Aerial view of Bull Lake in Lincoln County, Montana — still water on one side, a frost-covered forest and a road curving along the shoreline on the other.

Veteran to Business

Stronger Businesses. Stronger Communities.

A veteran-led networking event in Kalispell — for veteran entrepreneurs, and for the local businesses that hire them, buy from them, and build alongside them.

RSVP — it’s free What happens at V2B
Date
During Veterans Week
Time
3:00–5:00 PM Two hours
Venue
Black Rifle Coffee Company 305 2nd Ave W, Kalispell
Cost
Free to attend Open to all

Why V2B

Business grows through relationships.

Veterans come out of service knowing how to lead, plan and finish what they start. What is harder to bring with you is a network — the people who refer you, buy from you, lend to you and vouch for you.

V2B exists to build that network in one room, in one afternoon, and to keep it working long after everyone goes home.

85,871
Montana veterans
1.6 million
U.S. businesses owned by veterans, generating $1.0 trillion in annual receipts

Montana veteran population: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, September 2025. Veteran-owned businesses: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Business Survey / NES-D, 2023 data released November 2025.

  1. Connect

    Meet peers, partners, veteran business owners and community leaders who work where you work.

  2. Learn

    Hear real lessons from people who are doing the work now, not a panel talking about it.

  3. Access

    Find the resources, mentors, capital and programs that are already here and easy to miss.

  4. Grow

    Meet customers, vendors, referral partners and the people who can open a door.

  5. Take action

    Leave with names, next steps and one concrete thing to pursue this week.

Real conversations.
Real opportunities.

Two hours, open shop. No badges to collect and no track to follow.

Built by businesses. Supported by the community.

Contributors

Gave something concrete — venue, hospitality, a speaker, staff time.

  • Black Rifle Coffee Company Host venue

Supporters

Lent their name and helped spread the word.

  • Big Sky Economic Development Montana VBOC
  • Flathead veteran service provider Name to be announced

Organized by

  • Joseph Mayden Photography
  • ShotsFired Media Group

More supporters added as Year One develops.

Who it’s for

Open to everyone who builds Montana.

Veteran or civilian, established or just getting started — if you believe in strong businesses and strong communities, there is a place for you at V2B.

Veterans
Considering entrepreneurship, or already growing something.
Veteran-owned businesses
Looking to connect, partner, refer and scale.
Montana small businesses
Building relationships with veteran-owned companies and the wider business community.
Mentors, lenders and resource partners
Bringing experience, capital, introductions and support.

RSVP

Meet the people. Find the resources. Put in the work.

Free to attend, about thirty seconds, and we’ll email you the details.

Company, unit, agency or nonprofit — or leave it blank if you are still working that out.

What you do, however you would put it.

Which fits you best?

Veteran-owned. Community-supported. Stronger together.

Be part of a network that helps Montana businesses and communities thrive.

RSVP — it’s free Support Year One

Contribute something concrete, or lend your name and help spread the word. Either way, get in touch by October 9, 2026.