V-WISE PROSPECTUS

PREPARED BY:

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) Institute for Veterans and Military FamiliesSyracuse University

Winter 2016

BOLD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND THE V-WISE MODELVeteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) is a program designed and developed by the nationally ranked entrepreneurship program at Syracuse University through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA, and today is one of the nation’s premier training programs in entrepreneurship and small business management. Since 2011, V-WISE has trained close to 2000 women veterans and military spouses in 15 major cities across the United States.

Put simply, the V-WISE experience is designed to leverage what higher education does well – train, teach, and inspire – to put our women veterans and family members on a meaningful path toward business creation and ownership in the face of real and/or perceived impediments to vocational advancement. The cost to participants is minimal, mitigating financial barriers to participation; participants are responsible for a $75 registration fee and transportation to and from the training event. The program represents three phases of training and support.

PHASE I: This 15-day online learning experience is designed to teach participants the “language of business”.

PHASE II: The conference phase of the V-WISE experience, is a three-day training offered to cohorts of 200 women at locations across the country. The conference includes more than 20 distinct modules of training, designed for both new business owners and to support the needs of existing ventures.

PHASE III: Following the conference, graduates are connected to ongoing support and community-building opportunities focused on small business creation and growth. This resource network includes both SBA-provided supportive services as well as services provided by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and other IVMF partners.

PROSPECTUS: VETERAN WOMEN IGNITING THE SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

V-WISE TESTIMONIALS“I want to thank you and the entire staff for such a well-run, informative and fun course. Over the last 40 yrs. I have attended many professional continuing Ed courses and I can honestly say that this course was at the top of my list for the best I have attended. I continue to be motivated to do all the work I need to be successful in my new venture and will take advantage of the offers of any needed help as I proceed. Again, thanks for giving me a chance to network with so many exciting, young, budding entrepreneurs and to be motivated to realize my dreams. The best to you in all that you have planned for the rest of this year.”

- ANNE W., V-WISE SAN ANTONIO 2011

$41 MILLION+ (AND GROWING) REVENUE GENERATED BY V-WISE GRADUATE BUSINESSES

OF THOSE ARE STILL IN OPERATION TODAY

V-WISE GRADUATES HAVE STARTED/CONTINUED TO GROW THEIR OWN BUSINESSES

V-WISE is uniquely positioned to empower women veterans and military spouses to become successful entrepreneurs

safe, structured and supportive learning environment

proven three phase pedagogical model that allows for continued learning and growth

graduates become part of a community of established women veterans and military spouse entrepreneurs 2000 strong and growing

THE INSTITUTE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES

V-WISE TESTIMONIALSI just wanted to send a very quick email to say Thank You. First off the V-WISE program was definitely a godsend; I attended V-WISE Chicago and can’t begin to tell how happy I was to not only receive the online/conference education but also the uplifting experience with fellow Veteran’s...IVMF rocks. You have truly been an inspiration and V-WISE really gave me a chance to not only look at what I need to do for the non-profit I’m apart of and the small business I want to start, but also gave me a clear vision on what path I want to take for the rest of my life/career. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! To you and your entire staff I am eternally grateful, can’t wait to see and hear from IVMF and V-WISE.

- TEVYKA H., V-WISE CHICAGO 2013

“I can’t thank you enough for all your hard work in creating such an enjoyable, bonding, inspiring, and incredibly valuable learning environment for lady-vet-entrepreneurs. I have been at this a while and attended a lot of startup training programs, but this tops them all. I absolutely witnessed moments where I knew an attendees business trajectory catapulted forward - not just from what they learned, but by the heart-felt desire of the instructors and speakers to make it so. I now feel I am not walking alone in my business journey, and have the incredibly powerful support of the V-WISE community to propel me forward. With the greatest of appreciation - THANK YOU!”

—BARBARA W., V-WISE BOSTON 2015

MEDIA AND MARKETING

TRADITIONAL MEDIA: The V-WISE program has been widely reported on by the national media. A small selection of that media coverage is provided below:

SOCIAL MEDIA: The V-WISE social media platform is largely utilized to connect our network of graduates, instructors, resource providers and partners, to promote the successes of our graduates, and to share thought leadership.

Twitter

Average Conference ReachFacebook

Average Conference ImpressionsAverage Conference Reach

LinkedIn

CONNECTIONS LIKES

’s

MillionFOLLOWERS

Packages for title sponsors are negotiable. Title sponsorship is centered around Phase II of the V-WISE program, the conference.

The cost of a V-WISE conference ranges from $250K - $500K depending on the property and city selection. Title sponsors are offered a range of benefits that include, but are not limited to, prominent logo display, speaking opportunities, press releases, and passes to the event.

Commitment $25,000 $20,000 $10,000 $5,000

Logo and link on vwise.org Yes Yes Yes Yes

Full color logo page in the official 1/4 Page 1/4 Page Shared Page Shared Page conference program booklet

Logo displayed digitally in general session logo reel Yes Yes Yes Yes

Logo in quarterly eNewsletters Yes Yes Yes Yes distributed to graduates for one year

Passes to conference 5 2 2 1

Free registration 5 2 2 1

Option to include approved swag item Yes Yes Yes Yes

Special Meal & Event Sponsorship Packages Opening Reception Meal Break Scholarship

4 PROSPECTUS: VETERAN WOMEN IGNITING THE SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CURRENT AND PAST SPONSORS INCLUDE:

Founding Partner

Founding Partner

Founding Partner