Veteran Innovation Voucher (VIV) Program
The Veteran Innovation Voucher (VIV) Program is a groundbreaking federal initiative that empowers veterans not just to retrain—but to invent, prototype, and launch. With a portable R&D voucher valued between $15,000 and $25,000, eligible veterans can access advanced resources such as makerspaces, university innovation labs, prototyping centers, or startup incubators to bring their ideas to life.
Rather than solely focusing on classroom education through the traditional GI Bill model, the VIV Program treats veterans as innovators and builders, allowing them to turn lived military experience into real-world entrepreneurial solutions—particularly in hard tech, advanced manufacturing, and defense-adjacent fields.
How It Works:
Eligibility:
Honorably discharged veterans within 5 years of separation or currently enrolled in an approved veteran entrepreneurship program.Voucher Use Cases:
Rapid prototyping of physical products
Intellectual property legal services (IP filing, trademarks, etc.)
Beta testing at approved testing facilities
Access to fabrication labs or engineering consultation
Market feasibility studies or design iterations
Approved Facilities:
Veterans can redeem vouchers at a network of pre-approved institutions including:University innovation centers and research labs
Federally supported makerspaces
Public-private startup incubators
National laboratories with veteran entrepreneurship programs
Oversight & Support:
A Veteran Tech and Innovation Task Force will oversee program integrity, facility approvals, and metrics for success. The program will be supported by a federal tech-transfer advisory group to help match veterans with domain experts and commercial partners.
Goals & Impact:
Shifts the paradigm from job retraining to problem-solving and job creation.
Helps veterans commercialize defense-inspired innovations, making America stronger in dual-use technologies.
Spurs regional economic growth, especially in communities with high veteran populations.
Builds a pipeline of veteran-led small businesses and contractors contributing to the nation’s innovation economy.
Advances equity by prioritizing underrepresented veterans, including women, disabled, and minority veteran innovators.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
Percentage of vouchers redeemed within 12 months
Number of patent/IP filings resulting from voucher use
Percentage of VIV recipients who go on to form a registered business or license their invention
Commercialization success rate within 24 months of voucher issuance
Regional impact measured by startup activity in veteran-dense districts
Why It Matters:
Veterans are uniquely positioned to solve America’s toughest problems. They’ve led teams, operated advanced technology, and navigated pressure at levels most civilians never face. The VIV Program equips them with the capital, credibility, and community to build the next generation of American innovation—with fewer gatekeepers and more freedom to build.
