Reigniting the Entrepreneurial Spirit: How the VEA, Mission43, and Sawtooth Ventures Launched Something Bigger Than Business
- Isaac Belden
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
From the Desk of Isaac Belden,
Executive Director, VEA
There’s a lot of talk about entrepreneurship these days. Startups, side hustles, pitch decks. But when we set out to build an accelerator program with Mission43 and Sawtooth Ventures, we weren’t just trying to launch businesses. We were trying to launch leaders. Veterans. Military spouses. People who still have the mission-first mindset but needed a community that actually had their six.
This wasn’t just another accelerator with coffee and buzzwords. This was real people, real pressure, and real progress.
VEA brought the community and firepower of veteran entrepreneurs. Mission43 brought infrastructure, statewide reach, and a proven track record in elevating Idaho’s military-connected population. Sawtooth Ventures came in as the operational muscle. Mentorship. Capital readiness. No-BS business knowledge.
Together, we built a twelve-week accelerator focused on what actually matters. Refining business models. Mastering storytelling. Building a foundation that’s profitable and purposeful.
The Results? Let’s Talk About Them.
We had a diverse cohort. First-time founders. Seasoned operators. Product builders. Service providers. What they all had in common? Grit and the guts to show up.
By the end of the program:
Every participant had meaningful takeaways to help their business grow.
All of them walked away with a community behind them and a clearer path forward
One participant said, “This was the first time I felt like I wasn’t alone in this.”
That right there is the win.
More Than a Program. It’s a Movement.
The success of this accelerator isn’t just in the metrics. It’s in the momentum. It’s in the fact that three organizations came together to do something bigger than themselves. And we’re just getting started.
This was proof of concept that when the veteran and spouse community is given the right tools and support, we don’t just build businesses. We build legacies.
To everyone who participated, mentored, and backed this mission: thank you. Let’s do it again. Only bigger.
Mission first. Community always.
Isaac Belden
Executive Director
Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance
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