Blackstone Launchpad

LaunchPad takes student founders further, faster, by our three-tiered approach of:

Complementing existing entrepreneurship on-campus resources,
Catalyzing through connections to off-campus resources, opportunities, events, and networks, and
Convening students and staff at world-class events leveraging our industry-leading mentors, networks and brands.

LaunchPad complements UTMB’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studio and other on-campus resources.

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Techstars Entrepreneur’s Toolkit An online educational resource to help student founders learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and accelerate their success. Videos, content, and worksheets straight out of Techstars Accelerator programs.
https://toolkit.techstars.com

Techstars Talent Network Offer connections for students to internships and jobs within the Techstars portfolio of companies LaunchPad Catalyzes ventures by connecting students, trainees, and fellows with resources, opportunities, and networks.
https://jobs.techstars.com

LaunchPad catalyzes ventures by connecting students, trainees, and fellows with resources, opportunities, and networks.

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Techstars and Blackstone Mentors Student founders can access the Blackstone and Techstars networks for discrete challenge advisory sessions or on-going entrepreneurial mentorship.

LaunchPad Convenes students and staff at world-class events leveraging industry-leading mentors, networks and brands.

Blackstone page info

LaunchPad Startup Weekends Designed for students early in their entrepreneurial journey with no prior training or existing venture. An entrepreneurial experience (featuring workshops, training, sessions and pitch competitions) where students learn how to work in teams, start a company and develop a pitch in 54 hours. Multi-hour and a 90-minute versions of this signature Techstars programming may also be offered. (Fall)

LaunchPad Fellowship In this 8-week Fellowship, supported by Future Founders, up to 50 student participant ventures will be awarded $5,000 in grant funding to support their time working on advancing their startup companies. The Fellowship is largely self-driven, but includes weekly reporting requirements, a number of webinars, and a final report. (Summer - Fall - Spring)

LaunchPad Demo Day Annual showcase of the top ventures from across the LaunchPad network and provides students the opportunity to pitch for up to $75,000 in funding at Blackstone’s offices in New York City. The lead-up to demo day includes $10,000 and 10 weeks of mentoring ("LaunchPad Lift" in Spring or Summer) for 10 student founder teams with Techstars and Blackstone. (Fall)

LaunchPad Annual Conference Planned as part of Startup Grind 2021 in San Francisco, CA, LaunchPad’s annual global conference that brings together world-class speakers and subject matter experts from the Blackstone and Techstars networks to help early-stage student founders get the learning and advice they need to grow a successful business. (Spring)

Global Industry Gatherings From participating in Techstars FounderCon to pitching at the Consumer Electronics Showcase and presenting at Forbes 30 Under 30, LaunchPad student entrepreneurs have the opportunity to attend in some of the most high-profile global startup industry events around the world. When these opportunities arise, Campus Directors recommend students to participate.

There are so many ways to leverage the network.

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Techstars Affiliate Program Campus Directors can submit a referral for student startups interested in applying for a Techstars Accelerator.