Launchpad Center for Accelerating Success

Updates

Posted on Dec 3, 2019

We're offering another great (free) 2-day workshop for teens on January 25 & February 1. For more info and to register: https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/events/launchpad-library-social-innovation-sprint-2

Social Innovation Sprint

Aug 10, 2019 – Aug 17, 2019

Over the course of two Saturdays (August 10 & 17), teens will work in groups to create innovative solutions to society's most pressing issues. Addressing the problem of food insecurity, students will learn essential design thinking and social entrepreneurship skills. Industry experts will be pres...

Posted on Mar 31, 2019

Check out this NBC story about our latest Launchpad Entrepreneur Bootcamp at Malcolm X Library!
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Boot-Camp-Trains-Teens-to-be-Young-Entrepreneurs_San-Diego-507833062.html

Posted on Feb 5, 2019

On May 28, eighth graders from Pacific Ridge School participated in a week-long Launchpad entrepreneurship experience introducing them to a range of skills, including marketing, design, development, research and more.

Through the workshop, students met with innovative thinkers, CEOs and communit...

Testimonials

a month ago

When I found LaunchPad (the first entrepreneurship summer program in San Diego), I found a great outlet for my passion of turning ideas into a real business. We were able to get great introduction to critical skills such as market research and business plan pitching, and talk to industry veterans to hear their insights. Central location of the program within UCSD campus in the midst of San Diego’s vibrant biotech scene also provided us with valuable opportunities to visit local companies/entrepreneurs and get close-up exposure. It’ll be a great starting point of my entrepreneurship journey! - Michael

- Michael Z

Empowering Teens to Build the Future

We introduce high school students to entrepreneurial thinking by utilizing the resources of the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego, and our startup community. This program builds bridges between teens, CEOs, city officials, educators, entrepreneurs, and the university. Through this initiative, high school students are inspired to embrace innovative thinking and benefit our greater community by creating enduring business ideas, connections, and increasing social mobility.

Launchpad endeavors to provide the opportunity for every student to access the power of youth entrepreneurship education, and to give those that step forward access to the ecosystem to empower and support them now and in the future. With studies showing as many as 46% of jobs for people 30 years of age and under being in the form of independent contractor roles, the need for the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, competencies, and resilience has never been greater.

Launchpad was founded in 2016 by Tina Klein, Ph.D.