Kenton Lee + CWI Entrepreneur Lab Turn Big Ideas Into Big Business 

iStock/Jacob Ammentorp Lund

A Nampa native and founder of the nonprofit Because International, Kenton Lee is now paving the way for the region’s next generation of entrepreneurs as the director of the College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Entrepreneur Lab, which opened on campus in fall 2024. The Lab offers students, faculty and community members tailored classes, field trips and experienced mentors to help them jumpstart their business ideas. Lee shares his vision for the Lab and how entrepreneurism can help fuel the region’s economic growth. 

How did you come to be the director of the new Entrepreneur Lab? 

I started a nonprofit organization called Because International, and we make something called The Shoe That Grows. Through that process of trying to create a product and build this nonprofit, I started to access lots of entrepreneurial resources. 

I really enjoyed the entrepreneurial space, but I had to go to Boise to get a lot of those resources. I was born and raised in Nampa, so I’ve been on the lookout for how we can provide more entrepreneurial opportunities here. Then, this opportunity at CWI came up. I just love this stuff, and I was very excited when I was chosen to be the director of the program. 

What valuable lessons did you learn from your own entrepreneurial journey that you now apply to your work at the Entrepreneur Lab? 

The biggest lesson is that if you make the effort and have the energy and passion to pursue your idea — you can make some really amazing things happen. It might not happen overnight, but you can make progress — you can get there. 

What specific resources and support systems does the lab offer to participants? 

We offer several programs, including First Steps where we bring in local entrepreneurs who share some of the first steps they took to get their businesses started. We also host a monthly event called Business Basics, where we bring in a local expert to dig in deep around a specific business topic. We also take field trips to some amazing local businesses here in Nampa. One of my favorite things we do is a Next-Level Accelerator for students who already have a business or a side hustle they want to grow. 

Going forward, what role do you see the lab playing in shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Nampa? 

I believe that good things will happen as more and more creative, thoughtful and passionate people grow the great ideas that they have. I’m excited to see that happen in this region. I hope that no good idea is ever wasted. I hope that no good idea stays in the drawer. I hope that we can encourage anyone who’s ever wanted to try a side hustle or a business or a product or a service, and I hope that we can be a great resource to help them experiment with what they’re passionate about.