Veteran or Spouse Business Pitch Competition

The Annual Pitch Competition is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to show their company's growth opportunities in front of proven business professionals in a Shark Tank panel.

The Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce is committed to Veteran and Spouse Business Owners and their entrepreneurship journey in The State of Idaho. Our mission at the Idaho Veterans Chamber is to support entrepreneurs through navigation services, connecting them to the business resources across the communities in which they live and further build networks that will help them thrive and grow.

1st Place Winner will receive $4k in cash & 10 hrs. of free HR Consulting

2nd Place will receive $2k in cash & 10 hrs. of free HR Consulting

We will also be awarding an audience fan-favorite cash prize to be determined based on fundraising!

Learn More About the 2024 Shark Tank Judges

Colin Belanger - Sawtooth Ventures, CEO

Sawtooth Ventures incubates, advises, and invests in dual-use technology companies. Collin is the lead strategy advisor for portfolio companies and regularly consults on strategy for small – medium-size companies. His expertise helps companies go from product Research & Development to $10M+ in sales. Collin is an Air Force veteran with 9 years of experience across the Air Force and Special Operations communities.

Kristal Searle - Coleman Oil Company, Director of Strategic Projects

Kristal Searle is the Director of Strategic Projects at Coleman Oil Company. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives to scale processes, data, and people for planned growth. Kristal brings a wealth of professional experience, including nine years in Big Four auditing and six years as CFO of a convenience store chain with over 100 locations across multiple states. She has a strong background in financing and integrating acquisitions and excels in combining her knowledge of business operations and finance with a passion for data and technology to drive profitable change.

Marlene Myers - J.P Morgan Chase, VP of Commercial Banking

Marlene Myers is a commercial banker for JPMorgan Chase. Her banking career started back in 2005 as she transitioned out of biotechnology and into finance. Marlene works with middle market companies in Idaho as they embark into growth cycles, strategize the best path forward using debt or equity, and connect resources to test and understand plausible outcomes. She also sits on the board of the Idaho Technology Council as well as ConnectHER. She also enjoys working with Trailhead, Boise Entrepreneurship Week, Idaho Veteran’s Chamber of Commerce, Provisors Boise, and organizing community events.

Matt Christensen - Johnson May, Business Attorney

Matt Christensen joined his current firm (Johnson May) in 2008 as an associate attorney. Now a partner at the firm, Matt has a civil litigation practice involving commercial law (finance & secured transactions), bankruptcy, real property, & business matters. He has a thriving bankruptcy practice advising and assisting companies and their owners to restructure their operations and debts. Matt also frequently represents bankruptcy trustees & other fiduciaries in recovering assets & administering estates. In addition to practicing law, Matt is an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho College of Law.