The Bunker and Comcast Partner to Support Veteran Entrepreneurs
June 29 2015 - 9:30AM
Business Wire
Comcast Becomes The Bunker’s First National
Corporate Sponsor and Founding Sponsor of The Bunker
Philadelphia
As a lead up to Independence Day, The Bunker, an innovation
accelerator for military veteran-led businesses, announced that
Comcast has become the first National Corporate Sponsor of The
Bunker and the Founding Sponsor of The Bunker’s newest location in
Philadelphia. The Bunker, which has locations in seven cities
across the country, works to launch and accelerate veteran-led
businesses and create forums for entrepreneurial veterans to meet
and collaborate.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150629005696/en/
Built by veteran entrepreneurs for veteran entrepreneurs, The
Bunker provides working space, mentors, access to investors,
pro-bono services and a community of support to help military
veteran-led startup companies grow in today’s competitive market.
It was founded in Chicago in 2014 at co-working space 1871, its
current headquarters, and in the past year has expanded to six
additional cities, including Austin, Kansas City, Los Angeles,
Tacoma, Washington, D.C., and today’s launch in Philadelphia.
“We are honored to not only support veterans, but also some of
our country’s best and brightest entrepreneurs, through our
partnership with The Bunker,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive
Vice President of Comcast Corporation. “Comcast was a startup 50
years ago, and today we are proud to help develop the
next-generation of startups to build great products, grow a diverse
workforce, and continue to see existing and new businesses
bloom.”
The Philadelphia launch event, which took place at Benjamin’s
Desk, a local co-working space, included several notable speakers,
including:
- Todd Connor – CEO of The Bunker,
Co-Founder of Flank 5 Academy and a U.S. Navy Veteran
- Mike Maher – Head of The Bunker
Philadelphia, Co-Founder of Benjamin’s Desk and a U.S. Navy
Veteran
- Jessica Rosenworcel – FCC
Commissioner
- Alan Greenberger – Philadelphia Deputy
Mayor for Economic Development and Director of Commerce
- David L. Cohen – Senior Executive Vice
President of Comcast Corporation
- Neil Smit – President and Chief
Executive Officer of Comcast Cable and a former Navy SEAL
Six Philadelphia startups have already been selected to
participate in The Bunker Philadelphia, and additional companies
will be announced in the coming months. The companies include:
- Houwzer – a residential real
estate brokerage company created by Mike Maher (Navy)
- Starchup – a software
and mobile application for dry-cleaning created by Dan Tobon
(Army)
- CauseEngine – a marketplace
that matches non-profits and freelancers created by James Brobyn
(Marine Corps)
- VetsForward – a search
platform for finding veteran-owned businesses created by Dave
Foster (Army)
- Serve1 – a trusted resource
to create first-degree resources for veterans created by Chris Diaz
(Navy)
- GoPaperboy – a hyper-local
marketplace to help students build the job they want and families
find the help they need created by Jen Gallagher (military spouse
and former attorney)
About 200,000 service members leave active duty each year, and a
quarter of them express interest in starting their own business.
Following World War II, 49 percent of veterans started their own
businesses after returning home. However, veterans representing new
entrepreneurs have declined from 12 percent in 1996 to just 6
percent in 2011.
“I have heard from many entrepreneurs who are looking for an
organization like The Bunker that can help them in starting and
growing a business,” said Connor. “Both Mike Maher and I believe
that The Bunker Philadelphia will enable local veteran
entrepreneurs to realize their dream of owning and running their
own business, and ultimately create new jobs for the local economy.
Thanks to the support of Comcast, this is a model we will be able
to continue to replicate in cities across the U.S.”
“We're excited to help The
Bunker accelerate veteran owned-businesses and are
honored to work with these talented
and dedicated entrepreneurs and startups who are joining
Philadelphia's thriving innovation community,” said Smit.
Applications for The Bunker Philadelphia and other locations are
now online, and veteran-led startup companies based in Philadelphia
and in other parts of the country are encouraged to apply at
www.BunkerIncubator.com.
Comcast NBCUniversal support veterans in their transition back
into the workforce and civilian life through hiring efforts and
multiple programs and resources. From January 2012 through March
2015, Comcast NBCUniversal hired approximately 4,200 veterans, and
in May 2015, the company committed to hiring an additional 10,000
reservists, veterans and their spouses or domestic partners over
the next three years.
About The Bunker:
The Bunker Labs is a national network of military veteran
entrepreneurs and innovators whose mission is to "Empower military
veterans as leaders in innovation". Headquartered in Chicago and
founded in June 2014, The Bunker has chapters in 8 other markets
with more planned. The Bunker Labs provides immersive
entrepreneurship training, professional networks, co-working space,
transition programs for separating service members, and advocates
on behalf of military veteran entrepreneurs. Visit
www.BunkerIncubator.com to learn more, apply to join, or become a
partner.
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and
technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and
NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video,
high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers
under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to
businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports
cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks,
television production operations, television station groups,
Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit
www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150629005696/en/
Media:The BunkerThomas
Daytom@bunkerincubator.comorComcast CorporationKatie
Lubenow, 215-286-5691katie_lubenow@comcast.com
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