Veterans looking to begin their own businesses will have an opportunity to develop their ideas into actionable business plans during Catapult Weekend, a FREE 3-day rapid business startup workshop in November sponsored by Goodwill Industries of San Antonio and in partnership with Geekdom.
 
The Catapult Weekend program consists of two cohorts:  Nov. 4-6 and Nov. 11-13 at the Geekdom Event Center on the 1^st Floor/Street level of the Rand Building, 110 East Houston St. Each interactive weekend kicks off with a Digital Literacy Workshop at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 respectively. The Digital Literacy Workshop teaches design thinking, app and website wireframe development and lean startup.
Veterans are encouraged to learn more and apply at www.catapultweekend.com. Both cohorts are limited to 50 people. 
 
“Catapult Weekend is an exciting and valuable program we have created in partnership with Geekdom to help our city’s veterans bring their business ideas to fruition,” said Steve Hussain, vice president of Workforce Development, Goodwill San Antonio.
 
Catapult Weekend will engage participants in a team-based environment where they will learn ideation, market validation, business model development, problem solving, pitch development, presentation skills and actually pitch presentations to entrepreneurs and investors. While participants are encouraged to come prepared with business ideas, the workshops are also open to veterans who are still formulating ideas.
                              
"I think veterans are uniquely qualified to start and run small businesses & tech businesses. Their proven leadership and perseverance is exactly what entrepreneurship is all about," said Nick Longo, co-founder of Geekdom. “Catapult places them on a path to small business ownership.”
 
Prior to the event, Goodwill and Geekdom will hold an open house for accepted applicants to learn about what to expect and how to prepare for the program in order to gain the maximum benefit. Candidates are required to bring a laptop or iPad/tablet, phone and materials to take notes.
 
About Goodwill Industries of San Antonio
Serving San Antonio since 1945, Goodwill San Antonio is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit social enterprise that helps change lives through the power of work. When you shop or donate at Goodwill, you’re funding education, training and services to prepare people to find better jobs and build careers in diverse companies throughout the communities we serve. Together with the support of our generous community, partners and employers, Goodwill provides employment, job placement and related individualized services to nearly 25,000 individuals annually in South Central Texas. In addition to operating retail stores, donation stations and Good Careers Centers in San Antonio, Kerrville, Laredo, New Braunfels, Seguin and surrounding areas, Goodwill operates Good Careers Academies and manages contracts for the U.S. government for services ranging from document management to grounds maintenance.  www.goodwillsa.org
 
About Geekdom
Geekdom is a new kind of collaborative co-working space where Entrepreneurs, Technologists, Developers, Makers and Creatives help each other build businesses and other cool things together.