Sharpen Those Entrepreneurial Minds
You will learn from Lilie faculty, staff, industry leaders, and your peers while joining a community of entrepreneurs looking to support each other. Whether you’re at the early stage of your venture or currently working on getting your first customer, what you accomplish in Launchpad will help you advance your venture to the next level.
During Launchpad, you can learn how to:
- Understand problem spaces and validate solutions
- Pinpoint who your customers and users should be
- Determine the size of the market that exists for your solution
- Create the most value for your customers
- Build a sustainable business model for your venture
- Test the viability of your solution’s MVP with customers
- Develop concrete and immediate steps to advance your venture to a pitch-able state
- Gain a sense of community and support from your peers
TIMELINE
Nov 20, 2022
Applications due
Nov 28, 2022
Acceptance emails go out
Jan 17, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 1: Customer Market Segments
Jan 24, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 2: Find Your Customer (Persona and Use Case)
Jan 31, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 3: Know Your Market
Feb 7, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 4: Value propositions and high level product specs
Feb 14, 2023
NO SESSION
Feb 21, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 5: Transitioning Value Proposition and Specs into MVP
Feb 28, 2023
5:30-7:30PM
Session 6: Customer Acquisition – Getting the First Users and The Pitch
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What to expect:
- Runs for 6 weeks, every Tuesday starting January 17th and ending on February 28th from 5:30-7:30PM.
- Takes place in-person at the Liu Idea Lab in Rice University’s Cambridge Office Building
- You/your team will be paired with a mentor based on the stage and industry of your venture.
- Every session will include time for networking, a hands-on workshop, and 1:1 time with your mentor.
- Dinner, drinks, and snacks will be provided.
Requirements to Apply:
- One application per team, completed by the lead team member.
- The lead team member must be a current Rice student. All backgrounds, areas of study, and degree programs are welcome to apply.
- A maximum of 5 members per team. You may apply as a solo founder.
- Team members do not need to be Rice affiliated.
- Must be able to attend ALL sessions. If you can’t attend all sessions, applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Must be working on a venture. The venture doesn’t not have to be fully launched to apply but must be more than an idea. This can be in any field and take any venture form (e.g., startup, , nonprofit, small business, side-hustle).
APPLICATION
Applications are now closed for Launchpad 2023