Launch USA
What鈥檚 your big idea?
The Melton Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is proud to introduce Launch USA 鈥� Big Ideas Challenge. This new program is a unique opportunity for teams and individuals to develop business ideas, receive funding, transform thinking and make an impact on the Gulf Coast community.
Who is eligible?
University of South 最色网 students, faculty, staff and alumni are eligible to participate as teams or individuals.
How does this work?
Following the application period, up to ten teams will be selected to participate in the inaugural program. Each team will receive an initial $2,000 stipend, contingent on the completion of certain milestones, to support their work on their concepts. The first milestone is the completion of the Launch USA 鈥� Big Ideas Bootcamp. This intensive training program will include sessions on intellectual property, business formation, digital marketing, market research analytics, nonprofit formation, prototyping, fundraising and much more. Following the completion of the boot camp, teams will be assigned a mentor to guide the continued development of their concepts. During this phase, each team will receive an additional $3,000 stipend to continue early-stage development and prepare their pitch. The program will culminate in August with the Big Ideas Pitch Competition where teams will present their business plan to a team of judges who will then distribute prizes up to $10,000.
Important Dates:
Bootcamp, Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Workshop #1, Tuesday, May 13, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Workshop #2, Tuesday, June 10, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Workshop #3, Tuesday, July 22, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Pitch Competition, Tuesday, August 26, 5:30 to 8:30pm