Turn your idea into a business — with the people and the plan.
LaunchPad is Pivot’s comprehensive, AI-powered entrepreneurship program. A real curriculum, real mentors, and a real community — built to take you from “I’ve been thinking about this” to “I’m running this.”
Why LaunchPad
Most entrepreneurship programs either give you theory without traction, or hype without substance. LaunchPad is built for the in-between: rigorous enough to build a real business, practical enough that you can do it while holding down a day job.
You don’t need a trust fund. You don’t need an MBA. You don’t need to have networked your way into an accelerator. You need structured training, experienced mentors, modern tools, and a cohort who’s building alongside you. That’s exactly what this is.
The LaunchPad journey
A guided path from raw idea to real business. Pace yourself or move fast — the curriculum flexes to your life.
Clarify
Sharpen the idea, validate the problem, test the assumption. No pitch deck until the problem is real.
Build
Lean MVP, core offer, pricing, first sales. Working product, not theoretical product.
Launch
Go to market. First paying customers, first testimonials, first feedback loop.
Grow
Repeatable sales, simple operations, first hires or contractors. Foundation for scale.
What’s inside
Three things make LaunchPad work — and none of them works alone.
Structured training
Modular lessons covering idea validation, business fundamentals, financial modeling, marketing, sales, operations, and launch strategy. Watch, work, apply. You set the pace; the curriculum keeps you accountable.
Mentorship & cohort
One-on-one mentor conversations with experienced entrepreneurs, plus a peer cohort working through the same stages. Real feedback, warm introductions, honest critique. You won’t be building this alone.
AI-powered toolkit
Market research, competitor analysis, business plan drafting, financial projections, content generation — all AI-assisted so you can move at the speed of your thinking instead of at the speed of spreadsheets.
LaunchPad tracks
Same core curriculum, different on-ramps. Choose the track that matches your reality.
LaunchPad Core
For any aspiring entrepreneur. The full LaunchPad experience — curriculum, mentorship, AI toolkit, cohort. Open to first-time founders, career changers, side-project builders, and anyone ready to stop dreaming about their business and start building it.
No industry prerequisites. No business experience required. Just a real idea and a real commitment to move it forward.
LaunchPad EmpowerAbility
For entrepreneurs with disabilities. Every piece of the core curriculum, redesigned around accessibility. Adaptive pacing, assistive-tech support, accessible meeting formats, and mentors with real experience building disability-inclusive businesses.
You bring the idea and the drive. We bring the training, the tools, and a community that starts from “how do we make this work?” instead of “can this work?”
LaunchPad Healthcare
For healthcare innovators. LaunchPad built for founders inside one of the most regulated, most consequential industries in the world. Added modules on HIPAA, reimbursement, clinical workflows, and provider-side go-to-market — plus mentors who’ve actually launched healthcare ventures.
If your idea would make care better, cheaper, faster, or more humane — this is your track.
Who LaunchPad is for
This program is a strong fit if any of this sounds like you:
- You have an idea (or the inkling of one) and don’t know what the next real step is
- You’re working a day job and building something on the side, a few hours at a time
- You’re early-career or career-changing and want to go the entrepreneurship route with real support
- You’ve started and stalled once before, and you want to try again with a smarter approach
- You’re technically skilled but the business side is the foreign language
- You want mentorship and a cohort, not just a course
What you’ll commit
LaunchPad is free to apply. If accepted, you’ll commit time and effort — which is the real scarce resource anyway.
- Time: Plan on 8–12 hours per week through the active program window
- Engagement: Show up to your cohort sessions and your mentor conversations
- Work: Apply the curriculum to your business, not just study it
- Feedback: Give it to your peers honestly, take it from yours gracefully
- Completion: Finish what you start — future cohorts depend on it
Frequently asked
Do I need a business idea to apply?
You need a direction, not a perfected idea. If you’re at “I want to build something around X” — that’s enough. LaunchPad’s early stages are specifically designed to pressure-test and refine the idea before you invest in building it.
How long is the program?
The core curriculum is designed to move you from idea to launch within a focused window — typically measured in months, not years. Pacing flexes around your life; what matters is consistent forward motion, not calendar speed.
How much does it cost?
Applying is free. Pivot Holdings International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation — our programs are designed to be accessible regardless of background. We’ll talk about any program costs and available support during your intake conversation.
Do I need business experience?
No. Most of our participants are first-time founders. What we look for is commitment, coachability, and a real willingness to do the work. We’ll teach the rest.
What if I’m a veteran or rebuilding after a setback?
Look at Second Chance — it’s the same LaunchPad curriculum with tailored supports for veterans, returning citizens, and anyone writing a new chapter. Many people start there, then move into LaunchPad variants later.
What happens after I apply?
We review your application, invite you to a short intake conversation so we understand your context and your goals, and then we place you in the right cohort and track. If the fit isn’t right, we’ll point you to what is.
Ready to launch?
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start. Apply, tell us your story, and we’ll meet you where you are.
Questions? Email he***@*******tl.org or use our contact form.