The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI) is proud to welcome 21 veterans and active members of the National Guard who have been selected to participate in this year’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) program.
EBV provides rigorous entrepreneurial training to veterans over three phases. Phase I features a 30-day online curriculum that introduces participants to essential business fundamentals. Phase II is an eight-day residency, where participants engage in courses led by faculty, successful entrepreneurs and business executives.
Phase III provides ongoing support through the EBV National Program, managed by Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), which offers post-program assistance, including technical support, a network of mentors, and access to valuable resources and national partners, ensuring graduates have the guidance they need to thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
The program is offered at no cost to the veterans, and delivers cutting-edge training in entrepreneurship and small-business management needed to pursue their dream of owning a business.
The cohort — which includes 14 men and seven women with five students from Connecticut — will arrive to UConn’s campus on Sunday, July 12th, and graduate by Saturday, July 18th. Participants represent five branches of the military, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.
To learn more about EBV, visit ebv.business.uconn.edu.
The 2026 EBV Cohort:
Lashae Bacon – U.S. Army
Mile High Health Club is an aviation health company with a mission is to provide customized health interventions for aviation companies, improving crew members’ safety, performance, and quality of life by reducing barriers through education and resources.
Roberto II Birriel Izquierdo – U.S. Army + U.S. Air Force
Valor Alto LLC is a purpose driven wellness and resilience company dedicated to giving veterans and individuals safe, immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences that provide a pathway back to calm, clarity, and personal strength to re-gain freedom again.
Freddy Blanco – U.S. Marine Corps
ENIRAM LLC is a cybersecurity and IT consulting firm specializing in operational technology (OT), industrial control systems (ICS), and mission-aligned cyber resilience for U.S. Government and defense organizations.
Noah Blanco – U.S. Army National Guard
Shoreline Elevator focuses on providing specialized service, repair, and installation of home elevators for people with disabilities, seniors aging in place, and luxury homeowners.
Carl Boehmer – U.S. Coast Guard
Coaching and Mentoring Consultants (CMC) helps agencies and organizations strengthen culture through human connections while building mentoring and coaching programs.
Marcos Cortez – U.S. Army
Next Mission Solution LLC is a firm focused primarily on recruiting, executive search, and workforce support for government agencies, contractors, healthcare organizations, and businesses. The company also provides procurement coordination and operational support services to help clients address staffing shortages, improve hiring outcomes, and strengthen mission readiness through practical, customized solutions.
Daniel Donegan – U.S. Army
Ironwood Safety Group LLC specializes in AED sales and management, first aid compliance, CPR/AED training, and workplace safety programs.
Mario Evans – U.S. Navy
ME Squared Connects is focused on procurement support and medical carrier transportation services. The company also provides dependable medical carrier transportation services focused on time-sensitive healthcare-related deliveries and logistical support solutions.
Keith Grimes – U.S. Army + U.S. Coast Guard
(I AM) Keith’s Veterans Transportation Service is a mission-focused organization dedicated to transporting veterans safely and reliably to and from their medical appointments.
Matthew Jackson – U.S. Air Force
CastleTech Consulting LLC focuses on risk avoidance and compliance for AI and emerging technologies.
Kendal Karstens – U.S. Army
Le Détour is a small group, multi-day tour company designed specifically for the military community stationed in Europe to maximize their time living abroad and finally take the long weekend trip they actually deserve. Guests don’t just see Paris; they leave with a story worth telling.
Laurasha Lovett – U.S. Marine Corps
Lovett Lane is a lifestyle brand focused on creating elevated self-care experiences through thoughtfully crafted products made with intentional ingredients. The brand blends wellness, softness, and everyday luxury while encouraging women to be more mindful about what they put on their skin and into their routines.
Sean Maloney – U.S. Air Force
13 Stars Hot Sauce is a premium, artisanal consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand that has disrupted the specialty condiment space. The company heavily utilizes automated production diagnostics and Lean manufacturing principles to optimize batching workflows and maintain strict quality control. Beyond its culinary success, 13 Stars operates with a strict cause-based framework, utilizing its brand equity and community footprint to drive awareness, support, and advocacy for veteran mental health and PTSD recovery.
Megan McClain – U.S. Army
Next Mission Solution LLC is a firm focused primarily on recruiting, executive search, and workforce support for government agencies, contractors, healthcare organizations, and businesses. The company also provides procurement coordination and operational support services to help clients address staffing shortages, improve hiring outcomes, and strengthen mission readiness through practical, customized solutions.
Ena McPherson – U.S. Army
CrownWell Medical Prosthetics is a company focused on providing high-quality cranial prosthetics and medical hair replacement solutions for individuals experiencing medical hair loss.
Daniel Monroe – U.S. Army
Easy Eats is a farm fresh food vending machine/meal prep service. Providing a convenient and amazing meal option for people who are actively trying to eat right, while also using the opportunity to help as many local farms as possible.
Tricia Neal – U.S. Air Force
Accelerated IT LLC is a business specializing in human resources administration, IT services, asset management, and deployment logistics for federal, state, and local government agencies.
Matthew Piontkowski – U.S. Army
Promptolution LLC designs and builds engineered AI workflows for consumers: structured systems that translate goals into repeatable action plans. One-time purchase. No platform dependency.
Mark Saunderson – U.S. Navy
Dynamic Revenue Solutions LLC helps private medical practice providers eliminate realized and unrealized bottlenecks and pain points in their practice’s business processes that negatively impact their bottom line, work life balance, and patient care.
Alicia Thomas-Garcia – U.S. Navy
Wander No More LLC aids with housing and wrap around case management services for homeless veterans.
Melake Whyte – U.S. Army National Guard
Whytehouse Collaborative LLC specializes in people-first solutions for public sector, nonprofit, and defense clients — helping organizations align strategy with purpose, bringing clarity, structure, and forward movement to workforce transformation, talent management, and leadership readiness.