To celebrate National Invest in Veterans Week 2021, CTData highlighted some key facts about veterans in Connecticut based on data from the 2019 American Community Survey in a website post. Additionally, the CTData March Newsletter, which includes information on the 2020 Annual Report has become an invaluable resource to showcase the partnership between CTData and National Invest in Veterans Week and to promote the advocacy work that leads to research on veteran-related issues.
Welcome to the Research page for National Invest In Veterans Week®! Our organization is dedicated to supporting aspiring and established veteran entrepreneurs, and we rely on data-driven research to inform our efforts. Here, we will present the key findings from our surveys conducted in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, at the 1st and 2nd annual Jacksonville Vetrepreneur Summit in 2017 and 2018.
2017 Survey Findings:
81% of respondents either fully supported or agreed that they need more support for their business ventures.
67% of respondents either fully supported or agreed that they need more funding for their businesses.
37% of respondents said that lack of access to capital was the biggest challenge facing their businesses.
In the same survey, 27% of respondents said that lack of knowledge or experience was their biggest challenge.
Respondents noted a desire for more information on where and how to get funding, as well as more emphasis on start-up costs.
Respondents expressed a desire for more opportunities to network and connect with other veteran entrepreneurs.
2018 Survey Findings:
96% of respondents either fully supported or agreed that the panelists/resourcers provided useful information that will help them accelerate their business ventures.
70% of respondents in the 2018 survey indicated that they were planning to start a business within the next two years.
68% of respondents indicated that they had not yet started their business.
56% of respondents said that they had attended an veteran business event in the past.
In the same survey, 47% of respondents said that they had already applied for funding for their business.
Respondents noted a desire for more information on where and how to get funding, as well as more emphasis on start-up costs.
Respondents expressed a desire for more opportunities to network and connect with other veteran entrepreneurs.
Based on the research conclusions of the surveys conducted by Jeff Shuford of National Invest In Veterans Week® in partnership with the City of Jacksonville Florida, there are several legislative, economic, and community advocacy opportunities to support veteran entrepreneurs.
Two Key Research Findings
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In the 2017 survey, 37% of respondents noted that the lack of access to capital was the biggest challenge facing their businesses. In the 2018 survey, 47% of respondents said that they had already applied for funding for their business, indicating a continued need for capital access. This finding highlights the need for greater resources and information on where and how to access funding for veteran-owned businesses, as well as potential policy changes to increase access to capital.
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Both the 2017 and 2018 surveys found that respondents expressed a desire for more opportunities to network and connect with other veteran entrepreneurs. In the 2017 survey, respondents noted a desire for more information on how to connect with other veterans, while in the 2018 survey, 56% of respondents said that they had attended a veteran business event in the past. This finding highlights the importance of building a supportive community for veteran entrepreneurs and creating more opportunities for networking and collaboration.