Key Takeaways
StreetShares is a veteran-founded financial technology company that began with a clear mission: help veteran-owned small businesses access capital. Founded by Mark L. Rockefeller, Mickey Konson, and Ben Shiflet, the company launched as a peer-to-peer lending marketplace focused on “veterans funding veterans” and later expanded into financial technology tools for banks, credit unions, and small business lenders.
Helping Veterans Access Capital
Starting a business is difficult.
Starting a business after military service can be even more complicated.
Many veterans leave the military with leadership experience, discipline, and a strong work ethic, but they may still face challenges when trying to secure business funding. Traditional banks often require lengthy credit histories, strong collateral, or years of business revenue before approving loans.
StreetShares was created to address that gap.
The company launched in 2014 as a veteran-focused peer-to-peer lending platform. Its early model connected small business owners, many of them veterans, with investors who wanted to fund entrepreneurs directly.
A “Veterans Funding Veterans” Model
One of the most interesting parts of StreetShares’ story is its community-based approach.
Instead of treating business lending as a cold, impersonal transaction, StreetShares built its early identity around shared service and trust. Veterans understood the challenges other veterans faced, and the company used that connection to help create a marketplace where military-connected entrepreneurs could find support.
This model was sometimes described as a blend of business lending and community investment. The company’s goal was to provide an alternative to high-cost lending options while helping veteran entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
From Lending to Financial Technology
StreetShares did not stay only in peer-to-peer lending.
Over time, the company expanded into broader financial technology. It developed the StreetShares Platform, which helps community banks and credit unions provide small business lending services more efficiently.
That shift matters because it shows how veteran-founded companies can evolve.
StreetShares began by solving a very specific problem for veteran business owners. Then it used what it learned to build technology that could support small business lending more broadly.
For entrepreneurs, that is an important lesson: a strong mission can become the foundation for a scalable business model.
Why This Matters for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers for small business owners.
A great idea is not enough if an entrepreneur cannot afford inventory, equipment, payroll, marketing, or expansion.
Veteran-owned businesses are especially important to the U.S. economy. The Small Business Administration continues to promote resources for veterans entering business ownership, including funding programs, training, and federal contracting opportunities.
StreetShares’ story fits into that larger conversation. It highlights the need for financial systems that understand military-connected entrepreneurs and the unique strengths they bring to business.
The StreetShares Foundation and Second Service
StreetShares’ impact also extended beyond lending.
The StreetShares Foundation, launched on Veterans Day in 2016, was created to support military-connected entrepreneurs through education, resources, and access to capital. It later became known as the Second Service Foundation, continuing its focus on helping veterans, military spouses, and Gold Star families grow businesses.
That name Second Service is fitting.
For many veterans, entrepreneurship becomes another way to serve. Instead of leading Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, or guardians, they lead teams, create jobs, solve problems, and contribute to their communities through business.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
StreetShares offers several strong lessons for future business owners.
First, successful companies often begin by solving a problem the founders understand personally.
Second, community can be a powerful business advantage. StreetShares recognized that veterans often trust other veterans because of shared experience and values.
Third, businesses can grow beyond their original model. What started as a lending marketplace eventually became a broader fintech platform supporting financial institutions and small businesses.
For veterans considering entrepreneurship, StreetShares shows how military experience can translate into innovation, finance, technology, and leadership.
Looking Ahead
StreetShares stands out because it focused on one of the most practical needs in entrepreneurship: funding.
While many veteran-owned businesses sell physical products, StreetShares built its reputation around helping other businesses grow. That makes it especially meaningful for a Veteran-Owned Business Spotlight.
The company’s story reminds us that veteran entrepreneurship is not limited to coffee, apparel, or consumer brands. Veterans are also building fintech companies, lending platforms, software tools, and organizations that strengthen the broader small business ecosystem.
At its best, veteran entrepreneurship does more than create individual success.
It creates opportunity for others.
Editorial Note
Veteran-Owned Business Spotlight is a recurring series published by New To Education highlighting veteran-owned and veteran-founded businesses. These articles are intended for educational and informational purposes only. Inclusion in this series does not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of any company, product, or service. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before making financial or business decisions.
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Sources
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StreetShares – Company Background
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StreetShares -
StreetShares Platform Overview
https://startupintros.com/orgs/streetshares-platform -
Second Service Foundation – Official Community Page
https://found-second-serv.mn.co/ -
U.S. Small Business Administration – Veteran-Owned Businesses
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/veteran-owned-businesses
