OUTSTANDING CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP AWARD NOMINEE Q&A

Capitol Post
Non-profit Nominee
Emily McMahan, Executive Director 

1. What is your mission and vision? 
Capitol Post is a 501(c)(3) organization that teaches military veterans and their spouses how to think and act like entrepreneurs, to the benefit of their own businesses or their employer’s. Capitol Post provides the coaching, business acceleration programs and network, and office space to test, derisk, and achieve their goals. As the hub of the veteran business community in the great Washington DC region, Capitol Post is also the home of Bunker Labs DC, a national 501(c)(3) organization built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation. 
 
2. How does your organization achieve its mission? 
How We Do What We Do: Programs, Network Events, and Co-Working/Meeting Space.

Programs. Our Founders Program focuses on starting a business with peer networks, subject-matter experts, accountability, and training through education/validation and networks/exposure. Our Founders Program also manages the local Bunker Labs DC chapter and comprises the following:

• Education & Validation:
  • 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring. Our sixty-minute 1:1 counseling sessions pair veterans with our staff and subject-matter experts and assist them in developing a roadmap for their next steps in business. (Founders Membership)
  • Startup School. Our nine-week program where veterans and their spouses can test their ideas, accelerate, and build their businesses with expert thought leaders, mentors, and professionals. This program culminates with a pitch competition and a $3,500 cash prize. (Founders Membership)
  • Launch Lab Online. (Offered by Bunker Labs at no cost- Founders Membership not required required)
• Network & Exposure:
  • Founder Forum. Five hand-selected founders meet monthly (90 minutes) for five months to test ideas, accelerate, and build their business with experts, mentors, and professionals (Founders Membership)
  • Industry Working Groups. A monthly 60-minute working-style meeting where companies from specific industries gather to discuss best practices and challenges (Founders Membership)

 
Events. Creating the atmosphere for veterans to get feedback and develop relationships with DMV business community through events and activities. 

• Caffeine Canteen. A bi-monthly coffee at Capitol Post where the veteran business community gathers to meet other Capitol Post members and engage with local business community (no cost - open to all)
• Bunker Brews (Bunker Labs). A monthly meet-up in greater DMV where veterans and the broader community alike can network with mentors, subject matter experts, investors and thought leaders creating a robust community environment for networking and exposure. (no cost – open to all)
• The Muster DC. Our one-afternoon gathering every March that provides the perfect environment for military veterans and spouses to share their businesses with local experts, investors, and connectors to get feedback and create relationships with the Washington DC business community to scale their businesses and impact the region's economic growth. Held by every Bunker Labs city across the county. (no cost to Founders Members and active duty).

Space (Co-Working & Meeting).
Our 4k square foot modern coworking space in Alexandria, Virginia serves as the hub for the veteran business community here in DC.

• Our space has conference rooms, WIFI, a business address and mailbox, business books, resources such as GovTribe, and co-location with the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and the Alexandria Small Business Development Center.
  
• We are the home to more than 30 veteran-owned companies.
  
• We also host meetings and off-sites for organizations such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, Honor Flight, No One Left Behind, the Mission Continues, Got Your Six, Team Red White and Blue (RWB), Hivers and Strivers, and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

3. How have your programs directly impacted the regional community? 
In 2017, Capitol Post has: 

• spent over 150 hours in 1:1 mentorship and development for veteran companies and startups
• Has provided assistance to over 90 companies
• Made over 200 new connections in the community

4. What inspires or drives your team to stay committed to your mission? 
There are over 300,000 veterans living in the Washington DC region, with Alexandria and Arlington, VA being ranked as the 1st and 2nd best cities for veterans to live in the U.S. After World War II, 49 percent of veterans went on to start and own their own businesses, according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. Today, 25 percent of active duty service members express an interest in starting and owning their own business, yet only 4.5 percent of post-9/11 veterans have started a business. The skills and work ethic developed in the military translates exceptionally well into entrepreneurship. We are excited to see the companies that come through our programs succeed and flourish and we are driven by the 20%+ of veterans still out there looking to start a business but not knowing where or how to begin.  
 
5. What advice would you give to other nonprofits trying to make an impact in their community? 
Seek out supporters in your network. You can never get too much feedback or advice. Keep testing and working your organization to see what ultimately fits the need of those you are serving.