SUMMER

PROGRAM
GUIDE
Table of Contents
THE SUMMER PROGRAM 1
About LaunchX 1
Your Program Experience 2
Program Objectives 3
Format 4
Process Overview 5
How You Will Learn 6
Demo Day 6
Frequently Asked Questions 7

ADMISSIONS
Qualities of a Great Candidate
9
The Process
10
Summer Program Application
Admissions Do’s and Don’ts 11
Frequently Asked Questions: Admissions 12

APPLY NOW 14
The Summer Program

We're Ready for YOU

As the top entrepreneurship program for high school students, we understand that the value of the
LaunchX experience is more than just our course materials, speakers, and mentors (though we're
pretty proud of the awesome resources we've assembled). So much of the value is our students.

LaunchX has an unparalleled community of top young entrepreneurs coming together each
summer to start real companies. There is a need for community and innovation now more than
ever. Challenges present exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs, and we look forward to seeing
how you will envision the future.

About LaunchX
LaunchX gives top aspiring high school students the skills and mindset to start real companies.

Our program will help you to leverage your talents and tenacity to build a viable startup. We’ll train
you in the innovative thinking that allows founders to create successful businesses, challenging
you to take a real startup from idea to execution and impact.

We enable our high school entrepreneurs with the resources and network to unleash their
entrepreneurial spirit and start real companies.

Top Speakers Experienced Staff Leading Course Materials

LaunchX has collaborated
with top universities over the
years and is able to pool
speakers from these
collaborations and more!
Program leaders bring a
background of experience in
entrepreneurship and
education, often with previous
business training experience.
LaunchX has continually been
a leader in high school
entrepreneurship education,
such as with our top edX
course, workbook, and more.

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Age is Just a Number
Your Entrepreneurial Journey Starts Now
Our summer program taps into your potential as an ambitious high school student, supporting
you through the process of launching an actual startup.

You join a highly-curated group of promising young entrepreneurs from around the globe, learn
from industry experts, and leverage our leading course materials and support team to work
with your peer co-founders to build real products and solve business challenges in viable ways.

LaunchX isn't a business plan competition - students start real companies. These startups are
driven by using the design thinking process to discover innovative opportunities, backed by
extensive market research, multiple iterations of prototypes and user testing while gaining
traction through iterations and customer development.

A Step-by-Step Process A Mindset for Success Skills for Your Future

Identify opportunities, learn
about your customer, create
and test your offering, and
design your business
logistics.
Develop leadership,
communication and
collaboration skills, and
grit while navigating team
and product challenges.
Experience simulations,
case studies, team pitches,
and board room meetings
to build professional skills
and efficacy.

Your Program Experience

Bringing a real product to the market in just one summer is no small task. Your LaunchX experience
will be challenging. It will be intense. And it will be worth it.

The LaunchX online experience provides the same quality program and community, including
interactive classes, simulations, and speakers. You also receive top quality mentorship, check-ins,
progress tracking of your startup team, and support for prototyping. Each day, you’ll learn from
startup founders and industry experts who know first-hand what it takes to build a viable company.
When you're not in a zoom session or mentor meeting, you’ll work with your cofounder team
applying your newfound knowledge and skills to make continual progress on your company
throughout the summer.

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1
 Program Objectives
Your goal at LaunchX is to start a real company. As educators, our metric for success isn’t creation
of successful companies, but creation of entrepreneurs. That means we’ll help you develop the
entrepreneurial mindset to be decisive problem solvers capable of identifying opportunities,
prototyping and user testing to ensure a customer need, and pitching to get feedback and support.

By the end of the program, we want all teams to:

Have a clearly articulated problem they are solving

Understand their target customer

Test their offering through mockups and prototypes

Get real customer feedback on their offering

Develop a marketing and sales strategy

Get initial sales

Pitch their business and be able to respond to questions

Doing all of that well is a lot! But we also know what Launchies are capable of.

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Formats
Core Curriculum - The core curriculum goes through the entrepreneurial process. It will be
intense. And it will be worth it. LaunchX staff and outside professionals will lead you on the
entrepreneurial journey through interactive classroom sessions, workshops, simulations and
activities. These sessions require student engagement yet allow you to apply the lessons
directly to your startup. You will stretch the limits of what you thought was possible and learn
from industry experts who know first-hand what it takes to build a viable company. You’ll work
with your co-founder team to put these lessons to work—applying your newfound knowledge
and skills to take your company to the next level.

Guest Speakers - The external speakers allow you to do more of a deep dive into areas that
interest you, learn more on certain topics, or just hear more from startup founders, industry
experts, or university instructors.

Mentor Meetings - Meetings with guest mentors will provide you with individualized and honest
feedback. Whether challenging your business hypotheses, urging you out into the marketplace
to collect more customer data, or helping you refine your pitch, these professionals will push
you at every step to help your company grow.

Instructor meetings - Your team will have weekly check-ins with staff to ensure your company’s
high performance through effective communication and collaboration strategies.

Group work time - You will spend a significant portion of the program working on your startup
company. Many teams set up a daily meeting time plus allocate an additional ~2-3 hours work
time per day to make all of the progress needed for their startup.

Discussion groups - Spend time internalizing session topics and dive deeper into discussion
with your team.

Community and social events - We know how important the community is to the LaunchX
experience. There are additional sessions each week where you will be able to come together
with your fellow Launchies to share your interests, grow your skills with like-minded peers, and
have some fun.

“Logic will get you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert Einstein, Physicist

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Process Overview
The key to entrepreneurship is bringing together innovation with commercialization. That means a
lot of steps to identify the opportunity, validate it, and bring it to market successfully. No wonder
so many startups fail. We've developed a robust process, though, with the support of top
universities to increase your odds of success. Here is an overview of the entrepreneurial process
that you can expect throughout the program. Note: This schedule is not exact—some sessions
may change in topic and timing, but the overall flow will be the same.

Orientation
Identifying opportunities—brainstorming, filtering, and missions Customer
research—segmentation, primary market research, and personas Elevator
pitches—lesson and practice

Product/ market fit—determining customer priorities, differentiating

against competitors, and writing your value proposition
Prototyping—designing and testing your minimum viable product

Customer acquisition—building sales channels, branding, and design,

relationship-building, and networking
Entrepreneurial leadership—cultivating confidence and resiliency
Introduction to finance—pricing and projections
Iterating on your offering—testing customer behaviors, setting objectives

Business logistics—operations, company financial, growth and scaling

Pitching—crafting your pitch, pitch practice, and feedback
Demo Day—celebration of progress, pitching, and feedback for next steps

“I wake up every morning and think to myself,

how far can I push the company forward in the next 24 hours?”
Leah Busque, TaskRabbit

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How You Will Learn
Learning in the Zoom room
Learn from the people who have done it before. Whether you’re getting started with
product development or branding, our instructors are experts in their fields, including
guests from the entrepreneurial ecosystems and universities. The workshops and
simulations are interactive—requiring you to engage during the sessions and apply
the lessons directly to your business.

Learning from Experienced Professionals

Entrepreneurs need to be resilient—able to learn from their own failures and those of
others. LaunchX brings in seasoned entrepreneurs to share their insights and answer
your questions on market research, gaining traction, and scaling their companies.
Through founder talks and weekly mock board mentorship, you’ll learn from the
experiences of people who have been there.

Personalized Support for Your Business

Your team will have weekly check-ins with staff to ensure your company’s high-
performance through effective communication and collaboration strategies.
In the meantime, mock board meetings with guest mentors will provide you with
individualized and honest feedback. Whether challenging your business hypotheses,
urging you out and into the marketplace to collect more customer data, or helping
you to refine your pitch, these professionals will push you at every stage to help your
company grow.

Demo Day
The summer program culminates with Demo Day.

Our final pitch event is called Demo Day because the focus is on demonstrating and celebrating the
progress of your business while getting feedback and support to continue your company. While we
invite several members of the entrepreneurial and investment community, what your will accomplish
at LaunchX with your startup is far too early for an investment, so these are not investor pitches.
Instead, your objectives are to build interest in your startup, inspire confidence in your team, and to
solicit feedback that can take your company to the next level.

Teams will develop a pitch, then respond to questions live. Panelists will include mentors,
entrepreneurs, and investors. These experienced professionals offer feedback in addition to asking
questions of student teams that address the key objectives articulated previously., Evernote

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is LaunchX different from other entrepreneurship programs?

LaunchX is the top entrepreneurship program for high school students, with the most
established track record, most curated community of young entrepreneurs coming together
each summer, and best course materials. We bring together top resources of speakers, staff,
and curriculum with the support of university and industry partnerships. The format of our
learning experience is also more than just a summer program - think of it like an accelerator
meets startup conference meets summer program. You will learn from experienced
instructors, the steps to starting a company, and apply it real time as we push you out of your
comfort zone and set you up for startup success with a network of peers and mentors even
after you leave the program. We have high expectations of our students who rise to the
challenge to create something real and amazing.

How are co-founder teams formed?

Students work in teams of 4-5 to start their companies during the program. Once you’re
accepted into the program, we’ll ask you to share some details of your interests and
preferences to help us build well-balanced teams.

Should I have an idea for my company before I start the program?

No. During the program, there will be processes to help you develop ideas with your team.
It’s important that your idea is a fit for the passions and skills of every team member, as well
as relevant to current market trends and opportunities. While some students do come to the
program with specific business ideas, it’s important that you keep an open mind and are willing
to adjust your idea in order to arrive at something that your team is excited about.

Will there be homework or graded assignments?

Instead of one-off homework assignments, you’ll spend your time working on your business.
Some classroom sessions may require pre-work relevant to your business. There will not be
grades, but you will be given feedback on your business throughout the program.

“My best successes came on the heels of failures.”

Barbara Corcoran, Shark Tank

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will be the LaunchX Summer Program location in 2022?

The online summer program dates are June 20 - July 22, 2022. Expected commitment is full
time meaning 40hrs/week. Core sessions are offered multiple times per day to account for
time zones. Startup teams are formed taking into account geographic considerations, skills,
interests, and preferences.

We recognized that after the holidays many schools and events have shifted back to an
online mode of delivery as cases have risen higher than ever. After careful consideration, we
made a decision not to move forward with our campus locations this summer. We will
continue with our online program only, and ensure we provide an engaging and rewarding
experience in this safe environment.

If you’re a high school student who is ready to change the world, apply now! It takes all types
of entrepreneurial change-makers to come together, so if you’re an innovator, maker,
designer, dreamer, explorer, visionary, coder, marketer, or just want to start something real,
we want you! Take the first step today and start your application to LaunchX.

What are the logistics for the online structure?

Students must have a computer with Internet access that allows video streaming for the
duration of the program. Class schedule will be provided via Google calendar, with classes
held via Zoom video conferencing software for our interactive classes, plus a course
platform provided for course materials and submissions.

"Success is the progressive realization of

predetermined, worthwhile, personal goals."

-Paul J. Meyer

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 Admissions

Our summer program is as selective as it is rigorous. Read this section to learn about our
admissions process, the application, and the qualities of a great candidate.

The LaunchX team wants the program to be accessible to students who are admitted. For this
reason, our admissions process is need-blind, meaning that it will never hurt your chances of
getting in if you require financial assistance.

For information about program pricing and financial assistance, visit our website.

Qualities of a Great Candidate

Great applicants have a proven track record of working successfully with teams to create
exceptional impact. It isn’t about coming up with ideas—it’s about the work you put in to see them
through.
Entrepreneurial - You take initiative to push yourself outside of your comfort zone
Impact Oriented - You want to create real results
Committed - You pour yourself intensely into your passions and you persevere
A Team Player - You’re able to collaborate dynamically and put team goals first

*Notice that grades and awards don’t make the list! Yes, we ask you to submit your transcripts, but
this is the least important part of the application.*

“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before.

Growth and comfort do not coexist.”
Ginni Rometty, IBM

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The Process

Submit your Be patient while Await your

application we review! admissions decision

The Application
We want to get a sense of who you are, the goals you’ve accomplished, and what inspires you.
Our application is purposefully robust and diverse, giving you many opportunities to shine.

There are multiple possible deadlines for submitting your application:

Round Early Admissions Regular Admissions

Be compared against a Get more time to apply but

Differences small pool of applicants be compared against a
and get a decision sooner. larger pool.

See website for deadlines dates.

A select group of applicants from the early decision round may be deferred to the regular decision
round if our admissions team determines those applications require additional review.

Alumni Testimonials:
Hunter Habersaat
My LaunchX experience was very positive. I loved my
professors, classes, social events, and above all else
my team. I don’t think there was any better way I
could’ve spent my summer. Some of my highlights
were presenting my mini ted talk, receiving my first ‘yes’
to an interview, being posted in my local HOA
newsletter, and playing competitive uno with my team.

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Summer Program Application
General Information - The first section of the application asks for basic personal information.
We ask you to self-identify some demographic data. If you don’t see a fitting option, not a
problem—there is space provided for an open-ended response.

We also ask you to select if you will need financial assistance to attend the program. LaunchX
is need blind. This means that your family’s financial status will not negatively impact your
chances of acceptance in any way. This question will simply let us know to send you a financial
need application if admitted.

School Information & Transcripts - In this section, we ask for information about your school
and performance. Your grades and transcripts are the least important part of the application
and they have little impact on whether or not you’re accepted into the program, though they
provide some insight on your academic rigor and learning propensity.

Activities - Here, we want you to give us a sense for your passions, interests, and your ability to
create real impact. We want to see that you are motivated and action-oriented in pursuing the
things that matter to you. Show us that you are entrepreneurial—an ambitious and purpose-
driven self-starter who rises to the challenge.

Be brief! Include your role and explain the impact that you made and any metrics, but please do
not use this space for sentimental or philosophical reflection.

Entrepreneurial Baseline - The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Startup Teaming questions have
multiple choice and short answer questions focused on understanding where you would be at
the outset of the program so that we know the impact we make, plus the kind of entrepreneur
you are for potential teaming purposes. There are no right or wrong answers—there are many
types of entrepreneurs, and it’s important that we have different types in our program. Be
honest; we appreciate self-awareness, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn.

Video Introduction - Introduce yourself in a video of 60 seconds or less. Tell us what impact
you will make through entrepreneurship and why you are the one to do it. We want to see:

Self-awareness - Don’t just share facts about yourself, but share why these things matter.
Personability -The best candidates are able to balance confidence and humility when
introducing themselves.
Passion - We love to see you’re excited by what you do!

Innovator Portfolio - This optional section is for applicants who have done primarily individual,
longer-term projects in coding, making, or design that tend not to fit within the activities section
or require a visual of the project for better representation of the work involved. This section is not
for team projects, science fairs, business plans, or other events.

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Admissions Do’s and Dont’s
Show us the real you, including your passions, skills, and personality
Demonstrate the impact of your efforts. How many people did you get to
go to the event? Or, what were the total downloads of your app?
Be honest about your skills and impact
Be patient while you wait for your admission decision—we promise we
won’t forget to tell you

Worry that your grades will hurt your chances of getting in—they won’t
Email the LaunchX team to ask if we’ve reviewed your application—it may
take us some time to get to yours, but we will get to it
Track YouTube views on your video—their analytics aren’t perfect and will
only cause anxiety.
Be deterred by tuition costs—we offer financial assistance to students
who qualify

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain

way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Thomas A. Edison, Inventor

Frequently Asked Questions

How old must students be to apply?

LaunchX is for high school students; students in grades 9 -12 (or equivalent if international) may
apply. This means students going into grades 10 -12, or graduating during the summer of the
program are eligible. Exceptions will not be made for advanced middle school students taking
high school level classes, nor for graduated students in a gap year.

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How are applications reviewed?

Each application gets at least two reviews so that we don’t accidentally overlook any
qualified applicants. Applications that are submitted by the early decision deadline are
reviewed sooner than regular decision applications. Within each of these two rounds,
the applications are not reviewed in any particular order.

How will I find out if I am admitted?

Admission decisions will be emailed to applicants using the email address that you used to
submit and register your application. A small number of students will be placed on a
program waitlist. Please be patient if you are wait-listed—we will let you know if a space
opens up for you.

Alumni Testimonials:
Bailey Cherry
LaunchX provides a really unique experience when it
comes to mentorship. The ability to have mock
board sessions, team meetings and office hours
with instructors and interns is insanely valuable.
With everyone’s experiences and insights we are
able to receive so much feedback from a variety of
opinions. Plus, we are able to really form
connections with board members, instructors and
interns as well.

“If you had asked people what they wanted, they would
have said a faster horse.”

Henry Ford, Automobile manufacturer

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Apply Now

Your Entrepreneurial Journey Starts Now

LaunchX gives high school students the skills and mindset to start real companies.

Our programs will help you to leverage your talents and tenacity to build a viable startup.
We’ll train you in the innovative thinking that allows founders to create successful
businesses, challenging you to take a real startup from idea to execution and impact.

If you’re a high school student who is ready to change the world, apply now! It takes all types of
entrepreneurial change-makers to come together, so if you’re an innovator, maker, designer,
dreamer, explorer, visionary, coder, marketer, or just want to start something real, we want you!
Take the first step today and start your application to LaunchX.

apply.launchx.com

Connect with us

launchx.com

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