While serving in Afghanistan, combat veterans Emily Miller, Kim Jung and Keith Alaniz became interested in boosting the financial prospects of the local saffron farmers who grew the prized spice but often lacked the resources and connectivity to effectively sell it further afield. With a farmer-first business model, Rumi Spice’s goal is to provide stable wages and job opportunities for those living in rural Afghanistan, specifically women. And through the range of spices Rumi now sells—including coriander and cumin and blends like harissa and za’atar, the founders also hope to foster a positive connection to Afghans and their vibrant culture.

Alicia Scott had sensitive skin since childhood. By the time she embarked on a career in fashion, she had also dealt with eczema and cystic acne. Frustrated by a lack of affordable make-up choices that worked for her reactive skin and offered shades that complemented her complexion, she developed Range along with U.S. Army veteran Myisha Fantroy. The line of primers, concealers and other products contain plant-based ingredients and are cruelty free. Offered in a wide array of shades, from fair to deep-melanin rich, the line is meant to cover the full range of complexion needs.

While serving in Afghanistan, Marine Major Robert Dyer was among the soldiers who were given six or seven different nutritional supplements with their MREs. But in combat, they didn’t always have time to eat and the supplements were sometimes insufficient for maintaining energy. That’s when he conceived of RuckPack Combat Nutrition, an energy drink comprising essential vitamins and nootropics—compounds such as L-theanine and CoQ10, which are said to improve cognitive function. RuckPack comes in a variety of flavors and includes ingredients such as caffeine and from green tea. The company donates at least 5% of all profits to non-profit organizations.

After serving several tours in Iraq, Dale King returned to his hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, where he opened a CrossFit studio that he believed would help residents of the economically depressed, opioid-ravaged town. There, he met Renee Wallace, whose all-natural healing ointment for scrapes, cuts and burns became the first product in the Doc Spartan line, which was initially sold at the gym. Today, Doc Spartan includes the flagship Combat-Ready Ointment, along with deodorants, soaps, scrubs, beard products and more—all made with natural ingredients such as coconut oil, beeswax, Vitamin E and almond oil. And like many of King’s gym clientele, many Doc Spartan employees are recovering addicts who are helping King realize his vision of a turnaround in the town’s economic and drug crises.