San Antonio, October 19, 2025
News Summary
The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is expanding its Veteran Entrepreneur Program to San Antonio, offering four days of in-person sessions for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. The program, set for September 14-18, aims to help participants expand their networks and grow their businesses, with all costs covered by the foundation. This expansion reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting the local veteran population and providing resources for entrepreneurs.
San Antonio — The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is expanding its Veteran Entrepreneur Program to San Antonio for 2026, with in-person sessions scheduled for September 14-18, 2026. The program will offer four days of concentrated, in-person programming aimed at helping veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs expand their networks and grow their businesses. The foundation announced the expansion during San Antonio StartUp Week on October 17, 2025.
Key details at a glance
Program: Veteran Entrepreneur Program
Location: San Antonio
Dates: September 14-18, 2026
Format: Four days of in-person programming
Cost to participants: All program costs covered by the PenFed Foundation; no equity taken
What the announcement means
The expansion places the Veteran Entrepreneur Program in a city with a large veteran population and an existing PenFed Foundation presence. The foundation’s decision to bring the program to San Antonio follows earlier cohorts held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Tysons, Virginia. The foundation covers all program costs and does not take any equity from participating companies, reducing financial barriers for eligible teams.
Program purpose and reach
The Veteran Entrepreneur Program is designed to support business growth for veterans and military spouses through mentorship, peer networking, and targeted workshops. Since the program began, it has supported more than a hundred founders and continues to expand its geographic footprint to reach new communities. The PenFed Foundation frames the program as a practical resource for founders seeking both connections and business development support.
Local connection and institutional support
San Antonio hosts the second largest corporate office of the PenFed Foundation, emphasizing their commitment to the local community. Leadership noted San Antonio’s large veteran population as a key factor in site selection for the 2026 program. The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is a national nonprofit dedicated to aiding veterans’ transition to civilian life, and the organization has devoted resources to entrepreneur-focused programs as part of that mission.
History and funding
The Veteran Entrepreneur Program has supported over 120 veteran and military spouse founders since its inception in 2018. The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001 and has provided over $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. The foundation’s operations are funded by PenFed Credit Union, allowing more donations to directly support its programs.
Logistics and participation
The in-person portion of the program will run for four days within the September 14-18, 2026 window. Exact venue details, application timelines, participant selection criteria, and agenda items are expected to be published by the PenFed Foundation in the months leading up to the program. The foundation maintains that it covers program costs and does not take any equity from participating companies, an arrangement intended to lower barriers for founders.
Previous locations and program footprint
Previous program cohorts were held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Tysons, Virginia. The expansion to San Antonio marks the program’s continued effort to reach veteran entrepreneurs across multiple regions.
FAQ
What is the PenFed Foundation?
The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is a national nonprofit dedicated to aiding veterans’ transition to civilian life.
When and where was the expansion announced?
The foundation announced the expansion of its Veteran Entrepreneur Program during San Antonio StartUp Week on October 17, 2025.
When is the program scheduled to take place in San Antonio?
The program is set to take place in San Antonio from September 14-18, 2026.
What is the program format?
It will consist of four days of in-person programming aimed at helping veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs expand their networks and grow their businesses.
What did leadership say about the expansion?
Terry Williams, Program Director for the PenFed Foundation, expressed excitement about the expansion, highlighting San Antonio’s large veteran population.
Does PenFed have a local office in San Antonio?
San Antonio hosts the second largest corporate office of the PenFed Foundation, emphasizing their commitment to the local community.
How many founders has the program supported?
The Veteran Entrepreneur Program has supported over 120 veteran and military spouse founders since its inception in 2018.
Where were previous cohorts held?
Previous program cohorts were held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and Tysons, Virginia.
Who pays for the program and does the foundation take equity?
The PenFed Foundation covers all program costs and does not take any equity from participating companies.
When was the PenFed Foundation founded and how much has it provided?
The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001 and has provided over $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, and military families.
How is the foundation funded?
The foundation’s operations are funded by PenFed Credit Union, allowing more donations to directly support its programs.
Key features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program name | Veteran Entrepreneur Program |
| Location | San Antonio |
| Program dates | September 14-18, 2026 |
| In-person days | Four days of in-person programming |
| Participant cost | The PenFed Foundation covers all program costs and does not take any equity from participating companies. |
| Founders supported | The Veteran Entrepreneur Program has supported over 120 veteran and military spouse founders since its inception in 2018. |
| Foundation founding | The PenFed Foundation was founded in 2001 and has provided over $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. |
| Operations funding | The foundation’s operations are funded by PenFed Credit Union, allowing more donations to directly support its programs. |
Timeline
| Date | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The PenFed Foundation was founded. | Historical founding |
| 2018 | Veteran Entrepreneur Program inception. | Program history |
| October 17, 2025 | The foundation announced the expansion of its Veteran Entrepreneur Program during San Antonio StartUp Week on October 17, 2025. | PenFed Foundation announcement |
| September 14-18, 2026 | The program is set to take place in San Antonio from September 14-18, 2026. | Scheduled program dates |
Statistics and visual summary
Program reach and funding (simple visual):
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Additional Resources
- PR Newswire: PenFed Foundation Expansion
- Wikipedia: Veteran entrepreneurs
- Business Wire: Veteran Real Estate Coach
- Google Search: PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes
- CBS Austin: Local Veteran Business
- Google Scholar: Veteran Entrepreneur Program
- News4SanAntonio: Small Business Person of the Year
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Military Entrepreneurship
- Consumer Bankers Association: Veteran Small Business Showcase
- Google News: Veteran Entrepreneurship San Antonio
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