The National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) concluded 2025 as one of the most impactful years in the organization’s history, marked by major advancements in veteran business certification, global procurement access, supplier mentoring, youth scholarships, and national corporate engagement.
As the only veteran business certification organization recognized by major national corporations and the Billion Dollar Roundtable, NVBDC significantly expanded its reach in 2025—connecting Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SD/VOBs) to domestic and international procurement opportunities, enterprise buyers, and next-generation business development programming.
Throughout the year, NVBDC continued to build a comprehensive ecosystem that extends far beyond certification alone. This ecosystem now includes education, mentoring, global trade access, technology enhancements, federal partnerships, youth development initiatives, and enterprise-level matchmaking.
A central driver of NVBDC’s national collaboration efforts remains the Military & Veteran Organization (MVO) Task Force. In 2025, the Task Force expanded its national footprint, bringing together nonprofits, VSOs, MSOs, government agencies, and veteran-serving organizations into one of the most influential veteran business coalitions in the country. Through this network, NVBDC amplified education around certification, strengthened inter-organizational collaboration, and expanded employment, entrepreneurship, and procurement pathways for veteran business owners nationwide.
NVBDC Services also reached new levels of national and international engagement in 2025. Through its Services Learning Forum webinars, JumpStart Certification Readiness Series, Supplier Success training, and corporate matchmaking events, hundreds of veteran-owned businesses gained practical procurement education and direct access to corporate buyers and federal agencies.
A major highlight was the continued expansion of the Mastering Resources Exporting Webinar Series, conducted in strategic partnership with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the International Trade Administration (ITA). These national webinars delivered step-by-step education on government-backed export financing, international buyer access, global compliance and logistics, market entry strategy, and federal trade resources—allowing many veteran-owned businesses to pursue exporting opportunities for the first time.
In another significant milestone, NVBDC partnered with the United Nations in 2025 to host a landmark international procurement webinar focused on how veteran-owned businesses can do business with the UN. The session provided direct education on supplier registration, global bidding processes, compliance requirements, and access to humanitarian and government-funded contracts worldwide—formally positioning NVBDC-certified firms for participation in one of the world’s largest procurement systems.
NVBDC also launched a new partnership with Amazon Business in 2025, enabling veteran-owned businesses who are already registered Amazon Business sellers to pursue NVBDC certification. The partnership establishes a direct bridge between eCommerce entrepreneurs and enterprise-level procurement pipelines, allowing veteran sellers to scale beyond online sales into corporate supply chains.
Another major advancement came with the official launch of the NVBDC Supplier Mentoring Program (SMP). Introduced in 2025, the program pairs certified veteran-owned businesses with experienced corporate partners to provide structured mentorship, procurement readiness development, operational guidance, and growth strategy alignment. The program represents a major evolution in turning certification access into long-term enterprise success.
On the technology front, NVBDC spent 2025 laying the groundwork for a major expansion of its Vendor Information Center System (VOCS). The certification and supplier discovery platform is currently being enhanced with new domestic and global features, including NAICS and NACE industry code integration, international address and trade classifications, enhanced global supplier discovery, and advanced corporate reporting and analytics. Looking ahead to 2026, NVBDC will also officially launch its national AI education programs, designed to equip veteran entrepreneurs with artificial intelligence tools for marketing, operations, procurement strategy, and lead generation.
NVBDC’s investment in the future of veteran leadership continued through its rapidly growing JROTC Scholarship Program. In 2025, the program surpassed a major national milestone—awarding more than $250,000 in total scholarships to JROTC cadets across the country. Through its 50-State JROTC Scholarship Program and continued funding support from partners such as Denny’s Hungry for Education, NVBDC is helping prepare the next generation of leaders for military service, higher education, and civilian careers.
Throughout the year, NVBDC’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board members also played a highly visible role in advancing the organization’s national presence through the “NVBDC Is Hitting the Road” campaign. Leadership represented the veteran business community at major national conferences and industry events, including the AUSA Annual Meeting, the WBENC National Conference, and the NMSDC National Conference, along with numerous regional procurement and supplier diversity gatherings. These engagements strengthened relationships with Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and prime contractors—directly expanding contracting pipelines for certified veteran-owned businesses.
NVBDC also convened its flagship 2025 NVBDC National Conference in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on October 29–30, bringing together corporate buyers, government agencies, prime contractors, and certified veteran-owned suppliers for two days of direct sourcing opportunities, strategic matchmaking, and long-term partnership development.
As the organization looks ahead to 2026, NVBDC is preparing for another year of national and global growth. Priorities include scaling international procurement access through partnerships with the United Nations, Global Chamber, and federal trade agencies; expanding participation in the Supplier Mentoring Program; launching its national AI education platform; strengthening enterprise-level supplier inclusion; and continuing to grow its youth leadership scholarship programs.
With expanding global visibility, next-generation technology initiatives underway, and a deepening network of corporate and federal partners, the National Veteran Business Development Council continues to shape the future of veteran entrepreneurship—advancing economic opportunity for America’s veterans at every stage of business growth.
