A business grant + accelerator combined into one — built for U.S. military veterans running employer-based small businesses.
Total Fund
Finalists
Award + Program
Access
Full Application Opens
This grant was created in honor of U.S. Navy Veteran Stephen L. Tadlock, brother of Founders First CEO Kim Folsom. It celebrates his service by supporting veteran-led small businesses with both funding and resources to grow stronger, sustainable companies.
Flexible funding you can put toward the needs that matter most — equipment, operations, staffing, or growth.
As a finalist, you'll also join one of our signature business programs at no cost: Passport Community or Zebra Leadership.
Every finalist picks a single program to join — not both.
Weekly expert-led sessions covering marketing, sales, operations, and finance — designed to help you scale faster and smarter.
Value: $1,499 for a 3-month subscription (free for finalists)
Learn more →A 6-session program that equips founders to step fully into the CEO role, build strong teams, and scale with confidence.
Value: $1,699 (free for finalists)
Learn more →Mark your calendar — here's the full timeline.
Must be a U.S. military veteran
Must be a CEO, President, or Business Owner
Must have an active U.S.-based business
Business annual revenue does not exceed $5M
Must have between 2 to 100 employees
Minimum of 1 year in business
Full application opens September 2026. Pre-register now and we'll notify you the moment it's live.
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