VES...Where it all started!

The Story of the Veteran Entrepreneur Summit

The Veteran Entrepreneur Summit began in 2018 in Boise with one simple idea. Bring veterans and spouses together, share real knowledge about business ownership, and see what happens. There was no nonprofit at the time. There was no long-term structure. It was just a group of people who believed that military experience creates strong founders.

That first Summit sparked something bigger.

The conversations, the insight, and the energy in that room showed that veterans in Idaho needed more than a one-day event. They needed support, guidance, accountability, and a community that understood the search for purpose after service. From that moment, the idea for what would become the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance began to take shape.

In 2019, the Summit returned and the momentum grew. Attendance increased, the topics expanded, and the vision became clearer. The foundation for a statewide movement had formed.

Then everything stopped in 2020.

COVID halted the Summit and it also forced VEA to slow down significantly. The organization could not operate at full strength, and a final blow brought by a devastating family illness put the organization on its heels.

The rebuild started in late 2021.

Through hard work, determination, and a critical boost in the form of a grant opportunity shared by our friend Diane Temple (Bevan), VEA began to stand back up. Programs were rebuilt. New members joined. The organization expanded its reach across Idaho. This period also led to the creation of the Military Track at Boise Entrepreneur Week, built in partnership with Mission43, which quickly became a powerful platform for veteran and spouse entrepreneurs.

This momentum carried forward.

In 2024, VEA and Mission43 formalized their relationship and entered an official partnership. Mission43 is the largest and most impactful veteran-focused organization in the state, and this partnership expanded both reach and impact for the veteran business community.

Now it is time to return to where the mission started.

The Veteran Entrepreneur Summit 2025 brings the event back with a renewed purpose. It brings together veterans, spouses, founders, experts, and leaders who understand what it takes to turn military experience into entrepreneurial success. It gives attendees tactical tools, real connections, and the community they need to move forward with confidence.

What began as a single event in 2018 has grown into a statewide alliance that continues to evolve. The Summit honors the beginning, supports the present, and helps define the future of veteran entrepreneurship in Idaho.

This is the Summit that started it all.

And now it is back to continue the work it began.