Transition Skills Training, an Austin-based nonprofit, will host VetBizWeek 2026, a three-day virtual small business conference from November 10–12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The event is free and open to veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and first responders nationwide. It aims to equip aspiring and existing business owners with practical tools, expert advice, and a supportive network to start, strengthen, and grow their businesses.
The conference matters because starting a business is often the easy part; navigating what comes afterward is the real challenge. As CJ Niehoff, Executive Director of Transition Skills Training, noted, business owners need more than information—they need practical tools, experienced people they can turn to, and a network of others who understand their day-to-day struggles. VetBizWeek addresses this gap by offering expert-led sessions on topics such as starting or rebuilding a business, funding options, artificial intelligence, marketing, government procurement, business planning, and bookkeeping. Notably, there are no sales pitches or pushy presentations; the focus is entirely on actionable information.
What sets VetBizWeek apart is its emphasis on application and connection. Every topic includes a toolkit with templates, guides, and software resources participants can use long after the event. Each day begins with a morning briefing featuring success stories and special guests, and ends with Office Hours where participants can connect with business coaches and subject matter experts for personalized guidance. The virtual conference environment encourages networking through profiles, a virtual lobby, and private rooms for focused conversations. This flexibility allows attendees to drop in for sessions most relevant to them, with one registration granting an All-Access Pass to the entire conference.
The event features military-connected business owners and industry specialists, including Maria Duron of Grow With Google, Marc Boudria of Better Engineer leading an advanced AI session, Vicky Valdez of LoneStar Foundation, procurement specialist Kayla S. Bey, and Joana Linares of Enumerista. Air Force veteran and entrepreneur Mike Johnson will share his journey of resilience and reinvention. A special Veterans Day presentation on November 11 will introduce the Legacy Project, a new online initiative to preserve World War II veterans' stories, presented by Alex Freeman, a past participant in Transition Skills Training's program.
VetBizWeek is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance, which provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families. For more information, visit www.tvc.texas.gov. Registration and the full conference schedule are available at https://vetbizweek.com. Transition Skills Training is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing practical education, career development, and entrepreneurial training to veterans, military families, and first responders. Learn more at https://transitionskillstraining.org.
