Launchpad

Lilie Launchpad

Six Steps from Idea to Launch

The Lilie Launchpad is a hands-on mentoring program consisting of six private workshops developed to teach students the methodologies and frameworks required to take a venture from idea to launch. The workshops are paired with small-group roundtables (or ‘shuttles’ as we call them) designed to facilitate direct and immediate feedback on your venture iterations as well as promote accountability throughout the launch process. The shuttles will combine in-person networking and virtual mentorship sessions with top entrepreneurs across the United States.

At the completion of Launchpad, students will have a fully developed venture plan and be prepared to compete in the Napier Rice Launch Challenge for a chance to win equity-free funding to take your venture to the next level.

Sharpen Those Entrepreneurial Minds

Students will learn from Lilie faculty, staff, and their peers while joining a community of entrepreneurs looking to support each other. During the program, students will:

  • Gain an understanding of how to solve problems and validate solutions
  • Pinpoint who their customers and users should be
  • Determine the size of the market that exists for their solution
  • Learn to create the most value for their customers
  • Build a sustainable business model around their idea
  • Access their minimal viable product (MVP)
  • Test the viability of their solution with customers
  • Develop concrete and immediate steps to take their venture to market
  • Gain a sense of community and support from their peers

Lilie Wants YOU

Registration Requirements:

  • Must be a current Rice student (all students are welcome regardless of classification or major)
  • Must be able to attend all sessions
  • Must have a problem in mind to solve. This can be in any field and take any venture form (e.g., for-profit, non-profit).

Mark Your Calendars

Launchpad will run for six weeks between Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and Wednesday, February 23, 2022. In accordance with Rice University guidance, sessions 1 and 2 (January 19 and 26 will be conducted virtually). We intend for sessions 3 through 6 to be held from 5-7PM in Lilie. Registration is now closed. For questions about Launchpad, please contact Lilie Entrepreneur-in-Residence Yelene Ioffe at yelena.ioffe@rice.edu.