Veteran-owned businesses named to inaugural WeWork residence program

Eight local businesses have been named to the first ever cohort of Detroit Veterans in Residence, a business incubator for United States veterans. This is the first Detroit round for the national program, which is a partnership between Bunker Labs and the WeWork co-working space.

The entrepreneurs will receive access to the Campus Martius WeWork co-working space, which includes such amenities as high speed internet, business-class printers, conference rooms, and more. WeWork and Bunker Labs have also built a specially-designed lounge and meeting space for those enrolled in the program.

The first round of Veteran-owned businesses includes AGI Construction, a general contracting construction company; Dominant Approach Digital, a boutique digital marketing firm; GreenBeings, a provider of recycling services to commercial and industrial buildings; SeannLewis.com, an IT support and software development firm; The North Group, a company that provides safety, security, and intelligence services; Hero Homes, which teaches veterans how to generate income by becoming landlords; HorHaze Lemoné, a health-minded soft drink company; and Digitech Studios, a video and photography studio.

"Detroit presents a unique opportunity, one unlike any other community in the nation," says Thomas Typinski, chapter leader at Bunker Labs Detroit and owner of Dominant Approach Digital. "We're flying under many people's radars, even some Detroiters'. Veterans have an obligation to lead the way through this program by transitioning from active duty life to their next mission in civilian life: Entrepreneurship.

"Veterans have a unique skill set of leadership that many people don't possess. They have a responsibility to help rebuild the city of Detroit through their entrepreneurial dreams."

Any veteran or military spouse in the Detroit area is eligible for the Veterans in Residence program, organizers say. Click here to learn more about applying for the next round.

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MJ Galbraith is Model D's development news editor. Follow him on Twitter @mikegalbraith.