For many military veterans, the transition to civilian life is fraught with challenges—finding a new purpose, securing meaningful employment, and navigating an unfamiliar landscape outside the structure of the military. While service members are trained to be disciplined, resourceful, and resilient, these qualities don’t always translate directly into conventional job markets. Warrior Rising, founded by former Green Beret Jason Van Camp, is a groundbreaking nonprofit organization that is changing this narrative.
Rather than offering veterans a traditional handout, Warrior Rising provides them with a hand up—a unique opportunity to leverage their skills and discipline in the world of entrepreneurship. By equipping veterans with the tools, training, mentorship, and financial resources necessary to launch their own businesses, Warrior Rising is transforming veterans into “vetrepreneurs,” helping them create their own futures while continuing to serve their communities.
The Mission: From Warriors to Entrepreneurs
Warrior Rising operates under a clear and impactful mission: to empower veterans and their immediate families by helping them start or accelerate their own businesses. The organization’s vision is rooted in self-reliance, encouraging veterans to use the discipline and leadership skills honed during military service to build sustainable businesses.
Why entrepreneurship? Unlike traditional employment, which may not always align with a veteran’s skill set, business ownership offers independence, flexibility, and the ability to shape one’s own destiny. Warrior Rising believes that veterans are uniquely qualified to lead businesses—they understand teamwork, decision-making under pressure, strategic planning, and commitment to a mission.
The organization connects veterans with experienced mentors, business professionals, and investors to ensure they receive practical, actionable guidance rather than generic advice. This hands-on approach not only increases their chances of success but also fosters a community where veterans support one another.

Programs That Make a Difference
Warrior Rising’s impact comes from a structured and results-driven approach to supporting veteran entrepreneurs. Some of the key elements of their programming include:
1. Business Education and Training
Veterans who enter the program receive comprehensive business training, covering everything from developing a viable business plan to marketing, finance, and operations. These courses are tailored to bridge the gap between military experience and business acumen, ensuring that veterans understand the key principles of running a successful company.
2. Mentorship and Coaching
One of the most valuable aspects of Warrior Rising is its mentor network, which consists of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and business experts. These mentors work closely with veterans to provide guidance, helping them navigate obstacles and refine their business models.
Having access to someone who has already built and scaled a business is an advantage that accelerates a veteran’s growth in the business world. Warrior Rising’s mentorship model ensures that veterans aren’t just given information—they are guided through the process of implementation.
3. Financial Support and Funding Opportunities
Starting a business often requires capital, and Warrior Rising understands that many veterans may not have the financial means to launch their companies. The organization helps connect veterans with funding opportunities, including grants, investor introductions, and small business loans.
Additionally, Warrior Rising has a “Vet to CEO” pipeline, which provides seed funding to promising businesses. The goal is not just to help veterans start a business, but to create self-sustaining ventures that, in turn, hire and empower other veterans.
4. Community and Networking
Warrior Rising is not just about individual success—it’s about building a community. Veterans who complete the program become part of a larger network of like-minded entrepreneurs, forming an ecosystem of support.
Through events, workshops, and virtual communities, veterans continue to share experiences, seek advice, and even collaborate on business ventures. The idea is simple: when one veteran succeeds, the entire community benefits.
Why Warrior Rising Matters
The impact of Warrior Rising goes far beyond launching businesses. The program restores purpose, confidence, and camaraderie—three elements many veterans feel they lose when leaving the military. By fostering self-reliance rather than dependence on charity, Warrior Rising ensures that veterans can continue to serve their country—this time through economic empowerment.
Consider the long-term effects:
Veteran-Owned Businesses Strengthen Local Economies: When a veteran starts a business, it often leads to job creation, community investment, and long-term economic growth.
Reduced Veteran Unemployment and Underemployment: Many veterans struggle to find jobs that match their leadership abilities and skills. Entrepreneurship provides a meaningful alternative to traditional employment.
A Ripple Effect of Giving Back: Many successful veteran entrepreneurs hire fellow veterans, contributing to a cycle of empowerment rather than reliance.
The numbers speak for themselves—since its founding, Warrior Rising has helped thousands of veterans move toward self-sufficiency, with a goal to create 100 veteran-owned million-dollar businesses by 2024.
Jason Van Camp’s Vision
At the heart of Warrior Rising is its founder, Jason Van Camp—a former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer (Green Beret), West Point graduate, and decorated combat veteran. His military experience, combined with his MBA from Brigham Young University, has shaped his leadership philosophy.
Jason believes in action over words, a principle he calls “Deliberate Discomfort”—embracing challenges and pushing past obstacles to achieve greatness. This philosophy is woven into the fabric of Warrior Rising, encouraging veterans to take control of their futures rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.
Van Camp’s work has positioned Warrior Rising as a national leader in veteran entrepreneurship, setting a new standard for how nonprofits can empower rather than enable.

How to Support Warrior Rising
Warrior Rising is more than an organization; it’s a movement. Anyone—whether a veteran, business leader, investor, or supporter—can play a role in expanding its reach. There are multiple ways to get involved:
Donate: Contributions help fund business grants, training programs, and mentorship initiatives.
Become a Mentor: Business professionals can share their expertise and directly impact a veteran’s journey.
Hire Veteran Entrepreneurs: Supporting veteran-owned businesses strengthens the entire ecosystem.
Spread Awareness: Raising awareness about Warrior Rising’s mission helps more veterans discover this life-changing opportunity.
Conclusion: A Future Built by Warriors
Warrior Rising is redefining what post-military success looks like. By providing veterans with the resources to own and operate businesses, the organization is helping them regain their sense of purpose, financial independence, and leadership in a new arena.
For veterans, the battle doesn’t end when they leave the military—it simply shifts to a new front. Thanks to Warrior Rising, that battle is no longer about survival—it’s about success, ownership, and empowerment.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.warriorrising.org and become part of the movement that is changing lives, one veteran entrepreneur at a time.