Educate, Build, Pitch.
LBS Launchpad is a startup pre-accelerator program that brings together some of London’s brightest minds to transform ideas into viable businesses.
LBS Launchpad London’s leading startup pre-accelerator programme. Our 16-week schedule is designed to give innovative, cutting-edge businesses the push they need to grow. It is a mentorship-based initiative that brings together leading industry experts and idea-stage startups, to provide a practical framework of inspiration, guidance, and support. LBS Launchpad is based out of London Business School, but is open to everyone.
LBS Launchpad is more than a pre-accelerator.
It’s an ongoing conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship, and business growth. Visit the LBS Launchpad Live page for curated content and inspiration. It’s fresh, practical, and free.
WINNER SPOTLIGHT - 2019
Cult Mia
CULT MIA is a digital pop-up platform founded by Nina Brener-Hellmund. It pulls out the most unique pieces from designers around the world and hosts them in a digital pop-up, open to shop for just two weeks.
The first rule of Launchpad is: You always talk about Launchpad!
Launchpad helped us form our team and gain clarity on our mission. We started with a broad goal - too broad! - and the Launchpad workshops and pitch sessions helped us refine our idea and gain valuable feedback on where to take it. The program also added structure to an otherwise freeform goal.
Mauricio Coindreau, Collaborator @ Ocean Bottle
Participating on the Launchpad programme was very beneficial for our start-up. The workshops, mentorship and guest speakers provided great guidance on how to conduct our initial steps. I believe this programme consists of much more than a final pitch night, so I would encourage participants to take advantage of all these resources available to transform their ideas into reality.
Sebastian Eblen, Launchpad 2023 First Runner up
LBS Launchpad is the best place to validate your business ideas with inputs from industry experts who share their valuable knowledge and experiences. It serves as a safety net to ensure that entrepreneurs set out on the right foot to thrive on their journey.
Huimin Tao, Glanect Ltd, Launchpad 2023 Second Runner up
About Launchpad
Launchpad is a 6-month immersive programme that brings together members of the London entrepreneurial ecosystem to turn ideas into viable products. Past Launchpaders have gone on to further their ventures at top accelerators around the world. Application for Launchpad 2022 Cohort is now closed. The cohort will be announced in early February. Reach out to launchpad@london.edu with any questions.
Ideate
Dec-Jan (Open to everyone)
Networking
An opportunity to be inspired by past founders, spark ideas, meet your future team and brainstorm with other wide-eyed innovators.
Pitching
Whether it is a formed business plan or a creative idea still in development, share it with the world in a 2-min pitch.
Team Building
Find team members to complement your skills, or join a team and help bring an idea to life.
Develop
Jan-Feb
Develop and define your business idea with practical workshops, from design thinking to business model creation. Delivered in partnership with our advisors from leading companies and networks within the London startup ecosystem, these workshops are designed to help you distil your business idea and turn it into a focused, convincing pitch.
End of February – Mid-term pitch
Build
Mar-May (10-15 teams)
Time to build
Accelerate and refine your business plan through workshops on product development, branding, fundraising and valuation. Take part in our mentorship programme and get insights and support from a range of successful entrepreneurs, industry experts, and angel investors, to guide you through your idea development and testing stages.
End of May – Final pitch
The finalists will pitch to a panel of VCs and entrepreneurs.
Launch
May onward
Onwards and upwards! Use your newfound connections and momentum to push your venture to new heights. The Launchpad ecosystem will always stay behind you, cheering you on.
We received more than 150 applications and selected highly 15 talented teams.
Despite the pandemic, we saw huge enthusiasm for entrepreneurial initiatives.
We paired each team up with mentors who are thought-leaders within their areas of expertise, and organized a series of workshops to help the team build their MVPs and launch their star-up ideas. Read on to learn about our workshops and meet our cohort of 2021.
200+ applicants, 23 teams, 8 finalists – So much raw talent.
We’ve dreamed up Launchpad to support and facilitate great ventures – but its success has surpassed our wildest dreams.
2020 was our best year yet, we drove huge growth in applications, raised in corporate sponsorship, and grew a mentor pool of 30+ amazing mentors. LBS Launchpad is on its way to becoming the most prestigious and well-known pre-accelerator program in London. Read on to learn about our workshops and meet our great innovators for 2020.
As a response to COVID-19 social distancing, LBS Launchpad pivoted into a digital format and Launchpad Collection quickly became our central hub for our entrepreneurs. Our extensive collection of resources is regularly updated with industry insights and practical workshops from entrepreneurial experts and thought leaders.
True innovation is only possible if we learn from those who came before us. Our mentors share their experience to inspire the next generation of game-changers.
We are fortunate to have partners and advisors from leading companies and networks throughout London’s startup ecosystem. Each partner brings a wealth of experience and practical knowledge to our participants as they move through these vital early stages of development. We are always looking to connect with individuals and organizations so if you Launchpad is of interest to you or your company – drop us an email at launchpad@london.edu
