PART 2: Bunker Labs holding “Nashville Muster” on May 24 at The Wond’ry
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second article in a three-part series focused on Bunker Labs, which has an operation in the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and one of its client companies, also located in Nashville.)
By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA
The national Bunker Labs organization is holding a series of one-day programs under the banner of “Muster Across America,” and the Nashville event is set for May 24 at The Wond’ry at Vanderbilt University.
As was the case last year, Metro Nashville/Davidson County Mayor Megan Barry will participate in the opening ceremony.
Like all of the other programming that Bunker Labs offers, the Muster is designed to inspire, educate and connect veterans in ways that help them succeed as entrepreneurs. The May event will be the second annual Nashville Muster.
More than 200 people, including 100 veterans, attended the inaugural Muster in 2016 that featured 15 veteran-owned companies in a marketplace, 10 that pitched, and one that launched its start-up at the event. In addition, the participating companies generated more than $300,000 in investment capital.
Registration for the May 24 event runs from 12 noon to 1 p.m. followed by a four-hour block, dubbed “Idea Lab,” that will feature talks and panel discussions covering topics such as defense innovation trends, investment and talent landscape, and veteran social impact. The event will wrap up with live music and a reception from 6 to 7 p.m. arranged by two Bunker partners – Heroes Vodka and Mission BBQ.
As it does with much of its branding, Bunker Labs has adopted the military term of canteen to describe its social and networking space. There will be food available, but much of the focus will be on something at the heart of the Bunker Labs concept – connecting veterans with other ex-military entrepreneurs as well as successful business executives.
There will also be a marketplace where attendees can buy products from veterans.
The “Muster” includes pitches throughout the day where veteran entrepreneurs compete for the title of “top-performing veteran-led start-up.” Those pitching have already been determined, but there is still time for veteran-owned companies to apply to have a table in the marketplace. Here’s a link to the application.
Registration for the event is $19.99. To register, click here.
NEXT: A look into one of the Bunker Labs Nashville companies.
