NIVW Lite
NIVW Lite
March 1–7 · Every year · Since 2019

National Invest In Veterans Week® Lite

Turn appreciation for veterans into participation, and participation into lasting economic impact. This is the fast edition of investinveteransweek.com. It skips the heavy dashboards and apps so it loads quickly on any connection.

Take action → Free music apps
–days until March 1
Lite edition: no images, no web fonts, no trackers
01Mission

Convert appreciation into participation

“Our mission is to convert appreciation into participation, and participation into long-term economic impact.”

National Invest In Veterans Week® strengthens the veteran community through business sustainment, educational development and mental health empowerment. It works through three directives:

Directive 01

Economic fortification

Back veteran entrepreneurs so they create jobs and steady local markets.

Directive 02

Intel acquisition

Workshops and mentorship that turn military training into civilian business skill.

Directive 03

Human performance

Lasting support structures so veterans and their families can thrive.

Read the mission ↗Our vision ↗
02The story

From a proclamation to a national platform

  1. 2019Founded by Iraq War Veteran and columnist Jeff Shuford and former NFL player Drayton Florence. The National Day Calendar® Registrar proclaims March 1–7 as National Invest In Veterans Week, observed every year.
  2. 2021The South Carolina legislature passes a resolution commemorating the week, and the Lexington Chamber launches a local campaign spotlighting veteran-owned businesses.
  3. 2022Listed in Chase's Calendar of Events®.
  4. 2024Congressional entry recognizing the week.
  5. 2026Launch of Veteran Business Super Intelligence℠ (VBSI℠), a public data platform for veteran-owned business.
Full history ↗Legacy ↗
03Impact

Why investing in veterans matters

2MVeteran-owned businessesNearly 2 million in the U.S., per the SBA Office of Advocacy
$1T+Economic impactVeteran business impact cited by NIVW
62Global marketsMarkets reached by the observance
7Action protocolsVisibility, demand, education, capital, network, mentorship, policy
Impact ↗Measured impact ↗
04Intelligence

Veteran Business Super Intelligence℠

VBSI℠ is NIVW's non-partisan research layer. It gathers, analyzes and charts public data on veteran-owned businesses, including SBA VetCert data, so policymakers, buyers and press can see the veteran economy clearly. These pages are data-heavy and work best on a strong connection.

05Take action

Four ways to invest this week, or any week

  1. Buy from a veteran-owned businessChoose a veteran-owned shop, contractor or service for your next purchase, and tell people why.
  2. Ask your state for a proclamationLegislators and governors can recognize March 1–7 in their state. Start a proclamation ↗
  3. Share a veteran founder's storySpotlight a veteran entrepreneur in your network, your newsroom or the NIVW Journal ↗
  4. Wear the missionOfficial gear from the NIVW® Supply store ↗
All action protocols ↗
06Music & games · #NoSIMusic℠

Free instruments and games, made to be played

Free browser music apps with no login and no sign-up, developed under the stewardship of Jeff Shuford. Under the #NoSIMusic℠ standard, the player is the musician, and every sound is synthesized live. Each app runs a full audio engine, so use a strong connection.

All 11 music apps ↗Operation Endgame ↗Operation Skybridge ↗
07Leadership

Built by people who served

Jeff ShufordCo-founder. Iraq War Veteran, Combat Action Badge recipient and nationally syndicated columnist. He develops and oversees the platform.
Drayton FlorenceCo-founder and former NFL player.
Sherman Williams Jr.Director of Partnerships. A 25-year U.S. Army veteran and founder of Health2O.
About the advocacy ↗Jeff Shuford briefings ↗