Turn military discipline into business momentum.
Join Maryville in founding the first intensive veteran accelerator to enhance economic prosperity for the region.
Realize veteran potential.
Maryville Veterans Accelerator supports the most promising veteran entrepreneurs or spouses by providing equity-free capital, structured mentorship, and an intensive university-backed program that transforms military-honed talent into thriving businesses, creating jobs, building wealth, and strengthening communities.
Part of Maryville's broader commitment to veterans — see how we support student veterans.
Together, we can build a nationally distinctive model for veteran entrepreneurship — starting in St. Louis.
Veterans have what it takes to beat the odds.
Skills and grit honed through service deserve community support to rapidly adapt and excel in the civilian sector.
of all U.S. firms are veteran-owned
generated in receipts annually
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.
Veterans in transition
Career change · Different lifestyle · New reality
- Veterans face disproportionately high barriers to entrepreneurship during and after transition into civilian life.
- Unemployment among recently separated veterans remains higher than among non-veterans in comparable age groups.
- Most workforce development programs focus on employment placement, not venture creation.
- Traditional investment networks rarely engage with early-stage veteran founders who lack existing investor relationships.
- Veterans thrive in mission-oriented, team-based environments. Civilian entrepreneurship ecosystems often feel disconnected.
How the accelerator model changes the odds.
Maryville is changing this for St. Louis with a proven Veterans Accelerator model for startups with mature business models and a competitive drive to succeed. This same model was proven in two of the region's most successful accelerators.
Energy Accelerator
- 19 companies at $100K equity
- 28 paid interns
- $27M → $196M valuation
- $102M follow-on funding
- Ranked #3 accelerator in the U.S., Entrepreneur Magazine
UMSL Accelerator
Dan Lauer introduced the first university-backed accelerator. STL Inno Fire award, CNBC feature and millions of media impressions. Funded at $50K equity-free, 33 paid interns. Four years of growing support: $665K → $878K in annual funding.
university accelerator in the United States
U.S. accelerator ranking
Built to support local growth.
A high-touch, in-person program led by a seasoned veteran and an expert entrepreneur.
- Entrepreneurs chosen through competitive application gain business capital and professional resources right from the start.
- Guidance from experts brings real world knowledge and lasting connections.
- Tailored programming addresses the specific needs winning founders require most to succeed.
- All who apply get connected to a supportive veteran ecosystem with continued mentorship, learning and growth opportunities.
What each founder receives
- $50,000 equity-free capital
- Battle Buddies
- Paid student interns
- Faculty experts
- In-kind services
- 15% PR / marketing
Three phases, one mission.
Recruitment & competitive selection
Information sessions. Veteran businesses near revenue apply for a Shark Tank-style pitch event, from which up to 7 founders are selected into a cohort. Battle Buddies assist with applications, then continue to mentor and coach.
Immersive 8-week cohort
Accepted founders receive $50,000 in equity-free capital and participate in a facilitated, in-person program at Maryville.
Demo Day
Public event where founders present progress to potential customers, investors and service providers in the community.
All who apply will be connected to the region's support funnels.
Help build an entrepreneurs network that drives results.
Be part of a first-of-its-kind, growing entrepreneurial support network to attract new business to St. Louis, starting with veterans. There are many ways to level the playing field for new veteran entrepreneurs — from capital funding and in-kind services such as accounting, legal, marketing and finance, to engaging your own veteran employees in meaningful mentorship.
Shape your impact
- Sponsorship and funding
- Connecting and mentoring
- Business counselling
- Training
- Learn how to access capital
- VBOC and SBA resource connections
Recognition, tailored by you
- Press releases
- Website presence
- Social media
- Public events
- Podcasts and webinars
- Veteran cameos
What partners gain
- Media exposure, 15% of program budget committed to PR and marketing
- Engage your veteran employee group as Battle Buddies
- Talent pipeline: access to skilled veterans and students
- Active role in judging, speaking and mentoring; VIP events
Battle Buddies brings your employees an impactful mentoring role.
Actively engaging your veteran employee volunteers at every stage of the funnel.
Application process
Battle Buddies support candidates who get stuck — a phone call away to help complete and submit applications, plus explore employment opportunities.
Information sessions
Attend sessions and encourage applicants through the process step by step.
Pitch support
Candidates selected to pitch receive hands-on prep and coaching before their Shark Tank-style pitch.
Weekly mentorship
Battle Buddies walk with the winning founders weekly, all the way through the 8-week program.
Multiple touchpoints. One mission — no veteran founder left without support.
Meet the people behind the mission.
Colonel Elizabeth Sweet
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Former Chief, Office of Research Technology Applications at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where she led technology transfer, CRADAs, education partnership agreements and the patents and licensing program — turning government-funded research into real-world solutions and business partnerships.
Army Defense Engagement Lead at the Defense Innovation Unit, the Pentagon, leading DIU's Space portfolio and building out its Austin office. Operations and Processes Portfolio Lead, U.S. Army Reserve 75th Innovation Command.
M.S., Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University. Defense Ventures Fellow and Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite graduate.
bsweet@maryville.edu
Dan Lauer
Entrepreneur and advocate
CEO and founder of Lauer Toys and creator of WaterBabies, one of the best-selling baby dolls in the United States, with over 26 million units sold across 33 years.
Inventor of the university-led accelerator model in the United States. He brings this proven model, now purpose-built for veteran entrepreneurs, to Maryville University.
As founding Executive Director of UMSL Accelerate, he created and ran the Energy Accelerator (2017–2019) and subsequently launched the Underrepresented Founder Accelerator (2020–2024), which funded 28 founders at $50,000 equity-free each and earned the 2022 St. Louis Inno Fire Award and a CNBC feature.
dlauer@maryville.eduLet's talk about what your partnership could look like.
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We welcome you to our campus and to meet with our faculty and teams.
Join us in our mission.
We can't do it without you. How much of an impact do you want to make?