Launch Pad

Activate your venture: The Tsai CITY Launch Pad is a 6-week incubator program designed to help early-stage ventures gain traction. Participants, whether founder or joiner, benefit from skill-building workshops, mentorship, and access to a vibrant community of innovators, providing the resources and support needed to grow ideas into impactful projects.

Hand with post-its and Sharpies

The Tsai CITY Launch Pad is an incubator designed to support Yale students who are gaining traction with their ventures. We work with founders, creators, and team members through hands-on workshops, guidance from Venture Development Coordinators, and access to a wide network of startup mentors. If you’re developing an early-stage idea or have participated in another Tsai CITY program and want to continue building your project or venture, Launch Pad offers the structure and support to help you grow.

Resources:

Participants in Launch Pad have access to:

  • A mix of asynchronous and live venture development workshops
  • One-on-one mentorship with early-stage startup experts
  • Support from an assigned coordinator who can help set goals, offer feedback, and connect you to resources
  • The opportunity to work with student joiners on your project
  • Access to Tsai CITY’s funding programs
  • Invitations to monthly dinner clubs with mentors and founders-in-residence
  • A community of innovators from across Yale

Application and Criteria:

To participate in Launch Pad as a founder, you must:

  • Be a current Yale student
  • Clearly articulate your venture idea and the problem you aim to solve. For example:
    • Show you’ve done basic research on your target customers and competitors
    • Share how your idea could be implemented sustainably over time
  • Commit to meeting monthly with your assigned coordinator

Additional Information

Launch Pad is part of Tsai CITY’s broader venture development sequence. If your venture already has measurable traction and you’re ready to dedicate significant time each week to advancing it, the Accelerator or Summer Fellowship may be a better fit. All three programs share a common application.