IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity (O2O) program has been helping transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses chase the career of their dreams for years. More than 100,000 people have reached out to O2O as a step toward achieving their goals and attaining professional certifications.
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In the heart of every military community lies a wealth of untold stories, each a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who serve. This blog explores just a few of those stories about veterans, spouses, and the entire family unit.
The general feeling pushed in the entrepreneurship spaces is adopt the emerging technology, or get left behind. In fact, incorporating an AI use-case is key to attracting investors in 2025 (with the caveat that the rest of the business fundamentals still need to be strong, AI isn’t a magic bullet).
This July 25th is National Hire a Veteran Day. Instituted in 2017, the day serves to highlight the value veterans bring to the workplace. It’s also a call to action for government agencies and businesses nationwide to look at their workforce and consider ways to give veterans more opportunities.
Buying from veteran-owned businesses isn’t just patriotic. It’s a meaningful way to strengthen the economy, honor their service, and invest in resilient communities. Here are a few reasons why choosing to shop veteran-owned should be a national priority.
It was during this period Mamie rejected this idea that she had to be all things to all people at all times. She realized there were seasons to her life, and if this one was primarily a “mother” era, that was okay. She rejected the guilt she felt about not teaching, and began to look at her life more critically.
There seems to be a bit of a calm in the tariff and supply chain storm America has faced these past few months. While the uncertainty in the wake of sudden tariff announcements has wreaked havoc for many American businesses...
There are a lot of business resources out there, and sometimes remembering where you bookmarked that specific one you’re looking for can be challenging. To help you find what you need faster, we’ve created this Entrepreneurship Resource Directory, organized by subject to help you get the answers you need, right away.
Happy 250th Birthday, Army! On June 14th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress created a unified army to fight Great Britain under the command of George Washington.
Friday is National Donut Day! To celebrate, we’re expanding the scope a little bit past donuts and sharing some standout veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses that offer a variety of baked goods and sweet treats!
We’ve reached out to Dr. Jude Black, one of the program participants in IVMF’s CEOcircle that also happens to be a longtime mental health and wellness professional. Her current venture is E-Therapy Café®, a place where people can seek out mental health options online. We’ve asked Doctor Jude to help us out and answer some basic questions about mental health, and what we can do to improve our own and help those around us.
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this May, we’re showcasing some of the standout founders from our entrepreneurship suite of programs over the past year that are part of the AAPI community.
In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Month, we’re looking at some of the standout military spouse founder alumni from our portfolio of entrepreneurship programs. Entrepreneurship is a great fit for military spouses, who can struggle in traditional career paths due to frequent moves and irregular schedules working around the demands of military family life.
May 4-10 is National Small Business Week. To celebrate, IVMF is sharing some of the standout entrepreneurs currently participating in our CEOcircle program powered by JPMorgan Chase Commercial Bank.
IVMF is proud to announce the 101 entrepreneurs selected to join the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) 25B cohort. These AAPI, Black, Latinx, and women founders are working together to share and help each other overcome the systemic barriers and business challenges they face as entrepreneurs and business owners.
IVMF held its 7th Annual Veteran EDGE Conference in Dallas, TX last month, from March 19-21, 2025. It brought together 302 veteran entrepreneurs with actively scaling businesses, representing just over two billion dollars in annual revenue in one room. Collectively, these business leaders sought and shared strategies for survival and growth in this uncertain market.
Procurement contracting offers a wealth of opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs, providing avenues to grow their businesses through government and corporate contracts. This blog post provides a high-level overview of the procurement contracting landscape, highlighting the most relevant information for veteran-owned businesses (VOBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs).
It’s April, that time of year when most folks are thinking about taxes and how to better plan ahead for next year. To that end, we’ve gathered some of the Veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses focused on finances and tax preparation.
The Small Business Association (SBA) has taken over the Veteran-owned Small Business (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification program as of January 2023. There are various third-party organizations offering to help you get certified, but ultimately, the SBA’s online portal is the only place to apply, and it’s honestly straightforward enough to do yourself.
As an entrepreneur, the ability to clearly articulate in layman’s terms what your business does and how it makes money is a critical skill every entrepreneur needs in their toolbox.
The IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity (O2O) program has helped transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses obtain key certifications and launch their civilian careers since 2011. This spring, O2O hit a major milestone, impacting 100,000 participants.
The 2025 Ambassador Impact Awards mark a historic moment for the IVMF Bunker Labs Ambassador Program. As we reflect on a transformative year that saw the program officially become part of IVMF through their acquisition of Bunker Labs, we celebrate the Ambassadors who have adapted to new challenges to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Amy Cotta was riddled with anxiety, depression, and was struggling to find any sort of support or outlet for those feelings. She missed her son, felt so far away from him. While he was in bootcamp, she got her hands on a pair of Marine Corps standard issue steel-toed combat boots, and just started wearing them everywhere. It helped her feel connected to her son.
A lot of veterans want to publish a book. Often, it’s a memoir with stories about their military service. Some veterans might have dollar signs in their eyes, assuming their story will be a best seller, or inspire a great movie. Other veterans just want to combat how uninformed civilians can be about the realities of military service, or set Hollywood straight.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re looking at some of the standout female founders from our entrepreneurship program portfolio over the past year. Each of these women have an incredible, successful business, and is making history today while leading their business into the future.
Your pitch communicates two ideas about your business as clearly and concisely as possible. First, you need to clearly explain what problem your company solves and how you do it. Second, and more importantly, you need to make the audience emotionally invest in the idea you’ll be successful and profitable with your approach to doing that.
The post-pitch is everything that happens between the final word of your prepared pitch and getting a final yes or no from an investor, or a ruling from the judges. The post-pitch generally encompasses two things, fielding questions about your pitch, and figuring out your leave-behind strategy.
In honor of Black History Month, we’re looking at some of the standout Black entrepreneurs from our IVMF entrepreneurship program portfolio. IVMF has a program for all veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, no matter what your business or business idea is, or what stage of business you’re in. Let us help you chase your American Dream!
It is with great pride that IVMF announces the 93 Black, Latinx, and female entrepreneurs selected to take part in Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program’s 25A cohort. These entrepreneurs are joining a community of passionate and innovative individuals who are facing systemic barriers and creating solutions to today’s business problems.
Because these two event-driven opportunities are so vital to the entrepreneurial process, we’ve compiled a list of conferences and pitch competitions in the United States. Many are exclusively for veterans and military spouses, but there are also many listed that are open to all ventures, or those within specific industries. Be sure to read closely and check the event’s website. Our hope is that it can help you plan your year and make you aware of nearby events that can make a difference for your venture.
Every year, Inc.com releases a list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America, ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2020-2023. Of these 5,000 incredibly successful companies, IVMF honors the top performing veteran companies within that prestigious group. The Vet100 represent the best of military entrepreneurship, and roughly a quarter of them are IVMF program participants!
What follows are some of the most useful, no nonsense, obtainable deals and discounts readily available for veterans.
So you’ve heard about a local pitch competition, and you’re thinking “how do I pitch my business?”. You can certainly check out our Pitching 101 series of articles, but we’ve also sought out Bunker Labs’ own pitching wizard Chris Carlson for some pitching pro tips.
The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is proud to welcome the 60 members of our 2025 Bunker Labs Ambassador cohort! After a rigorous selection process, we’ve chosen individuals dedicated to helping veterans and military spouses navigate their post-service journey, no matter if that’s helping veterans and their families connect with resources or organizations, or helping entrepreneurs from our community make the right local connections so their business can thrive.
Anthony Cosby wants STZY socks to be there to help keep kids on the right track, and help get them back on track when he can, no matter if that means STZY bringing in speakers to keep kids focused on the right things, or financial sponsorship when it’s possible.
Come January 3rd, 2025 when the 119th Congress is sworn in and begins its work, it will do so with one hundred veterans among its 535 members in the House and Senate. While this isn’t quite a historic number of veterans in Congress (there were 102 in 115th Congress in 2017), it does represent a nearly 25% increase over the 82 veterans of our previous congress.
Job hunting isn’t fun, and if you’re just transitioning from military service, it’s probably been a while since you looked at your resume. The bad news is, it’s much worse than you think. The entire hiring landscape has shifted since you swore an oath. That said, the veteran unemployment rate is still lower than the national average. Check out the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ (IVMF) ongoing research into veteran employment here.
Syracuse University recently hosted the 2nd Annual ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award Ceremony, which celebrates the accomplishments of alumni who have excelled as business leaders and innovators who have enjoyed significant growth in the last year. Among the honorees this year were four graduates of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) entrepreneurship programs, whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence continue to make an undeniable impact in their local communities, and the veteran entrepreneur ecosystem.
It’s Native American Heritage Month all November, and to celebrate, we’re looking at some of the standout founders from the broad portfolio of Entrepreneurship programs here at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). These incredible companies are leading the way in a variety of industries, and showcase the diverse talents and contributions from the Native American veteran and military spouse entrepreneurship community to America’s business landscape.
For many Americans, Veterans Day serves as a once-a-year opportunity to recognize the tiny minority who volunteer, on behalf of the many, to serve the cause of our nation’s defense. Today there will be ceremonies, speeches, free coffee, and maybe a sale at your favorite store. If you sense that my words are tinted with a bit of cynicism regarding what’s become of our annual Veterans Day traditions, you’re right.
November 10th is a sacred day for every Marine—a day when leathernecks everywhere come together to celebrate the Marine Corps' birthday. It’s a time to honor the grit, determination, and tradition of a branch that’s been storming beaches for 249 years. But as anyone who knows a Marine can confirm, once they set their minds on something, they’re in it for the long haul. These qualities don’t just disappear after hanging up the uniform—they just get a fresh mission: starting and running their own businesses.
It’s the holiday season, and Syracuse University’s D’aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is ready to help you cross names off your list with our big end of year holiday update to our Gift Guide. This one-stop-shopping resource makes it easy for anyone to shop veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses.
It’s spooky season, and to celebrate we’re going to talk about some of the most terrifying aspects of business ownership! Owning a business can be a high-pressure experience. This pressure can create fear and anxiety around almost anything. While military personnel are often cited for bravery, and generally have more risk tolerance than the average civilian, it doesn’t mean these fears don’t impact us at all.
The IVMF is excited to welcome 67 newly-selected AAPI, Black, Latinx, and female entrepreneurs from across the United States to the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship Program (BBiE). These entrepreneurs are joining a community of passionate and innovative individuals who are facing systemic barriers and creating solutions to today’s business problems.
For the Navy's 249th birthday we are showcasing some of our Entrepreneurship program alumni that also happen to be Navy veterans.
The D’aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is proud to introduce the 71 veteran and military spouse founders and executives of our first IVMF Bunker Labs CEOcircle cohort. They represent some of our nation’s brightest rising stars in the world of business. Together, they’ll go on a 13-month journey to grow and scale their ventures, learning from not just each other, but a roster of high-profile guest speakers and advisors assembled by IVMF and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15th, and to celebrate, we’re looking at some of the standout founders from the broad portfolio of Entrepreneurship programs here at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). These incredible companies are leading the way in a variety of industries, and showcase the diverse talents and contributions from the Latinx veteran entrepreneurship community.
Mike was part of IVMF’s Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) through the Purdue campus in 2013. He initially thought his playbook would be a for-profit business, sharing his combination of exercise and positive psychology in group settings. It became very clear over the course of EBV that he could do more good as a non-profit sharing his experience and program with veterans.
Jessica van Dop DeJesus is a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a Veterans in Residence (ViR) alumni. Bunker Labs is proud to have recently added her to our staff, as well, where Jessica serves as our Latinx cohort facilitator for our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program.
Julio Osorio was a marine. A proud reservist serving in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines. He already served a tour overseas, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in ‘04-05. So, when the powers-that-be assembled the unit in the hangar bay, he knew he didn’t have to go back. He did his tour, and now it was someone else’s turn. Except his brother was one of those “someone elses”.
James Schlauch and Apply are working to address the issue of Brain Waste for both job seekers and recruiters.
It’s PCS season, and hundreds of thousands of servicemembers and their families will face the daunting task of moving across state or even national lines. Picking up your entire life and moving every few years is part of the military experience, and most servicemembers and military spouses are familiar with the frustrations and headaches that come along with it. We’ve compiled a list of IVMF alumni running companies right now that want to help your next PCS experience be your best. Give them a look today!
IVMF Bunker Labs is proud to welcome our second cohort of Veterans in Residence since joining Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). These 142 entrepreneurs will spend the next 10 weeks going from ideation or early start up and working toward growth as they acquire basic skills necessary for entrepreneurship and validate their ideas in the marketplace.
Keith knows the power of bootstrapping, hard-won knowledge from his experiences launching Cayuga Climbs. He brought that same energy to Aedify, managing the basic coding on his own thanks to some experience with Python. Things were moving forward, but as a military spouse and the constant moves that come with it, building a network was proving a challenge.
The D’aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families is proud to welcome 99 AAPI, Black, female, and Latinx entrepreneurs from across the United States to the Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship program. These trailblazing entrepreneurs are joining a community of passionate and innovative individuals who are breaking down barriers and creating solutions to today’s business problems.
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.
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we’re looking at some of the standout founders from our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) and Veterans in Residence (ViR) program participants from the AAPI community 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.
For Jasmine Paul, it was her senior year at High Point University just outside Greensboro, North Carolina. She was going to school full time chasing her communications degree, working three jobs, one of which was an internship, and part of the ROTC program. She was about as busy as a person can be. So how did she end up living out of her car?
One of the creative keynotes was Amy Jo Martin’s on her Renegade Thinking philosophy. At Veteran EDGE, she shared the origins behind the brand of “positive disruption” she created in reaction to her time with the NBA helping Shaquille O’Neal learn how to tweet. That formative experience led to a successful career that’s given her the opportunity to work with world-renowned brands such as Hilton Worldwide, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nike, Dell and more.
Frank spoke to the Veteran EDGE audience about recent innovations in artificial intelligence that promise to be as paradigm-disrupting as the smartphone. The volume of data collection and the speed of the chips to perform the calculations has reached the point where AI technology is on the cusp of being everywhere, in every piece of technology.
As the spouse of a U.S. military service member and a mom who loves a military kid, I can relate hard to the anguish and ambivalence about moving children (and ourselves) away from a lovely place we've called home.
Whether you're transitioning from active service or about to graduate and enter the civilian workforce, selecting the right career training program is crucial. The journey from military to civilian life or from military education to industry-specific roles requires careful planning and informed decisions. Here are refined strategies for both transitioning service members and military graduates seeking industry-specific training and certification.
Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) held our sixth annual Veteran EDGE conference in Dallas, Texas late March (20-22). There were a record 470 attendees present for three days packed with programming, networking, and opportunities curated to help participants grow and scale their businesses.
It’s an exciting day for you. You’re competing in a CrossFit event, and time is ticking down. You’ve already worked through your safer weights, but there’s time to go for a PR squat clean. There’s a cheering crowd. Your twelve-year-old son and husband are among the loudest supporters. All eyes are on you. You adjust your grip and set your hips.
Maria first heard about IVMF in 2018 at the Association of the United States Army Conference. Maria bumped into a friend working with IVMF at the conference, who asked Maria to sit on a panel for IVMF’s IGNITE. She was floored there was an entire day-long conference built around military spouse entrepreneurs just like her. Next year, she ensured she was signed up to participate in the entire day’s programming.
Bryan Silva's narrative is one of evolution, resilience, and the constant pursuit of growth. Originating as an enlisted sailor, he ascended through the Navy's ranks to become a seasoned Naval Officer, guided by a profound dedication to duty and an unyielding quest for personal advancement. With over two decades of service under his belt, Bryan now stands at the brink of a new chapter in his life, poised to leverage his accumulated skills and determination in the civilian sphere.
Feb. 24, 2022, marked a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s history as Russia launched a full-scale invasion. Since then, members of the University faculty have studied and gained insights into the defensive and military dynamics of both Ukraine and Russia. These experts have also evaluated the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of conflict.
Embarking on a new chapter in 1993, Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications founded the Military Motion Media Program (MMM). Sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD), this program stands as a testament to the institution's dedication to service members. Since its inception in 1963, the MMM Program has played a vital role in training military photographers and videographers, evolving over the years to meet the dynamic needs of the industry.
The roots of Syracuse University's School of Nursing can be traced back to the Hospital of the Good Shepherd's nursing school, which fell under the university's College of Medicine in 1915.
As we find ourselves in the early days of 2024, it's the perfect moment to embrace the spirit of "new year, new me." Let's make a commitment to personal and professional growth, exploring the opportunities offered by the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families programs.
In the aftermath of World War II, Chancellor William Pearson Tolley emerged as a key
In Syracuse University's history, commitments to veterans and military students can trace back to World War I. SU laid the groundwork for what would evolve into the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), a pivotal institution that has shaped the lives of countless individuals.
This is a story about Ari and Baro, two Boston Terriers. Ari and Baro both developed severe allergies, making it almost impossible to feed them store-bought food. Joelle’s sister, Minkyung, spent a lot of time shuttling her dogs to the vet, trying to find something they could eat without getting sick. It was a struggle that seemed to be headed for an unhappy ending.
In fact, the unique combination of pictures and words taken in at the pace of the reader makes comic books an ideal medium for education. What’s more, we all know the power of comic strips and books to educate first-hand. Road signs, airplane safety pamphlets, and furniture assembly instructions all use the techniques of comics to communicate powerfully and quickly, cutting across most demographic barriers.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15th, and we at Bunker Labs are excited to amplify Hispanic voices within our community. Jessica van Dop DeJesus is a Marine Corps veteran, an entrepreneur, and a Veterans in Residence (ViR) alumni. Bunker Labs is proud to have recently added her to our staff, as well, where Jessica serves as our Latinx cohort facilitator for our Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) program.
Daniella was born to an authoritarian Christian cult known as the Children of God, she escaped and joined the US Army. Now, she explores cult behavior and conditioning techniques, and where it can be a positive force and where it can go wrong.
When the pandemic hit hard in 2020, Jon's peers in the packaged food industry lost 80-90% of their business. He launched First North Marketing to help them transition to an Amazon sales strategy like he had, and discovered the value of his hard-won marketing skills.
Marlie Andersch founded rockITdata at the end of 2018 with the intention of doing one thing better than anyone else: data integrations. It might sound dry from the outside, but it’s one of the biggest challenges facing modern businesses today.
Monica is on a mission to make Spouse-ly a household name. In 2021, she was featured in Forbes Next 1,000 for her work with Spouse-ly, and it’s only continued to grow since. Today, Spouse-ly hosts over 3,000 different products and more than 200 services from nearly 500 different military and first responder family vendors.
Discover the inspiring story of Monifa Caines, a US Air Force veteran and former RN who is now using her skills to create beautiful hair accessories for women of color and those going through cancer treatment. Learn about her journey and how her passion for helping others has led her to create a brand that celebrates diversity and empowers women to feel confident and beautiful.
Discover the inspiring story of veteran entrepreneur Daniel Lee who defied the odds by opening Farina Pasta & Noodle during COVID-19.