INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A group of veteran entrepreneurs is preparing to spotlight their construction startups and introduce new industry innovations at a free public event on November 18 in Indianapolis. The showcase, organized by VentureVets, aims to highlight how the discipline, leadership, and strategic thinking learned in the military can translate into successful business ownership—particularly in construction, where precision and problem-solving are essential.
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Five veteran-led construction companies will participate, each presenting how their backgrounds have shaped modern approaches to excavation, infrastructure, safety, digital construction, and field operations. Andrea Sloan, president of Groundbreakers Hydrovac, will be among the featured speakers, sharing how her company leverages hydrovac technology to improve excavation safety and protect underground utilities.
“This is really interesting because I understand there’s about 13% of military vets that transition,” said Courtney Zaugg, Managing Partner of VentureVets. “It’s the mentality and the skill set that they garner in the military that actually makes them effective in this industry.”
The event will be held at Invst, 3625 East 96th Street, from 5 to 7 p.m. and is open to the community. Attendees will have the chance to network with veteran business owners, construction professionals, and local industry leaders.
The program will highlight the recent Construction Cohort graduates from VentureVets, which include:
These companies represent a new generation of veteran-founded construction businesses using advanced technologies and mission-focused leadership to solve workforce shortages and meet growing demand in Indiana’s construction sector.
Zaugg, whose husband is a Marine Corps veteran, co-founded VentureVets with the goal of smoothing the path from active duty to entrepreneurship. The organization provides business training, mentorship, and access to capital for veterans and military spouses—two groups that historically face unique challenges when entering the civilian workforce.
The initiative’s Construction Cohort has become one of its strongest programs, helping veterans apply military skills such as logistics planning, situational awareness, and crisis management to high-stakes construction environments.
The event also underscores a growing trend: construction companies increasingly seek out military veterans because of their reliability, leadership capabilities, and ability to operate under pressure. Many veterans enter the sector with experience in engineering, heavy equipment operation, infrastructure development, and team coordination—skills that directly overlap with private-sector construction roles.
The showcase aims not just to highlight successful businesses but to demonstrate that veterans can play a transformative role in the industry. As Zaugg notes, VentureVets hopes to continue connecting veterans with robust opportunities in construction, from field operations to high-growth entrepreneurial ventures.
For Indianapolis residents, the event provides a unique chance to support local veteran innovators and explore how military experience is shaping the future of the regional construction landscape.
Originally reported by Alfonso Ruvalcaba Trujillo in Wish TV.
