When John Martinez left the U.S. Army after twenty years as a combat engineer, he knew two things for certain: he wasn’t afraid of hard work, and he could handle heavy equipment better than most. What he didn’t know was that his next mission would come in the form of a landscaping company.

Running bulldozers and building bridges overseas had taught him precision, discipline, and how to lead teams under pressure; qualities that translated naturally into managing crews, writing SOP’s, and keeping projects on schedule back home. What started as a single truck and trailer has grown into a thriving business employing eight people in his community.

John’s story underscores something that deserves more attention: veterans make exceptional entrepreneurs.

Discipline meets opportunity

Veterans are trained to think strategically, manage risk, and execute under uncertainty. They’re accustomed to long hours, mission planning, and continuous improvement; traits every small-business owner needs.

Those attributes have produced measurable impact. According to the SBA’s 2025 Colorado State Profile, veterans make up 5.6 percent of the state’s workforce yet own 6.2 percent of all businesses; more than 38,000 veteran-owned companies contributing to Colorado’s economy, employing fellow citizens, and strengthening communities.

The freedom to take calculated risks

One of the greatest barriers to entrepreneurship is financial insecurity. Many would-be founders never take the leap because they can’t afford to fail. For veterans like John, a military pension or disability benefit can provide a modest but crucial financial foundation; a bridge that allows them to pursue entrepreneurship with purpose rather than desperation.
That stability enables intentional growth: the freedom to hire thoughtfully, reinvest profits, and build systems instead of simply surviving from one job to the next. Their service not only gives them leadership experience, but it also gives them the runway to lead again, only this time in the private sector.

Colorado’s Competitive Advantage

Small businesses account for 99.5 percent of all industries in Colorado and employ nearly half of the state’s private workforce. Within that ecosystem, veteran entrepreneurs are a force multiplier. They bring federal-contracting potential, transferable technical skills, and a culture of accountability that elevates the entire business landscape.

Colorado’s advantage lies in its identity. As home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, NORAD, and the Peterson, Schriever, and Buckley Space Force Bases, as well as Fort Carson, our state has long served as a cornerstone of America’s aerospace and defense infrastructure. That concentration of military installations, research, and engineering talent has created a deep reservoir of technical expertise and mission-oriented leadership. So, it’s no coincidence that Colorado has also become a national model for aerospace and defense entrepreneurship. Communities from coast to coast look to the Pikes Peak region as an example of how military innovation can fuel private-sector growth. From defense contracting to emerging AI and advanced manufacturing, Colorado’s veterans are building companies that extend the mission of service into the marketplace.

That’s why events like the Veterans Small Business Conference, hosted annually by the Colorado SBDC Serving Pikes Peak, matter so deeply. Each November, more than 400 veterans, lenders, and business leaders gather to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and celebrate Colorado’s veteran business community.

A call to action

If Colorado wants to continue turning service into opportunity, we need to strengthen the connections that help veterans move from ideas to impact. That begins with collaboration—between training programs, lenders, chambers, and the many organizations dedicated to serving those who served.

One of the most effective examples is the Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), hosted by Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs. VBOC provides specialized training and advising for veterans and transitioning service members who want to start or grow a business. Working closely with the Colorado SBDC, APEX Accelerator, and the Colorado VBOC helps veterans navigate business

planning, financing, and government contracting which helps translates military precision into entrepreneurial success.

As we approach National Veterans Small Business Week 2025 and the 18th Annual VetCon on November 7, 2025, let’s remember that every veteran entrepreneur represents more than a business license. They represent the continuation of service: from boots to business.

Brandon Eldridge is the Executive Director of the Colorado Small Business Development Center Serving Pikes Peak, hosted by the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. Learn more about the 2025 Veterans Small Business Conference at sbdc.colorado.gov/center-locations/pikes-peak/veterans-small-business-conference.