Hesperus is proud to announce the completion and success of our inaugural Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Native American Veterans (EBV-NAV) April 17-21 at the University of New Mexico. Hesperus and the University of New Mexico, along with UNM’s Rainforest Innovations and Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF), partnered to bring the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp to Native American Veterans to New Mexico and the Southwest Region of the United States.
Offered only to Native American Veterans, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is a unique program created to leverage the skills, resources, and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to Native American Veterans. Bootcamp topics include financing, legal issues, marketing, design thinking, business model canvas, idea recognition, operations, profit models, supply chain, personal selling, and leveraging technology.
Utilizing the Tribal Liaison Program at UNM’s Rainforest Innovations, the Bootcamp offers a unique approach not found in other entrepreneurial programs due to the challenges of starting and growing a business in tribal communities, including issues of tribal sovereignty, government and regulatory compliance, and scarcity of capital. Entrepreneurs from the Navajo Nation and Taos Pueblo, among others, shared their personal experiences, challenges, and successes, and mentored the students throughout the five-day program.
“It was an honor to be one of the sponsors of the inaugural Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Native American Veterans! The Mighty Six interacted and shared their entrepreneurial journeys with each other as they spent a full week with each other. I enjoyed their engagement and commitment to the program.” Sandra Begay, University of New Mexico Board of Regents Emeritus, University of New Mexico Rainforest Board Chair.
The men and women of our inaugural cohort represented four different tribal nations with Army and Air Force backgrounds, with businesses in real estate, solar energy, home improvement, and film production. Highlights of the week included our Thursday night reception with the President of the University of Mexico Garnett S. Stokes and the former Governor of Santo Domingo Pueblo Thomas Moquino, Jr, as well as our Friday graduation.
Congratulations to all of our graduates – we look forward to our next cohort!
