In honor of Black History Month, we’re looking at some of the standout Black entrepreneurs 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 veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, and think about their asks of the broader Bunker Labs community. Be sure to follow and connect with them on social media! 

Marla J. Albertie

Air Force Veteran
Truth Speaks Group, LLC (TSG)

Truth Speaks Group, LLC (TSG) is a multimedia training and coaching company based in Jacksonville, FL, specializing in empowering 9-5 working women with resources for work/life integration and harmony. Our flagship product, Truth Speaks Academy (TSA), serves as a comprehensive online platform for professional and personal development, offering a wide range of courses and tools tailored to individual and team growth. All resources are steeped in the foundations of Positive and I/O Psychology. At TSG, we’re committed to being the go-to destination for those seeking holistic solutions to achieve balance and success in both their personal and professional lives.

Marla’s Ask: “I am seeking individuals and small businesses who want to enhance their personal and professional development by joining my subscription-based online academy.” If you are interested in joining the online academy, learn more on her site and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Hyacinth Tucker

Army Veteran
The Laundry Basket LLC

The Laundry Basket LLC revolutionizes laundry care with convenient mobile delivery services. Our eco-friendly approach and commitment to quality make us the go-to solution for busy individuals and environmentally-conscious consumers.

Hyacinth’s Ask: “We’re seeking partnerships with local businesses and organizations to expand our reach and impact. If you know of any potential collaborators or customers in the Greater DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia area who could benefit from our services, we’d love to connect and explore opportunities for collaboration.” Connect with Hyacinth on LinkedIn.

Carey Reddick II

Military Spouse
Hope Lending

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.” Connect with Carey on LinkedIn for all your mortgage needs and if you are in the Phoenix area and are a veteran or military spouse entrepreneur, reach out. He’s one of our Phoenix Ambassadors!

Eboni Davis

Army Reservist
FOB: Fun Operating Base

FOB: Fun Operating Base is a mobile party entertainment company that hosts Nerf wars and gel blaster battles in the Chicagoland area. Our tactical fun specialists bring the fun to any location whether it is for a birthday party, school function, company/organization day, or any social event. We provide all the necessary equipment along with a list of exciting game scenarios to guarantee every event is a hit!

Eboni’s Ask: “As a small business run with my 15-year-old son, the FOB is looking for partners to expand our reach and build a team to take on our fast-growing client base. If you are interested or know someone interested in hosting an event please reach out. If you know anyone interested in joining our FOB family please do not hesitate to send them our way. We can be found on all social media sites by searching “fun operating base”. Connect with Eboni on LinkedIn.

Felicia Jackson

Military Spouse
CPRWrap

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.” If you have introductions for Felicia for CPRWrap, reach out to her on LinkedIn.

Support Black Veteran and Military Spouse-owned Businesses

In addition to the featured entrepreneurs presented above, there are dozens of Black-led companies participating in our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) workshop today that could use your support. Browse the many Black veteran and 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? BBiE is currently accepting interest forms for its 24B cohort.

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!