2026 Finance Symposium – Access to Finance Strategies & Resources

Date: January 29, 2026

One of the most persistent barriers to small business growth isn’t ambition or ideas—it’s access to the right financial resources at the right time. From securing capital to navigating complex financial decisions, entrepreneurs often find themselves searching for clear guidance and trusted expertise.

The 2026 NVSBC Finance Symposium was created to meet this challenge head-on, bringing together small business professionals for a focused, one-day, in-person event dedicated entirely to business finance.

Designed as a practical, immersive experience, the Symposium explores the full financial ecosystem that entrepreneurs and mature businesses require for continued success. In addition to funding and capital access strategies, attendees gain insight into essential financial wraparound services including accounting, tax planning, insurance, and wealth management.

This year’s Symposium is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 8:30am – 3:30pm. The full-day program includes:

Breakfast and lunch
Expert-led general sessions
Matched networking opportunities
Service provider exhibits
Master classes
And nine high-impact breakout sessions.

Each session delivers actionable insights on capital readiness, financial planning, and sustainable growth – equipping small business leaders with the tools and connections they need to move forward with confidence.

ABOUT THE EVENT

The National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC) is a nonprofit organization providing training to help small businesses to start, maintain, and grow strong companies. It’s inaugural Finance event was held in 2021 and co-hosted by NVSBC and sbLiftOff to support and promote veteran entrepreneurship. Subsequent sponsors and partners have included: sbLiftOff, JPMorgan Chase, the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF).

This year’s Symposium will be hosted at The Fuse at Mason Square (GMU, Arlington, VA) and is open to all business professionals. Participants typically oversee or hold finance-related roles such as CFO, Finance Manager, Accountant, CEO, or Business Owner.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS

A Clear Blueprint for Capital Readiness
- Participants should leave with practical, step‑by‑step guidance for preparing their business to secure capital – whether debt, equity, or alternative financing. This includes understanding what lenders and investors look for, how to strengthen financial documentation, and how to position the business for successful funding conversations.
Actionable Financial Management Frameworks for Daily Operations
- The breakout sessions and master classes emphasize tactical “how‑to” best practices delivered by subject-matter experts. Attendees gain concrete tools they can immediately implement to improve accounting processes, strengthen budgeting, optimize cash flow, and elevate financial reporting.
Strategic Planning Techniques to Support Long‑Term Growth & Wealth Creation
- Experts at the Symposium will help professionals understand how financial planning connects directly to long-term business growth, exit readiness, and the owner’s wealth trajectory. This includes retirement positioning, risk mitigation, reinvestment strategies, and how to build enterprise value over time
Integrated Understanding of Financial Wraparound Service
- Because the symposium expands beyond capital into accounting, insurance, tax planning, and wealth management, participants should leave with a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected financial ecosystem required to run and scale a healthy small business. Rather than treating these areas as separate, attendees learn how they fit into a unified financial strategy.
High-Impact Connections with the Right Financial Experts
- Matched networking and in‑person engagement opportunities allow attendees to build relationships with lenders, accountants, tax professionals, wealth advisors, and small‑business finance experts. Professionals walk away with the beginnings of a trusted financial support network they can rely on throughout the year.