VETRN Opens Applications for Fall 2026 Online MBA Program for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Veteran entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses now have an opportunity to apply for the Fall 2026 cohort of the VETRN MBA Online Program, and pairing that growth with a NaVOBA Certified Veteran’s Business Enterprise® (VBE) or Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise® (SDVBE) certification can help position businesses for even greater opportunities.

Now entering its 14th year, the VETRN program has helped more than 150 Veteran small business owners and family members strengthen and grow their businesses through advanced entrepreneurial training, mentorship and peer collaboration. Best of all, the program is offered free of charge to accepted participants.

Building the Skills Needed to Scale

Designed specifically for Veteran-owned businesses, the VETRN MBA Online Program focuses on the real-world skills and strategies needed to build sustainable, growth-oriented companies. Participants receive instruction and guidance in areas including:

Leadership development
Financial literacy and financial management
Cash flow strategy
Sales and marketing
Human resource management
Succession planning
Legal and operational issues
Networking and relationship building
Social media strategy
Accessing capital
Government contracting opportunities

The program is designed to help Veteran entrepreneurs strengthen the foundation of their businesses while preparing for long-term growth and scalability.

The Power of Mentorship and Peer Learning

One of the VETRN program’s standout features is its emphasis on mentorship and peer learning. Every accepted participant is paired with a mentor from day one and placed into a Peer-to-Peer group where Veteran business owners collaborate, exchange best practices and support one another throughout the program.

Participants also gain access to guest experts, panel judges and professional business resources while developing a comprehensive growth or turnaround plan before graduation.

According to VETRN, the ideal applicant is an existing Veteran-owned or service-disabled Veteran-owned small business owner, or a qualifying family member, who already has a sustainable revenue model and is ready to scale their business to the next level.

Pairing Growth with Certification

For Veteran-owned businesses looking to scale, education and certification can work hand in hand. While VETRN helps business owners strengthen operations and prepare for growth, NaVOBA certification helps businesses gain credibility and visibility with corporations actively seeking to work with certified Veteran-owned businesses.

A NaVOBA VBE certification verifies that a business is at least 51% Veteran-owned, operated and controlled, helping companies stand out in supplier diversity programs and procurement opportunities across the private sector.

Veteran business owners interested in expanding their capabilities, strengthening operations and increasing visibility with corporate buyers are encouraged to explore both the VETRN MBA program and NaVOBA certification as part of their long-term growth strategy.