion)
- Military spouses
- Immediate family members of veterans or active duty service members
- LaunchPoint (SDVET) specifically designed for service-disabled veterans converting ideas to businesses
- Warrior University requires an actively growing business with demonstrated traction
- Business Showers invite-only — selected from program alumni based on traction and growth potential
- No minimum revenue or incorporation requirement for Warrior Academy or LaunchPoint
Hard requirements
- Veteran ownership required
- Demographic eligibility: veteran-owned
Is the Warrior Rising grants legit?
Yes. Warrior Rising is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit started in 2015. Its grants of $2,000 to $150,000 go to finalists at its Business Shower events, and it covers their travel.
- Who runs it: Warrior Rising, a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Since: 2015
- What winners get: Grants of $2,000 to $150,000 at Business Shower events, with nothing to repay
- Costs: Warrior Rising pays participants' travel
Sources: warriorrising.org · page 2 · page 3. Last checked at the funder on October 18, 2026.
Past Warrior Rising grants winners
Business Shower winners Warrior Rising has named:
- Kevin Laliberte, Surf Brigade LLC, Florida · MCON 2025 Business Shower
- Gabe and Lindsay Chrismon, MyHome · Stand Up for Startups Business Shower, Salt Lake City (year not stated on page)
- Maryam Khazraee, RxPharmacist · Stand Up for Startups Business Shower, Salt Lake City (year not stated on page)
- Paden Sickles, SickFit · Saluting Her Service D.C. Business Shower, December 12 (year not stated on page)
- Barbara Kent and Joanna Serra, Fundraiser Blankets · Saluting Her Service D.C. Business Shower, December 12 (year not stated on page)
Names as published by Warrior Rising (source). GrantCompass is not affiliated with Warrior Rising.
New grants like this every week: see this week's list or get it by email on Mondays.
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business Showers grants: unrestricted — participants use funds at their discretion for business growth
- Common uses include: marketing, equipment, inventory, operational expenses
Ineligible expenses
- Grants are not for personal expenses
- Training programs do not provide cash for expenses — service-delivery only
How to apply
-
1
Enroll in Warrior Academy (recommended first step for all)
Self-paced on-demand business plan development course. Warrior Rising recommends all participants — regardless of business stage — start here to establish a foundation and get visibility within the organization.
~10 hrs
-
2
Apply for LaunchPoint or Warrior University based on stage
LaunchPoint: live online cohort for service-disabled veterans assessing and validating business ideas. Warrior University: live online program for veterans actively growing an established business. Check warriorrising.org/programs for current cohort openings.
~2 hrs
-
3
Engage with the Warrior Rising community and mentors
Active participants gain access to mentors, peer networks, and warm introductions to veteran-specific capital. The organization tracks participant progress over time.
~5 hrs
-
4
Business Showers (invite-only — no direct application)
Warrior Rising invites qualifying graduates to pitch competitions based on demonstrated traction, growth potential, and business model strength. Winners receive non-dilutive grant funding with no repayment or equity obligation.
~8 hrs
Business Showers grants are invite-only — you cannot apply cold. The path in is completing Warrior Academy first, then engaging actively with LaunchPoint or Warrior University. Visibility within the org is what triggers the invite.
Deadline & timing
Warrior Academy is self-paced and available immediately. LaunchPoint (SDVET) and Warrior University are live online programs with cohort schedules — check the programs page for active cohorts. Business Showers are invite-only based on traction, growth potential, and strong business model; participants do not apply directly but are selected from program alumni.
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Last updated October 22, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.