In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Month, we’re looking at some of the standout military spouse founders from our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) and Veterans in Residence (ViR) program participants over the past year. BBiE creates a space for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs from traditionally underserved communities to come together to support and educate one another in the face of unique challenges, and help spread the word about opportunities.
We encourage you to learn about these exceptional entrepreneurs, and think about their asks of the broader Bunker Labs community. Be sure to follow and connect with them on social media!
Laura Bingham
Army National Guard Spouse
Laura Bingham Creative
BBiE, ViR Alum
Laura Bingham Creative helps entrepreneurs create, grow, and scale their brand through strategic design and marketing. With nearly two decades of experience, I thrive on building brands and delivering targeted design solutions through a holistic approach built for growth. My true passion is creating positive change and value for my clients, and seeing them make a difference in their communities.
Laura’s Ask: If you’re interested in partnering, or would like to learn more about my services, contact me through my website. I also offer free brand and design consultations! Book some time on my calendar.
Leah Stiles
Navy Spouse
SEA WAVES
BBiE Alum
SEA WAVES is a dedicated nonprofit tackling the underrecognized crisis of eating disorders within the military community. As the sole organization focused exclusively on this issue, we provide education, support, and advocacy to enhance the health and readiness of our service members and their families.
Leah’s Ask: SEA WAVES is actively seeking to expand our board with members who have robust business and nonprofit experience. Additionally, we are looking for donors and sponsors who are passionate about supporting our mission. Any introductions to potential board members, as well as funding opportunities, would be invaluable to our mission.
Felicia Jackson
Military Spouse
CPRWrap
ViR Alum and ViR 23B Pitch Competition Winner
CPRWrap is a lifesaving innovation designed for anyone, anywhere, to confidently perform CPR in an emergency. Founded by Felicia Jackson, a mom who nearly lost her child to a choking incident, CPRWrap provides a patented, disposable template with visual hand placements, a one-way valve mouth barrier, and straightforward instructions that can be translated into any language. With a proven track record of saving lives, CPRWrap is on a mission to make CPR accessible and empower individuals globally to be the first responders in critical situations, reducing hesitation, and increasing survival rates.
Felicia’s Ask: We need introductions to key decision-makers within military organizations or relevant government agencies that cater to military families who might be interested in implementing CPRWrap as part of their safety protocols. We’d ultimately like to see the military distribute CPRWrap to every military family and household for added safety.
Carey Reddick II
Military Spouse
Hope Lending
BBiE Alum and Current Bunker Labs Ambassador
At Hope Lending we are more than just a mortgage bank, we believe in keeping the dream of home ownership alive and are dedicated to providing mortgage solutions for every client. We educate and support our clients to ensure clarity, transparency, and efficiency while guiding them towards their dream of home ownership. We are committed to lending you Hope!
Carey’s Ask: If you have any mortgage needs (purchase, refinance, or home equity line of credit), please connect with us at info@hope-lending.com
Pinky Uttayaya-Andrews
Military Spouse
Zenergy Health & Performance
BBiE Alum
Zenergy Health & Performance specializes in empowering veterans and underserved communities to conquer chronic pain. We offer a unique, integrated approach to wellness, tailoring personalized, non-invasive care to help individuals reclaim their full potential. By dismantling barriers and fostering equitable health outcomes, we envision a future where diverse communities thrive beyond pain.
Pinky’s Ask: We are seeking business mentors to join our Advisory Board to help us with continued growth. We are also looking for partners, investors, and the following practitioners (physical therapist, acupuncturist, and chiropractor) who align with our mission to join our team.
Support Military Spouse-owned Businesses
In addition to the featured entrepreneurs presented above, there are dozens of military spouse-led companies participating in our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) workshop today that could use your support. Browse the many military spouse-owned businesses that have come through the program, including our most recent graduates in the 24A cohort, and show them some support and patronage.
Representation matters, especially in the entrepreneurial world. Through the power of community and connection, the BBiE workshop aims to help participants shatter society-erected barriers for entrepreneurs of historically underserved communities. Interested in going through the workshop? Apply to be a part of BBiE’s next cohort by filling out the interest form.
Bunker Labs is Now Part of IVMF
As of January 2024, Bunker Labs is now a part of Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). In addition to ongoing Bunker Labs programming, we’d encourage you to browse IVMF’s deep wealth of entrepreneurship programming, much of it available virtually or at locations across the country. Find the program to help your business take the next step today!