Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur launches #buyveteran campaign

In its second year, the annual Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur (POE) #buyveteran campaign draws the attention of over 1.1 million Canadians offering the opportunity to support local Veteran-owned businesses in their area. 

The online directory allows Canadians to search by location and industry sector to make it a convenient way to find what they are looking for.

Members of the military community who own local businesses can add their business to the directory for free.

The POE will also be launching a mentoring program in January, that falls in line with what the organization has been doing over the last six years. 

Kathleen Kilgour, program manager with Prince’s Trust Canada, says both the Buy Veteran and the mentoring initiatives allow Veteran entrepreneurs to collaborate with industry professionals, the community and gain the tools and skills to move their business forward.

“Mentoring has been something that we’ve been wanting to do for a very long time, and we are now in the position where we are excited to be able to launch in January,” says Kilgour.

POE will match the graduates of their boot camps and other veteran entrepreneurs with experienced entrepreneurs and successful members of the business community. Over the course of six-months, mentors will work with veteran entrepreneurs to test their business plans and act as vital counsel when roadblocks arise. 

Volunteer mentors are being recruited based on their professional qualifications, entrepreneurial experience, and passion for the cause.

“We hope we will increase confidence for Veteran entrepreneurs, complimenting the networking opportunities, and support for releasing Veterans. We hope it will have a higher success rate  for Veteran entrepreneurs and for the general public and community can have a better understanding of today’s Veterans.” 

Visit their website to become a mentor, or add your business to the directory.