“We have more applicants this year than we have had in prior years,” Anthony Kuhn, Managing Partner of the Tully Rinckey Foundation said. “We are expecting a flood of applications in the week leading up to the competition- we’re hoping for about 20 or more applications this year.”

VETCON is the annual conference for veteran-owned businesses. The focus is on meetings between service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and the government agencies that must work with SDVOBs to fulfill the requirements of some grants. This year’s event runs Nov. 28 and 29 at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY.

The VETCON Business Plan Competition, presented by the Tully Rinckey Foundation, aims at new or aspiring Veteran-owned businesses.

“This competition in particular is geared toward newer businesses — startups and pre-startups,” Kuhn said.

Eligible businesses are no older than three years, but can be pre-startups or in the development stage. Three winners will be chosen from the applications submitted and will be given the chance to present at the 2023 VETCON luncheon. Each winner will receive a cash prize.

Last year’s winner was Empower Employ, a company designed to connect the military community to the corporate world by helping businesses understand military experience and training. The company guides military personnel in their transition to civilian life.

For the more established existing Veteran owned businesses, VETCON offers the Veterans in Business awards which are designed to recognize Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses.

Usually five companies are awarded the Patriot Warrior Award, the High Speed Low Drag Award, the Community Service Award, the Veteran Employment Award, and the Top Gun Award.

“Although, this year, we will be giving out eight Veterans in Business awards with three special awards never before awarded,” Kuhn said. They are surprise awards aimed at specific businesses.

All opportunities to enter VETCON 2023 business competitions can be found at www.vetconny.com.