Transition Skills Training, an Austin-based nonprofit, will host VetBizWeek 2026, a three-day virtual small business conference from November 10 to 12, 2026, running daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time. The event is free and open to veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and first responders nationwide. The announcement matters because it addresses a critical gap in business education and support for the military community, offering practical, no-cost resources to help them launch and sustain businesses.
The conference features expert-led sessions on topics such as starting or rebuilding a business, small business funding, artificial intelligence, marketing, government procurement, business planning, and bookkeeping. Speakers include military-connected entrepreneurs and industry specialists like Maria Duron of Grow With Google, Marc Boudria of Better Engineer, and Mike Johnson, an Air Force veteran and founder of OSHUN Goat Milk Soap, who will discuss resilience and reinvention after military service. Unlike many business events, VetBizWeek emphasizes actionable information and networking rather than sales pitches. "Starting a business is often the easy part. It's navigating everything that comes afterward that can be really challenging," said CJ Niehoff, Executive Director of Transition Skills Training. "Business owners need more than information. They need practical tools, experienced people they can turn to, and a network of others who understand what they're managing day-to-day."
What sets VetBizWeek apart is its focus on application and connection. Each topic includes a toolkit with templates, guides, and software resources. Daily morning briefings feature success stories, and afternoon office hours allow participants to ask questions and receive personalized guidance. The interactive virtual environment includes a lobby for networking and private rooms for deeper conversations, making it accessible from anywhere, including rural areas. "One of the most powerful parts of our classes is the networking that happens between participants," Niehoff added. "People come for training, but they also find encouragement, new perspectives, potential collaborators, and people who can help them solve problems down the road."
The event also includes a special Veterans Day presentation on November 11 introducing the Legacy Project, an online initiative to preserve stories of World War II veterans, led by Alex Freeman, a past participant in Transition Skills Training's program. This underscores how entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership can help veterans turn their experience into meaningful community contributions.
Transition Skills Training's work is guided by three pillars: A Sense of Purpose, Real Connections, and A Place to Call Home. VetBizWeek reflects that approach by allowing participants to choose topics and connections relevant to their needs. The program is supported by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance. Registration and the full schedule are available at https://vetbizweek.com, and more information about the Texas Veterans Commission can be found at www.tvc.texas.gov. For details about Transition Skills Training, visit https://transitionskillstraining.org.
