2014
Navy veteran Todd Conner launches Bunker Labs in Chicago, with the mission to empower veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Within the first year, local chapters form across multiple cities, expanding the organization’s reach and impact.
Bunker Labs: A Legacy of Impact
Introduction
In 2014, Todd Connor noticed the dramatic decline in veteran entrepreneurship since the postwar era, and decided to do something about it. Veterans struggled to break into the critical professional networks and access necessary capital to launch and grow their businesses. He founded Bunker Labs, and rallied not just dedicated staffers, but inspired participants to meet that challenge head on. Bunker Labs was the creation of a new community—regional groups of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs eager to support and learn from each other.
This spirit of community persevered through the Covid-19 pandemic and a shift to stronger national, virtual programming under new CEO Blake Hogan. Bunker Labs then launched ambitious, meaningful programs like Veterans in Residence, Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship, CEOcircle, and the Ambassador Program. These programs and networks made a difference for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, changing the trajectories of their businesses and creating a supportive community invested in their success.
Joining IVMF
In 2024, IVMF acquired Bunker Labs, adding its staff and programs to its already impressive portfolio of educational veteran and military family entrepreneurship programming. Merging the education component of IVMF with the community-building component of Bunker Labs has created a platform to do even more for aspiring and experienced veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs all in one place.
Below are some of the major milestones over Bunker Labs’ 2014-2024 years of operations.
Bunker Labs: A Story of Service
The staff at Bunker Labs took to heart the idea of being entrepreneurial, agile, and able to pivot with market forces—just like they’d teach the entrepreneurs in their programs. The result was an always-evolving suite of programs, providing participants with a greater experience and greater results with each cohort. Below are some of the major milestones and pivots over Bunker Labs’ ten years of operations.
2015
Bunker Labs introduces Bunker in a Box, (what would later evolve into Launch Lab Online), a digital learning platform providing active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses with accessible, on-demand entrepreneurship education.
2016
The Muster event series kicks off. This annual multi-city gathering brings together veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders in an effort to showcase Bunker Labs entrepreneurs and introduce them to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
2018
Bunker Labs launches the first Veterans in Residence (ViR) cohort in partnership with WeWork. The program, spanning ten cities, provides veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs with coworking space, mentorship, and a supportive peer community.
Bunker Labs pilots the CEOcircle program, a monthly mastermind group for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs focused on tackling growth challenges, leadership development, and business strategy. The program combines structured roundtable discussions with peer accountability, curated readings, and facilitated problem-solving sessions. Early iterations include Clifton StrengthsFinder assessments, business strategy workshops, and annual retreats to help participants refine long-term goals.
2019
CEOcircle evolves into a more structured initiative, emphasizing peer-led facilitation and cohort-based learning. Recruitment efforts ramp-up with dedicated events to introduce the program through networking and abbreviated facilitation exercises. Conversations with leadership focus on sustainability and facilitator training, ensuring CEOcircle’s scalability beyond a single city.
2020
Todd Connor, founder and longtime CEO of Bunker Labs, steps down from his role, handing off CEO duties to Blake Hogan. A Marine Corps veteran and Bunker Labs’ Nashville chapter founder, Hogan oversees an expansion to Bunker Labs’ national programming.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bunker Labs transitions all programming to virtual formats to ensure continued support for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Additional crisis-focused programming is introduced to help business owners navigate financial uncertainty, pivot their business models, and access emergency funding.
Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) launches in July as a virtual program dedicated to supporting Black veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. Program aims to help underrepresented entrepreneurs overcome systemic barriers, network with each other, and build successful businesses.
CEOcircle refines its monthly cadence, requiring members to commit to 80% attendance and engage in structured accountability practices. The program balances open enrollment and closed cohorts, ensuring flexibility while maintaining strong peer connections. CEOcircle integrates virtual engagement to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining its core focus on executive leadership, strategic problem-solving, and curated expert insights.
2021
Bunker Labs relaunches an expanded Ambassador Program, bringing together veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs from more than 30 cities across the U.S. The year-long, cohort-based initiative equips volunteer Ambassadors with training, resources, and professional development opportunities to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in their communities.
Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE) continues to evolve, providing tailored resources, expert-led sessions, and a strong community to entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups. BBiE notably expands to include dedicated cohorts for women, Latinx, and AAPI entrepreneurs, fostering a more inclusive ecosystem of support and mentorship
2024
Bunker Labs is acquired by the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF ), integrating its mission with IVMF’s broader efforts to support veterans and military families through entrepreneurship, career preparation, and ongoing professional development programs.
