SEED SPOT lands new partnership to support military spouses with entrepreneurial dreams

SEED SPOT, The Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) and Booz Allen Hamilton are teaming up to send 20 military spouses to the SEED SPOT 2-Day Launch Camp Oct. 26-27 in Washington, D.C.

The camp will help aspiring entrepreneurs validate their ideas and formulate pitches.

The coordinated effort led by MFAN was put in motion to help military spouses and caregivers navigate employment challenges by fueling their entrepreneurial efforts. In MFAN’s Military Family Support Programming Survey, the nonprofit discovered that military spouses are facing challenges to gain employment because of obstacles like hiring biases, inconsistent work opportunities and difficulties finding jobs in their new communities.

“Elevating the voices of diverse, impact-driven entrepreneurs is at the heart of SEED SPOT’s mission, and working with MFAN and Booz Allen Hamilton enables us to collaboratively empower military spouses,” Courtney Klein, SEED SPOT cofounder and CEO, said in a statement. “We’re excited to equip military spouses and all entrepreneurs with the curriculum, resources, tools, and mentors to succeed in creating innovative solutions to local and global issues.”

The social-impact incubator has helped launch 421 entrepreneurs through its social entrepreneurship curriculum over the past five years, with 49 percent of those being female founders and 45 percent minority founders. This partnership also aligns with Booz Allen’s commitment to hire 100,000 military spouses by 2020 through an initiative announced earlier this year with Hiring Our Heroes.

“Booz Allen Hamilton is committed to hiring, retaining, and growing military spouse talent, but we also recognize the need to foster entrepreneurship in the military spouse community,” said Laura Schmiegel, Booz Allen Hamilton’s military programs lead.