Yes, provided they are registered as a legal entity and are growth-oriented.

Cohort participants are required to:

• Attend onboarding and orientation meetings
• Attend weekly huddles with their cohort
• Attend monthly masterclasses in business topics

Adhere to WeWork Community Guidelines

Yes, there is a virtual cohort that brings together entrepreneurs from across the country who do not have a local cohort.

Generally, participation ranges from 8-10 Veterans in Residence per city. Some virtual cohorts may have up to 12 Veterans

Cities that have existing Veterans in Residence programs typically work out of the same physical coworking space, share a Veterans Quarters and meeting spaces, and regularly meet in person. Due to COVID-19, some city-based programs are meeting virtually for the time being.

The virtual cohort provides program access to entrepreneurs who do not have a local option available and always meets virtually.

No.

No. Bunker Labs and WeWork do not make investments in participating businesses, nor do they facilitate external investments. However, there may be opportunities to connect with investors through program events. Bunker Labs also organizes periodic pitch competitions, and Veterans in Residence participants are invited to apply to pitch.

There is a tiered selection process, with the first round of screening conducted blind to help reduce unconscious bias and ensure a diverse cohort of qualified businesses. Entrepreneurs who advance from the first round will be contacted and interviewed. Candidates will be notified if they have or have not been selected for a cohort.

Teams are welcome to apply but only one representative from an entity is selected as the official program member. Cofounders can participate in monthly masterclasses and come as guests to the WeWork space, but they do not have full access to WeWork and do not participate in the weekly huddles.

No, but at least one founder must be.

Yes. Please ensure you meet the qualifications, in particular, that you have formed a legal business entity.

We look for:

• Revenue that is greater than zero but below $100,000 per year
• A clear vision for the product or service offered
• An understanding of specific challenges the business faces

Yes, as long as you have the capacity to focus on growing your business, the flexibility to attend weekly required meetings, and ability to be an active, engaged cohort participant, such as in virtual forums and group chats. It can be a lot to juggle, but many have done it and succeeded—to the point that they’ve quit their day job halfway through.

Refer to local guidelines. Each location has its own protocol based on a combination of city, state, and federal regulations. If your location is open for in-person coworking, we urge you to follow safety protocols at all times. If your location is not open for in-person coworking, meetings will be held virtually or outdoors, local weather permitting.

There are many possible paths: 

• Apply to become a Veterans in Residence alumni captain. Alumni captains provide support for subsequent cohorts, drawing on their own experience as an entrepreneur and program participant. 
• Apply to become a local Ambassador for Bunker Labs
• Apply to join the CEOcircle program for more established founders and executives. 
• There are also courses and workshop series for additional learning opportunities, local and national events, and a robust digital community.

TechStars and Y Combinator are startup accelerators, which means that they financially invest in all admitted startups in exchange for an equity stake. Veterans in Residence is an incubator, not an accelerator, and the most important distinction to note is that Bunker Labs does not make a financial investment in the admitted companies, nor does Bunker Labs take an equity stake.

There are some similarities between Bunker Labs and TechStars and Y Combinator, such as providing coworking space, a strong business network, and targeted resources, programming, and support to facilitate growth.

Small businesses with a focus on growth are welcome to apply!

Yes. Applicants should have generated some revenue, but not more than $100,000, at the time of application. We recommend interested applicants that have not yet generated revenue start with Launch Lab Online or other courses and workshops to help move from idea to revenue before applying to Veterans in Residence.