The Bunker - A Veterans' Incubator - About the Bunker Powered by PeopleVine

Come. Create. Conquer.

This introductory video, produced by Patrick Putze and the National Veterans Art Museum, shares with you who The Bunker is. Our goal is to launch and accelerate veteran-owned businesses, channel the energy among veterans to become entrepreneurs and business owners, and create a new forum for high-performing veterans to meet and collaborate.

We are a program built by veteran entrepreneurs—for veteran entrepreneurs.

The Bunker targets existing veteran-owned tech startups and aspiring entrepreneurs to come, create, and conquer the business world through their ideas, hard work, and strategy.

Companies in Residence

We invite early-stage companies to apply to join The Bunker. For entrepreneurs like Tom Aiello of MARCH Marketing (pictured left), we will provide space at 1871 for six months, access to great talent, an exclusive network of fellow entrepreneurs, mentorship and professional development, and access to capital. You will participate in roundtable conversations, networking events, and a speakers series designed around your working needs and current state challenges. Our businesses have the option to continue their businesses at The Bunker.

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Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Aspiring entrepreneurs (like the students from the Olin School of Business at Washington University of St. Louis, pictured here) are invited to apply for become Entrepreneurs in Residence at The Bunker, and intern at one of our portfolio companies. We recognize that the best way of learning is by doing. Working in The Bunker gives you the chance to support our businesses, expand your network, and learn how to translate your skills into becoming an entrepreneur or working at a start-up. Aspiring entrepreneurs need to interview with prospective companies for placement, though we consistently hear from our founders of their desire to hire veterans who can “meet the mission” of helping them build their businesses.

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Mentors

Mentorship is critical to our businesses success, and we invite veterans and non-veterans alike to consider serving as mentors. Our mentor pool allows our resident companies to learn from established and experienced managers like Edelman public relations' John Edelman (pictured with RideScout's Joseph Kopser and 1871's Howard Tullman). Our founders are able to tap the right expertise when they need, expand their business reach, identify new customers, and share lessons learned. A diverse and wide network helps expand the reach of our companies, and gives mentors the chance to get involved and support interesting and exciting veteran-owned startup enterprises, and to become a part of the broader Bunker community.

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Todd Connor CEO

Todd Connor is the CEO of The Bunker, and Co-Founder of Flank 5 Academy. A Navy veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the USS BUNKER HILL (CG-52), Todd has held senior leadership roles in the public and private sector. He holds a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

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Brandon Bodor COO

Brandon Bodor is the COO of The Bunker and leads the recruitment of companies and aspiring veteran entrepreneurs. Brandon was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn as Executive Director of the Serve Illinois Commission, administering the AmeriCorps program for the State of Illinois. Brandon previously served in the United States Army, including combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and is the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals and other decorations. He is completing his MBA at the University of Chicago and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

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Thomas Day Senior Advisor

Thomas Day is the senior advisor for The Bunker. Tom leads all communications and outreach efforts.
He served five years in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, including one year in Iraq. Tom also had a career in journalism, including a stint at the McClatchy Newspapers bureau in Afghanistan. He holds degrees from Penn State University, the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, and the Harris School of Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

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