2026 Wisconsin Veteran Business Owners Training Program & Pitch Competition
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and WWBIC are teaming up this spring to offer free trainings to veterans! Veteran attendees of one of these sessions will in turn be eligible to win one of 20 laptops loaded with QuickBooks software valued at $1,200 and/or enter a pitch competition where eight veterans will be awarded $5,000 each.
Program Eligibility
Clients who fit ALL of the following requirements are eligible for being awarded a laptop or pitch competition prize. Please note that not all eligible clients will receive a laptop or pitch competition prize.
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You must be a veteran and U.S. citizen owning/operating an active business in Wisconsin for at least 3 months
- You must complete and submit an updated WWBIC CIF, BIF and/or EIF form between January 1 and May 15, 2026; these forms can be found at bit.ly/wwbicform
- You or your business have not received any other equity injection or grant through WWBIC in the last 365 days
- The business owner must attend an eligible training session (click on the link provided for a description & registration)
- 5.11: AI for Entrepreneurs
- Any Kiva loans or WWBIC loans your business may have outstanding must be in good standing (within 30-60 days due) as of May 15, 2026
Click here or on the image above for a flyer on this program
Laptop & QuickBooks Giveaway
20 eligible businesses will receive a laptop and QuickBooks subscription valued at $1,200 each. The laptop recipients will be selected in the following regions:
- 6 from Milwaukee Region
- 2 from North Central Region
- 2 from Northeast Region
- 4 from South Central Region
- 4 from Southeast Region
- 2 from Southwest Region
How do I sign up?
No sign up is required. If your business meets all of the eligibility requirements, you will automatically have a chance to be named an award recipient.
Requirements for Laptop Recipients
If you are selected as an award recipient, before you receive your laptop, you will have 7 days to:
- Submit a DD214 or other proof of your veteran status
- Submit a video testimonial (or written testimonial with photo) to WWBIC stating how receiving this prize will impact your business
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Pitch Competition
Eligible businesses are invited to submit a video pitch of three minutes or less by May 15th. The top 8 pitch contest entries will receive a $5,000 equity injection.
How do I participate in the competition?
- Attend one of the eligible training sessions and check the other eligibility requirements listed above
- Record your pitch video; for tips on what to include in your pitch video, view our video pitch guidelines and/or attend the Mission Ready: Pitch Training for Entrepreneurs session on April 20
- Once your pitch video is completed, upload it to YouTube; click here for tips on uploading to YouTube
- Submit your YouTube video and provide us your contact info using our signup form at bit.ly/wwbicpitchvideo by May 15, 2026
Requirements for Competition Winners
Before competition winners receive their $5,000 equity injection, winners will have 7 days after notification to:
- Complete an ACH & W9 form
- Submit a DD214 or other proof of your veteran status
- Submit a video testimonial (or written testimonial with photo) to WWBIC stating how this equity injection will impact your business
- Submit an equity injection use of funds statement
Note: funds received may need to be reported as taxable income
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Final Details
When will award recipients be selected?
Recipients of laptops with QuickBooks and pitch contest winners will be notified by email by May 29, 2026.
Awards Ceremony
All program participants are invited to attend our awards ceremony the week of June 8-12th. This hybrid event will be hosted at the WWBIC Milwaukee office with an online attendance option. Online attendees must register for the ceremony at wwbic.com/trainings.
Questions?
Contact info@wwbic.com with any questions.
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