New group focuses on technology startup companies owned by military veterans

A small business organization for technology startup companies owned by military veterans is being launched in the Kansas City area.

The Bunker, which was started earlier this year in Chicago, on Veterans Day announced plans to open affiliate offices in Kansas City and six other cities nationwide. The other expansion cities are Austin, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Tacoma, Wash., and Washington.

The Bunker said its goal is to help veteran-owned startups find talent, connect with venture capitalists and other investors, and get mentoring from successful business owners and business school professors.

“With this program, we are making it a priority to promote and recruit our veterans to be leaders in our startup and business community,” said Sean McIntosh, the executive director of The Bunker’s Kansas City program.

McIntosh is a former Navy SEAL and 2007 graduate of the University of Kansas. He is also president and chief executive officer of Vetlaunch Inc., a crowdfunding service for military veteran entrepreneurs, their spouses and the military veteran community.

The organization hopes to recruit its first class of at least eight companies by early 2015. While it is seeking primarily technology companies, it will consider working with entrepreneurs outside the tech community.

The Bunker is looking for a long-term home. It is in temporary space at the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, 8527 Bluejacket St. in Lenexa.

For more information, go to www.bunkerincubator.com.

This story was originally published November 11, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "New group focuses on technology startup companies owned by military veterans."