Launch

Launch is a startup accelerator founded by Jason Calacanis in 2017. The accelerator provides a 12-week program for early-stage startups that includes mentorship, education, and networking opportunities. Launch is focused on helping startups succeed by providing the resources and support they need to grow and scale their businesses.

One of the key features of Launch is its strong network of mentors and investors. The accelerator has a network of over 3,000 mentors who are experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. These mentors provide guidance and feedback to startups in the program, helping them to refine their business models, improve their products, and overcome challenges.

Launch also has a strong track record of success, with several of its portfolio companies achieving significant growth and success. Some of the most successful companies to come out of Launch include Robinhood, Cruise Automation, and Notion.

In addition to its accelerator program, Launch also hosts several events throughout the year, including the Launch Festival and the Launch Scale conference. These events provide opportunities for startups to showcase their products, connect with investors, and learn from industry experts.

Launch is a startup accelerator that was founded by Jason Calacanis in 2017. The accelerator provides a 12-week program for startups that includes mentorship, networking, and education. The program culminates in a Demo Day, where startups present their businesses to investors and potential customers.

Launch Accelerator was created as an extension of the Launch Festival, which is an annual event that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the future of technology. The festival was first held in 2007, and it quickly became one of the largest and most influential tech events in the world.

Calacanis saw an opportunity to provide additional support to the startups that were pitching at the festival. He believed that there was a gap in the market for an accelerator that offered more than just funding. Launch Accelerator was designed to provide startups with the resources they needed to succeed, including mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and investors, access to a network of industry contacts, and education on topics such as marketing, fundraising, and product development.

The first Launch Accelerator program was held in 2017, and it featured 12 startups from a range of industries, including healthcare, education, and e-commerce. The program was a success, with several of the startups securing funding and achieving significant growth after the program ended.

Since then, Launch Accelerator has continued to grow and expand. The program has featured startups from around the world, and it has become known for its focus on early-stage companies that have innovative ideas and strong teams.

In addition to the accelerator program, Launch has also launched several other initiatives to support startups. These include the Launch Fund, which provides funding for early-stage companies, and the Launch Incubator, which offers workspace and support for startups in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Overall, Launch Accelerator has played an important role in the startup ecosystem since its inception. By providing mentorship, resources, and education to early-stage companies, it has helped to launch some of the most successful startups in the world. As the tech industry continues to evolve, Launch Accelerator will likely continue to play an important role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

Launch provides a 12-week program for early-stage startups. The accelerator is focused on providing mentorship, education, and networking opportunities to help startups succeed. To be accepted into the program, startups must meet certain investment criteria. Here are some of the key investment criteria that Launch  looks for:

• Strong founding team: The accelerator looks for startups that have a strong founding team with complementary skills and experiences. This includes a CEO with a clear vision for the company and a track record of execution.
• Innovative idea: Launch Accelerator looks for startups with innovative ideas that have the potential to disrupt their industry. The accelerator is particularly interested in startups that are working on solutions for large, underserved markets.
• Early traction: Startups that have early traction are more likely to be accepted into the program. This includes metrics such as user growth, revenue, and engagement.
• Scalable business model: Launch Accelerator looks for startups that have a scalable business model with the potential for high growth. The accelerator is particularly interested in startups that can achieve rapid growth through viral adoption, network effects, or other scalable distribution channels.
• Coachability: The accelerator looks for startups that are open to feedback and willing to make changes to their business model based on feedback from mentors and investors.

In addition to these criteria, Launch also looks for startups that are working on solutions to important problems and have a mission-driven approach to entrepreneurship.

• Focus on the founder: Launch believes that the founder is the most important factor in the success of a startup. The accelerator is committed to providing mentorship, education, and resources to help founders succeed.
• Bias towards action: Launch encourages startups to take action and make progress, rather than getting bogged down in planning and analysis. The accelerator believes that action is the best way to learn and improve.
• Embrace diversity: Launch values diversity in all its forms, including diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas. The accelerator believes that diverse teams are more likely to be successful, and it is committed to supporting underrepresented founders.
• Be mission-driven: Launch encourages startups to have a clear mission and purpose beyond making money. The accelerator believes that mission-driven companies are more likely to succeed and make a positive impact on the world.
• Have a growth mindset: Launch encourages startups to have a growth mindset and be open to learning and feedback. The accelerator believes that growth and improvement are ongoing processes, and it is committed to supporting startups as they continue to grow and evolve.
• Give back: Launch believes in giving back to the community and supporting social causes. The accelerator encourages startups to consider the social impact of their businesses and to use their success to make a positive difference in the world.

The mission of LAUNCH is to support founders and inspire innovation. This is done by organising free events, podcasts, books, and research products, and investing millions of dollars a year into promising, early-stage startups.

According to its Founder, Jason Calacanis, 

"A goal I had was to teach and inspire 10,000 people to be angel investors. I started that journey a couple years ago when my book came out. Now every week we’re adding 100 members to the syndicate, and if we’re at 6,500 or 7,000 we’re only 30 weeks — not even a year — away from having those 10,000 members. 

Of those 6,500 members, we have 3,000 that have actually done a deal! So, it takes time for people to place their bets and that’s why we have a really low threshold. People ask us why we only have an investment minimum of $2,000, when on other platforms the minimum is $5,000, $10,000 or even $25,000. It’s because we want more people to get involved, and we want them to learn without having to put too much at risk. These are accredited investors obviously, but when they can come in and make five or 10 deals at $2K and only put $10-20K to get their first five or 10 deals, they are going to... and learn a lot more without blowing a lot of capital.  I really like to see that. I take it seriously. I really want people to have a good experience."

Launch Accelerator has an impressive portfolio of startups that have participated in its program since its inception in 2017. These startups span a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, e-commerce, and software.

Here are a few examples of startups in Launch's portfolio:

• Robinhood: Robinhood is a commission-free stock trading app that aims to democratize access to the financial markets. The company has become one of the most popular investment platforms in the world, with millions of users.
• Cruise Automation: Cruise Automation is a self-driving car company that was acquired by General Motors in 2016. The company is working on developing autonomous driving technology that can be used in ride-sharing and delivery services.
• Notion: Notion is a productivity and collaboration tool that allows teams to organize and manage projects, tasks, and notes in one place. The company has become increasingly popular among remote teams and has raised over $67 million in funding.
• Scale AI: Scale AI is a platform that provides high-quality training data for machine learning models. The company has worked with a wide range of customers, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and has raised over $325 million in funding.
• Lambda School: Lambda School is an online coding school that provides training in software engineering and data science. The company uses an income-share agreement model, where students only pay tuition once they have secured a job.

Launch's portfolio includes some of the most successful and innovative startups in the world. By providing mentorship, education, and networking opportunities to these companies, the accelerator has helped them to achieve their full potential and become leaders in their industries.