From Military Service to Small Business Leadership: A New Pathway for Veteran Entrepreneurs in San Antonio
San Antonio is taking a major step toward supporting veteran entrepreneurship through a new initiative designed to help veterans transition from military service into successful business ownership.
The recently announced Small Business Accelerator Program, launched through the office of Misty Spears, aims to connect veterans with mentorship, business education, and entrepreneurial resources tailored specifically to their needs.
For Melanie McCoy, the mission is deeply personal.
McCoy served in the Army from 1998 to 2006. Like many veterans transitioning into civilian life, entrepreneurship was not initially presented as a realistic pathway.
“Getting out as a single mom, my son was 2. I decided school was the way to go because that seemed like the next natural progression,” McCoy shared. “Entrepreneurship — it wasn’t even on the radar because I didn’t know that that was an opportunity.”
Years later, McCoy successfully launched her consulting business from home in just six months. But the journey was far from easy.
“It was really lonely,” McCoy said. “It was very ambiguous because I didn’t know where to start or what to do.”
Her experience reflects a challenge many veteran entrepreneurs face: having the leadership skills, discipline, and operational experience to succeed, but lacking a centralized support system to guide them through the entrepreneurial process.
That gap is exactly what this new accelerator program hopes to address.
The initiative will partner veterans with mentors, organizations, and companies that can provide guidance in:
Business model development
Financial management
Marketing strategy
Access to capital
Entrepreneurial education
Business growth support
Organizations already involved in the effort include:
Launch SA
VelocityTX
UTSA Small Business Development Center
UTSA APEX Accelerator
The Veterans Business Outreach Center
Workforce Solutions Alamo
The program will also feature an annual “Demo Day” pitch competition, bringing together local government leaders, business professionals, and corporate partners including USAA, H-E-B, and Frost Bank.
“When we were meeting with our Veterans Affairs Department, they were expressing to us the challenges that their families face, and it just became really top of mind for our office,” Spears said.
San Antonio is home to one of the nation’s largest military-connected populations, making veteran entrepreneurship an important part of the region’s economic future. Programs like this not only help veterans build businesses — they help strengthen communities, create jobs, and expand opportunities throughout the local economy.
At Supply SA, we believe supporting veteran-owned businesses means helping entrepreneurs build long-term capacity, connections, and confidence as they navigate business ownership and procurement opportunities.
As this initiative grows, it represents another important step toward ensuring veterans in San Antonio have the resources and support needed to thrive as business leaders.