The Bunker has gone from an idea to the front pages in record speed. Already Chicago Inno, DNAInfo, and Crain’s Chicago Business have reported on our progress.

This week we announced that RideScout, a mobile app designed by two Army veterans turned entrepreneurs, would be our first tenant. RideScout already has a tremendous record of success, and demonstrated growth potential.  They also plan on hiring three to four veterans to work in their 1871 office.

We anticipate announcing more tenants in the coming weeks. Already we have received a number of intriguing and exciting applications to join The Bunker team. One thing should be clear: There is a need to build a community of veterans in the startup tech space.

I recently read the book “Startup Nation” by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, describing the startup culture in Israel and its roots in the Israeli military. Israel has produced the highest number of startups per capita of any country on earth, according to the book. The authors find that many of these startups were built from relationships forged in the Israeli military. Senor and Singer note that in country where all able-bodied men and women are conscripted into the military, the kind of management experience needed to start a successful business is in abundant supply.

The same story can be told here in the United States. The same community of veteran-entrepreneurs can be built here in Chicago.

More and more veterans are emerging from the top business schools, many with leadership experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Bunker will be the place for these men and women to create our own Startup Nation.

If you’re in Chicago, please come to our pre-launch on August 14 at 1871 (12th Floor of Merchandise Mart) from 6 to 8 p.m. You can RSVP at http://bunkerincubator.com/RSVP.  Want to join The Bunker? We’d love to hear of your idea. Take a look at our application, which you can access at http://bunkerincubator.com/apply.