Assembly, the Launchpad Incubator
You have an idea you can't stop thinking about.
Testing it alone is slow, and it's hard to know whether it's worth betting on. Assembly gives you 12 weeks to test it with customers, with a cohort of founders and experienced operators beside you.
12 weeks · up to 20 founders · $500, no equity · in person in your city three times a year, or online every six weeks
Is Assembly right for you?
Assembly is for founders building high-growth software and AI companies who are exploring an idea, building a prototype or working on a side project. Conviction and coachability matter more than credentials or prior exits. You can start before you have a full team, a polished pitch or a product. Already launching, with customers or early revenue? Ignite, the Launchpad Accelerator, is built for that stage.
See IgniteHow Assembly works
One program, two rooms.
Build in person with founders in your city, or online from anywhere. Same curriculum, same mentors, same $500, and up to 20 founders either way. Online isn't a lesser version: it's the same program in a different room.
In your city
Meet in person.
Your cohort meets in person once a week for 12 weeks, led by your city's Market Ambassador. Each city runs three cohorts a year on set dates. The draw is the room: 19 other founders building beside you.
Online, from anywhere
Meet online.
Your cohort meets live online once a week for 12 weeks. New online cohorts start every six weeks, so you can start sooner, wherever you are.
Between sessions
Keep moving.
Between classes, Assembly OS holds your lessons and your cohort's work, and Gantry, our AI co-pilot (beta), turns your next step into real progress the moment you sit down to build, and connects you with the right mentor when you need one. Both are included for your 12 weeks.
A pace that fits a full life.
Every cohort meets once a week on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, morning or evening. With a two-hour class, an hour with your mentor and a short written update, that's about 3–4 hours a week. Many founders build on the side.
Start when you're ready.
Apply any time. Online cohorts start every six weeks from January 2027, and city cohorts start three times a year on set dates, the next in January 2027.
The Assembly curriculum
Twelve weeks, four moves.
Weeks 1–3
Validate
Pressure test the idea with real customers. Kill what does not hold.
Weeks 4–6
Build
Product, company structure, first hires, or first dollars.
Weeks 7–9
Sell
Go-to-market, pricing, early traction. Whatever growth looks like for this company.
Weeks 10–12
Stand Up
Fundraising readiness, leadership fundamentals, and the plan for the next twelve months.
What you leave with: a company, a pitch, and clarity on what to build next.
Elective · AI Builder
Not sure where to start with AI?
You've heard you can build a product with AI. But where do you start, and which tools are worth your time? AI Builder is four sessions that take you from your AI tool stack to shipping something real and using AI to reach customers.
Session 1: Your AI founder stack · Session 2: Building and shipping · Session 3: AI-driven go-to-market · Session 4: Product-market fit in the AI era
An optional elective for current Assembly founders and Assembly alumni, not included in the Assembly fee. Ignite founders get a reduced rate. Dates and pricing are coming soon; tell us you're interested and you'll hear first.
Interested in AI Builder?
Tell us and we'll be in touch when the next session is scheduled.
Your AI Builder instructor
Taylor McLemore, Launchpad Partner
Taylor has the experience and scars to prove it: co-founding AI startups, leading AI product development for growth-stage companies, leading AI governance for boards of directors, and venture investing in AI. He has built accelerator programs that have served more than 1,000 founders and has mentored and advised more than 500 startup leaders.
“You need people in your corner to succeed as a founder, and you want Taylor in your corner. He was one of our earliest investors. He understood our mission and appreciated how our approach to AI and scalable solutions would change an industry and the lives of our users. He backed us and helped shape our trajectory. I highly recommend you work with him should you have the opportunity.”
Hamoon Ekhtiari, Founder & CEO, Futurefit AI
“I had the opportunity to co-found Cloverleaf AI with Taylor, where we built an AI-powered company together from the ground up. Over time, his role transformed to Board Director and now as CEO Advisor. When I’m facing a tough call, he is top of my list for advice and input. From strategy and growth to navigating what it means to build in an AI-first world, he brings the rare combination of firsthand experience, strategic depth, and a practical understanding of how AI is changing company building.”
Adam Zucker, Co-Founder & CEO, Cloverleaf AI
“Taylor and I partnered to build an AI-voice agent system to scale customer success. We built the system to avoid the pre-AI scaling trap of ‘we must build a call center’, and we upleveled the customer experience based on the principles of hospitality and 24/7/365 availability. The product required the AI-agent to achieve 98% legal compliance when answering customer questions, and we met and exceeded that mark. The product we put in market proved that AI does not need to be robotic or cold, rather it can be empathetic and drive real-time solutions for customers.”
Will Ayer, Co-Founder, The Awesome Company
“Taylor has so many strengths, where to start... He was so thoughtful in the design of our accelerator, which was the first of its kind nationally. And although things were consistently running smoothly, he was always eager for feedback to make things better. He was generous in his offers for support and always followed through.”
Lauren Trent, Founder & CEO, AdvanceEDU
Choose your home base
Pick the room you'll build in.
Choose your city to meet in person, or choose Assembly Online to build from anywhere.
Starts January 2027
Greenville
Five cohorts deep. Up to 20 Upstate founders, week by week, at Launchpad's home in Greenville.
Meets Tuesdays, 7–9 AM ET
GreenvilleStarts January 2027
Columbia
Four cohorts in Columbia. Midlands founders build with Assembly Online, with new cohorts every six weeks.
Online, morning or evening
ColumbiaStarts January 2027
New York
Our second New York cohort: up to 20 founders, one room in Midtown, week by week.
Meets Thursdays, 7–9 AM ET
New YorkStarts January 2027
Los Angeles
Our first Los Angeles cohort, in El Segundo, led by Market Ambassador Chris Cloud.
Meets Tuesdays, 6–8 PM PT
Los AngelesStarts early 2027
Atlanta
Our first Atlanta cohort, led by Market Ambassador Brice Nsiangani. Up to 20 founding seats, launching early 2027.
Meets weekly, in person
AtlantaStarts January 2027
Online
The full 12-week program, all online, from anywhere. New cohorts start every six weeks from January 2027.
Meets weekly, morning or evening
OnlineLaunchpad perks
Build without burning cash on tools.
Before you have revenue, software and cloud bills add up fast. Every Assembly founder gets Launchpad perks for the full 12 weeks: 120+ negotiated perks, together worth more than $1.7 million (as of October 2026), from cloud credits to CRM, analytics, banking, legal and HR. When your cohort ends, stay on as a Launchpad member and keep your perks and your founder community.
See Launchpad perksWhat it costs
$500 total, no equity.
You pay $250 when you accept your seat and enroll, and $250 six weeks into your cohort. Nothing is charged unless you're accepted. Payments are nonrefundable once your cohort begins. If we cancel your cohort, or are unable to host it, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid, returned to your original payment method. Needs-based scholarships are available for the program fee, and you can request one in the application.
Assembly founders
In their own words.
“In the first 2 weeks we went from an idea in my head to a practical business solution with an addressable market.”
Markel S., Trustshield · Greenville cohort
“This Launchpad cohort has truly changed the course of my life. Thank you for everything. I will never forget this experience.”
Madyson S., ReFitMe
“From nothing to idea, to app, to company. What a strange trip it's been! Thanks for giving everything you got - we'll be sure to pass it on to the next!”
Jordana M., Mark 20 · Greenville cohort
Questions founders ask.
Do I have to attend in person?
Do I have to attend in person?
What if there's no Assembly near me?
What if there's no Assembly near me?
When does my cohort start?
When does my cohort start?
What does Assembly cost?
What does Assembly cost?
How much time does it take?
How much time does it take?
I already have customers. Is Assembly right for me?
I already have customers. Is Assembly right for me?
Do I need a co-founder?
Do I need a co-founder?
Do I need to be incorporated?
Do I need to be incorporated?
Do I need a technical background?
Do I need a technical background?
What if I have to miss a session?
What if I have to miss a session?
How do you choose who gets a seat?
How do you choose who gets a seat?
When am I charged?
When am I charged?
What if my cohort doesn't run?
What if my cohort doesn't run?
Last updated October 20, 2026.
Test your idea with founders beside you.
Apply any time, and hear back within two business days. City cohorts start three times a year, online cohorts every six weeks, and the next ones start in January 2027.