What is LaunchPad?

LaunchPad is one of Stanford University’s most successful accelerators. Each Spring quarter d.school adjunct professor Perry Klebahn work with 10 new ventures to incubate and launch a real business in just 10 weeks.

Since 2010…

Featured Alumni

Alumni Companies 2010-2019

Over the years we’ve coached hundreds of founders to launch businesses in different industry sectors. Many are still operating, some have sold, and others evolved into something new. 

LaunchPad is not a class about entrepreneurship; it is an accelerator. It’s an intense, action-based program designed for those who are primed to build their business through action (not planning). Over the course of 10-weeks, teams will incorporate, develop robust prototypes, and find key customers and investors, and prove their offer viable.

Key principles of the program:

Sell First
Find your customer, sell them the offer, plan later (or never)

Experiment
Eliminate risk and uncertainty through experimentation

Support Fellow Teams
Collaborate with and help the whole cohorts success

Leverage you Vision
articulate your vision for you business quickly and routinely be able to inspire interest in others

Compost
Fail fast, learn and iterate faster than the competition

Accelerate
Get to market in 10 weeks, don’t have a boss this summer

Key differentiators of the program:

• Access to a vibrant startup network:investors, market experts, Stanford alumni, mentors, renowned incubators and accelerators (i.e. Alchemist, Y Combinator, etc) and work space in Silicon Valley 

• Get to market NOW - prove product market fit in 10 weeks

• Launchpad is entirely applied nothing is done that is not about getting your company started.

• This is not a class - it is an accelerator. Your startup is a business not a project in Launchpad

Some Materials:

For Students looking to apply - come see us at office hours!

Apply to Launchpad 14

If you're a Stanford student interested in launching your business during Spring quarter 2024, first a few considerations…

• You must attend two office hour sessions:

  Thursdays 10:00-Noon PST from Jan 8 to Feb 29, 2024 (NO Session Feb 1 and March 7)

• Additional Office Hours Sessions: Jan 31 9a-11a, Feb 28 9a-11a

  In the d.school bldg 550 - Bay Studio 2nd floor (only 2 floors in building)

  To prepare for office hours be ready with the founder’s hypothesis (above) filled out.

• Application for 2024. Due March 11 3pm PST will be posted in late January 24

• Class meets Spring quarter, Mondays and Wednesdays time 3:00p - 4:30p

• 4 units, letter grade or credit/no credit

We are looking for Stanford students from all schools who are passionate and have an overwhelming urge to start a business or launch a product or service. Please only apply if you’re ready for this big step.

APPLICATION LINK. Posted in Late Jan 2024

Opportunities for all to engage

Launchpad Venture Hub

Join Stanford University's adjunct professor Perry Klebahn for Launchpad Venture Hub— a unique opportunity for the broader public to learn methods for developing business ideas.

Visit the d.school website for event dates

Stanford d.school
Bay Studio, 2nd Floor

Night Launch

Night Launch will be the first opportunity for Launchpad founders to show their stuff, literally. Join us on May TBD, 2024 5:30-7:30 to experience the stellar products and services and hear the founder's mission statements at 6pm. You won't want to miss it! 

EVENT DETAILS AND TICKETS HERE.

Apprentice for Launchpad

If you're looking for experience working at a startup, apprentice for Launchpad!

APPLICATION WILL OPEN Winter 2024.

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