Bunker Labs
Bunker Labs was a Chicago-based non-profit founded in 2014 that provided free entrepreneurship programs for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, serving approximately 100,000 participants before integration into Syracuse University's IVMF.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bunker Labs does
Bunker Labs was a non-profit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, operating with a small team of 1-10 employees. The organization provided free entrepreneurship programs for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, offering a peer-learning environment and support infrastructure to help military-connected individuals start or grow businesses. Over its operational history, Bunker Labs reached approximately 100,000 entrepreneurs through its programming, operating on a freemium model with no cost to participants.
The organization was funded through grants and corporate philanthropy, with disclosed funding totaling approximately $2.21M across three rounds between 2016 and 2018, primarily from JP Morgan Chase. Bunker Labs held GuideStar Silver and Charity Navigator certifications, reflecting its non-profit accountability standards. Leadership included co-founders Todd Connor, Sean McIntosh, Johnathan Wojtewicz, and Joseph Kopser, with Blake Hogan serving as CEO and a board comprising Tanya Castaway, Chris Gann, James Gatto, Michael Mitchell, Dan Raven, and Adam Volk.
Bunker Labs was subsequently integrated into the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, where its programming was consolidated with IVMF's existing entrepreneurship portfolio including the EBV, EBV-F, V-WISE, and EBV Accelerate programs. This integration extended the organization's reach into higher education and career training verticals, though it signaled a transition from an independent operating entity to a program line within a larger institutional structure.
Bunker Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bunker Labs
- Website
- https://bunkerlabs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bunker Labs was a Chicago-based non-profit founded in 2014 that provided free entrepreneurship programs for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, serving approximately 100,000 participants before integration into Syracuse University's IVMF.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bunker Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Entrepreneurship Education and Training
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)
Keywords
Where Bunker Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Bunker Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free programs for military-connected entrepreneurs |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Bunker Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bunker Labs was a nonprofit veteran entrepreneurship program that provided a peer-learning environment and business training for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. Its programs, including EBV, EBV-F, V-WISE, and EBV Accelerate, were offered at no cost and covered the full pathway from business ideation through startup to growth stages. The organization has since been integrated into the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University as a "Legacy of Impact" program.
Product overview
IVMF offers a comprehensive suite of programs for veterans and military families, with Bunker Labs now integrated as part of its entrepreneurship portfolio. The programs include Entrepreneurship (EBV, EBV-F, V-WISE, EBV Accelerate), Career Training (Onward to Opportunity/O2O), Higher Education, Community Services (AmericaServes), and Research & Analytics. These programs are offered at no cost to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bunker Labs (Legacy Program) A peer-learning community and entrepreneurship program for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses, offering no-cost training across ideation, startup, and growth stages. Now integrated as a legacy program within Syracuse University's IVMF portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100,000 entrepreneurs impacted through entrepreneurship programs
Companies that use Bunker Labs
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Bunker Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bunker Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Bunker Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- VetsInTech: National nonprofit supporting veterans entering the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem, with programs that overlap with Bunker Labs' startup-stage support in the tech/venture vertical.
- The Honor Foundation: Serves Navy SEALs and special operations service members transitioning out of the military, with programming that increasingly includes entrepreneurship pathways — a partial overlap with Bunker Labs' mission for a narrower military segment.
Direct peers
- Veterani: Veteran entrepreneurship organization providing business education, mentorship, and community for military-connected founders, directly overlapping with Bunker Labs' target audience and service offering.
- Patriot Boot Camp: Veteran-focused startup accelerator that runs intensive boot camps and provides mentorship, capital connections, and a peer network for military-affiliated entrepreneurs — the most direct comparable to Bunker Labs' veteran entrepreneurship mission.
Others
- Mission Continues: Veteran service organization focused on leadership development, community impact, and veteran reintegration; shares Bunker Labs' military-connected audience but addresses transition more broadly than entrepreneurship specifically.
Broad incumbents
- D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF): Syracuse University-based institute that has absorbed Bunker Labs' programming; offers a broader suite of veteran services (entrepreneurship, career training, higher education, community services) and represents the institutional parent of Bunker Labs' operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Bunker Labs social profiles
Digital presenceBunker Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Bunker Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bunker Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Bunker Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bunker Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bunker Labs
What does Bunker Labs do?
Bunker Labs was a nonprofit veteran entrepreneurship program that provided a peer-learning environment and business training for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. Its programs, including EBV, EBV-F, V-WISE, and EBV Accelerate, were offered at no cost and covered the full pathway from business ideation through startup to growth stages. The organization has since been integrated into the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University as a "Legacy of Impact" program.
Is Bunker Labs a public or private company?
Bunker Labs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bunker Labs founded?
Bunker Labs was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bunker Labs based?
Bunker Labs is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Bunker Labs's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are VetsInTech and The Honor Foundation. Direct peers are Veterani and Patriot Boot Camp. Mission Continues is listed as an others. D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bunker Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bunker Labs.
What industry is Bunker Labs in?
Bunker Labs's product category is Veteran Entrepreneurship Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAC, Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAC, Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.