StreetShares Foundation and Sam Adams Beer Partner to Support Military Entrepreneurs in the Food and Beverage Industry

The StreetShares Foundation and Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream program have partnered to present the food and beverage edition of the Veteran Small Business Award. The summer cycle of the Veteran Small Business Award will provide small business capital and extensive mentoring, educational materials and inspiration to "vetrepreneurs" in the food and beverage industry. The finalists will also have the opportunity to pitch their business idea live in front of an audience of the biggest military community bloggers, media, and thought leaders.

To apply, qualified applicants will submit a video pitch and a brief application to the StreetShares Foundation website. Finalists are chosen based on five criteria: business idea, use of funds and impact, product or service, team and company history, and the social impact the business has on the military and veteran community. Previous winners have impacted the military community in health care, children and families, and education. The StreetShares Foundation will select the semi-finalists and the public will vote to determine the three finalists. For rules, terms and conditions please visit the StreetShares Foundation website at streetshares.com/foundation.

"Military veterans go into business ownership at higher rates than non-veterans, and many enter the food and beverage industries," said Mark L. Rockefeller, Chairman of the StreetShares Foundation. "This program matches them with the three things they need most to succeed: coaching, mentoring, and funding."

The final stretch of the food and beverage Veteran Small Business Award will take place in Orlando, Fl in September at the Military Influencer Conference, a conference that allows military veteran influencers and entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in three days of workshops, educational lectures and networking events in which they will discover how to better build brand recognition and grow their small business. On the last day of the conference, the three finalists with the highest number of votes will have the opportunity to pitch their business to a live audience of community bloggers, media, and thought leaders. Shortly after the conclusion of the pitches, the audience will vote to determine which individuals receive the awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

To learn more about the StreetShares Foundation and find out if you qualify for the Veteran Small Business Award please visit streetshares.com/foundation.

About the StreetShares Foundation
The StreetShares Foundation was launched on Veterans Day 2016 with a mission to inspire, educate, and support veterans' business owners in America and produce measurable social outcomes for the veteran and military communities. The StreetShares Foundation is located outside of Washington, D.C. Learn more at streetshares.com/foundation.

About Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream
Jim Koch started Samuel Adams in his kitchen in 1984 when imported and domestic beer were the only option for beer lovers. In his pursuit of a better beer, he ignited a similar revolution, the craft beer movement, inspiring a whole new category that's produced millions of jobs in communities from coast-to-coast. In the wake of his success, and with a passion for supporting entrepreneurs who are in the place where he once found himself, Jim launched Brewing the American Dream - a philanthropic program that embodies Sam Adams' pursuit of better.

Brewing the American Dream provides startups in food and beverage with real-world business advice and financing through Speed Coaching, Pitch Room Competitions, loans, mentoring and more. Since 2008, Brewing the American Dream has provided thousands of small businesses with mentoring and loans totaling millions of dollars, which have helped create or retain thousands of jobs across the country. Additionally, Sam Adams has provided loans to over 40 breweries totaling more than $1 Million, as well as coaching to hundreds of brewers across the country.

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