Launchpad Center for Accelerating Success

Launchpad Center

Teen Entrepreneurship Programs

In partnership with UC San Diego's Pre-College Education

EMPOWERING TEENS TO BUILD THE FUTURE

Launchpad inspires teens to innovate and benefit our greater community by creating enduring business ideas, connections, and increasing social mobility.

We introduce high school students to entrepreneurial thinking by utilizing the resources of UC San Diego and our startup community. This program builds bridges between teens, CEOs, city officials, educators, entrepreneurs, and the university. We aim to match talent with opportunity.

Launchpad endeavors to provide youth entrepreneurship education to every student, and to give those that step forward access to the ecosystem to empower and support them now and in the future. With studies showing as many as 46% of jobs for people 30 years of age and under being in the form of independent contractor roles, the need for the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, competencies, and resilience has never been greater.

Launchpad was founded in 2016 by Tina Klein, Ph.D.

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Updates

Upcoming Programs

summer 2026

Online Immersion

Two introductory sessions + a new advanced course

Session 1 (Intro): June 29 – July 10, 2025

Session 2 (Intro): July 13 – July 24, 2025

Session 3 (Advanced): July 27 – August 7, 2025

Time: 9 AM – 12 PM PT

Overview

Three intensive, instructor-led sessions designed for motivated high-school students who want hands-on experience building and marketing new ventures. Each session runs 9 AM – 12 PM PT online with small teams, expert feedback, and a final pitch to mentors.

INTRO COURSE —

Business & Entrepreneurship

Format: Online | Mornings (3 hrs/day) | Session 1 & Session 2
Capacity: Max 35 students • Fee: $1,798 (includes instruction, materials, and online simulation)

Course snapshot
Learn entrepreneurship from UCSD faculty, startup founders, and community leaders. This hands-on intro moves beyond lectures: you’ll work in teams to design a business, run simulation rounds that mirror real company trade-offs, and pitch a polished sales & marketing plan to mentors and potential investors.

What you’ll do

Collaborate in teams to create a new venture and develop a market-ready sales & marketing plan.
Simulate real business decisions — financing, staffing, marketing spend, and inventory — and use outcomes to refine strategy.
Learn how operations, marketing, sales, and finance interact to drive growth and profitability.
Receive live feedback from UCSD faculty and founders throughout the course, and present your pitch to a panel of mentors.
Upon completion of the course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion

Who should apply
Motivated high-school students who want a practical, team-based introduction to building and running startups — ideal preparation for the advanced Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Lab (Session 3).

Next steps
Register for Session 1 or Session 2 to secure your place and qualify for the advanced course in Session 3.

Click here for a more detailed agenda

Apply here

NEW for Summer 2026

ADVANCED TRACK —

Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Format: Online | Mornings (3 hrs/day) | Session 3 Only: July 27 – August 7, 2026 | 9 AM – 12 PM PT
Prerequisite: Business & Entrepreneurship (Session 1 or 2)
Capacity: Max 35 students • Fee: $1,798 (includes instruction, materials, and green business simulation)

Course snapshot
Designed for students who have completed Business & Entrepreneurship, this advanced course challenges students to think like social innovators. Using systems thinking, design frameworks, and marketing strategy rooted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, students build solutions to real-world problems. Through a sustainability-focused business simulation, teams lead a mission-driven company and make strategic decisions balancing people, planet, and profit.

What you’ll do

Tackle global challenges using systems thinking, human-centered design, and social impact strategies.
Manage a sustainable business using the green business simulation, seeing firsthand how decisions impact financial viability and social outcomes.
Build and test solutions using lean innovation methods, impact metrics, and storytelling for change.
Develop a full venture concept including value proposition, business model, and impact framework.
Pitch your team's solution and business strategy to mentors, founders, and impact leaders.

Key learning outcomes

Design ventures that create measurable social and environmental impact.
Apply marketing and business strategy in mission-driven contexts.
Measure impact using real frameworks (Theory of Change, impact metrics, social ROI).
Make strategic trade-off decisions in a triple-bottom-line business environment.

Who should apply
Entrepreneurial students ready to go beyond profit-driven startups and build solutions that create real, measurable impact — ideal for future founders, changemakers, and innovators.

What you’ll walk away with

Real experience managing a social enterprise simulation
Mentorship and feedback from entrepreneurs and industry experts
The tools to lead purpose-driven ventures in college and beyond
Upon completion of the course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion

Apply here

Real World Class Project

In their first class, students will break into teams and come up with an original business idea. Over the course of the entire program they develop this idea into a business that they will ultimately pitch to investors. Along the way, teams need to develop a marketing plan and financial projections. By using an experiential learning approach, students will quickly engage in the topic, and the instructor introduces the underlying theory and concepts as students tackle these issues while trying to build their business.

On the final day of the course the teams present their products to an expert panel of judges who provide professional and informative feedback to the students.

Click here for a more detailed agenda

New video by Tina Klein

We are BIG NEWS!

Our recent program at the Malcom X Library was featured by San Diego's NBC 7.
Launchpad's founder Dr. Tina Klein was interviewed for a special on Joanie Connell's "Connected Women of Influence."

Launchpad Alum Wins International Entrepreneurship Competition

Using skills developed at Launchpad, Brett Kim onboards two classmates to develop Oikku: an app which builds and facilitates inclusive communities for people entering the workforce.

The team was awarded funding to further develop app by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) World Series of Innovation.

Check out the full article here!

Testimonials

“The kids were completely off the charts excited about what they accomplished and how empowered they felt to be speaking with “real-life business people." We had a couple breakdowns for some kids that were devastatingly nervous to present, but once they got up there they were all smiles coming to me afterwards telling me that this assignment has done “wonders” for their confidence. The results have been amazing. This event really brought out the adult professional in these kids…it’s going to have an impact for a long time."

- Parker Bush, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Instructor, San Diego Jewish Academy

"I recently had the pleasure of serving as one of the judges of a business plan competition among students of Francis Parker School. I actually forgot that I was observing high school students, as their level of preparation, thoughtfulness, creativity and presentation skills were akin to those seeking an MBA. The session made me realize how valuable this type of experience is for young eager minds. I wish I had had this type of early exposure and training while I was in high school. Launchpad is a wonderful resource, and I have no doubt that the experience will benefit these young adults as they approach college and ultimately their careers."

- Lisa Walters, Hoffert CFO, Daré Bioscience

“I liked the simulation and the exposure to this field. The simulation proved to test critical thinking problem solving skills within me, and the exposure showed me what a snippet of college would look like.”

-J., Francis Parker School student

“I enjoyed the speakers most of all, they provided interesting insight into the world of entrepreneurship and business.”

-H., Francis Parker School student