A programme like Launchpad is focused on early stage startups, taking them from MVP (minimum viable product) to the next stages of growth. Either by gaining your first paying customers, getting to your next 100 customers, getting investors and making your business more scalable.

What is the difference between an incubator and Launchpad?
Launchpad and incubator programs both support early-stage startups, but they differ in focus, duration, and the stage of startups they typically work with. Incubator programs tend to be longer-term, spanning several months to a few years and launchpads are meant to rapidly boost growth.

Each track takes place over a 3 month period wi.h 6 milestone phases.

How we meet:
The Kick-off day, Expert days, Investor Network day and Demo day are physical events in Amsterdam or other entrepreneurial hubs.

Program
For the duration of 3 months we will support you hands-on to develop your early stage business into a viable and scalable business.

Ongoing Support
After the 3 months, we continue to provide support via exclusive resources for founders who went through our program (investor negotiations, go to market execution, team building etc).

If you recognise yourself in (most) of the below, you should definitely consider applying for the program:

• It is important that you are currently working on your startup preferably full-time but at least 30+ hours a week.

• You are building a solution with a more-than-profit model, looking to create positive social or environmental returns.

• You are experienced or very knowledgeable on your subject matter/ industry.

• You can further develop your product or service yourself or have the right team at hand.

Criteria
+ Able to physically join Live days in Amsterdam
+ Already building or operating your startup with a clear proposition
+ Have a more-than-profit focus
+ Ideally with early validation
+ Some traction (sales, pilots, waiting list)
+ A unique founder journey (because of your why, where you come from or your capabilities)
+ If you have a team, real diversity matters

Exploration Stage: Founders who are trying to develop an idea for a business but are not sure which one.

Non-Scale: Founders who are not interested in scaling their business.

Non-Profit: We love non-profits! However, we are not the best resource to serve this type of organisation at this time.

Yes, absolutely! Though we understand not every startup will be at the same stage. Luckily we are a founder focused programme meaning that we will adjust the topics to work on with each founder individually to make sure you get the most out of the programme.

Click here to view the topics we can cover.

You will receive a more detailed overview once you are admitted into the program.

We aim to make the program as practical as possible for you, making sure you can immediately implement and use the resources and knowledge gained.

That said, this is an intensive, fast paced program intended to equip you for growth in a short period of time.

Between expert days, mentoring sessions, peer sessions & business development assignments you are looking at approximately 8-10 hours per week.

We are accepting and admitting founders on a rolling basis throughout March and April.

Selected startups will be notified by April 20, 2024.

Public announcement of the participating founders will be made on April 22, 2024.

Though we currently do not invest capital into the startups in our co-hort ourselves we do intend to do this in the near future as we set up our fund.

In the mean time, we make it a point to equip and support our founders in securing capital from external investors such as Regional Development Agencies, private investors and public resources.

Participation in this program is free thanks to the support of.Social Enterprise NL with funds from Google.org

We’re happy to answer!

Shoot us a message at launchpad@dnnl.org