Get involved with Launchpad
Founders can't do it alone. Find your place beside them.
Whether you're thinking about starting something, have hard-won lessons to share, or want to put your organization behind founders, there's a role here with a clear next step.
Ways to get involved
If you're building
Aspiring founder
You have an idea, or the itch to start something. Assembly gives you 12 weeks to test it with customers. Not ready yet? Join the free community and come to Founder Friday.
Start with AssemblyFounder or co-founder
You're building now. Find the program that fits your stage: Assembly for an idea or side project, Ignite if you're launching.
Compare the programsIf you want to help founders
Ignite advisor
Compensated, equity-sharing advisors who work in depth with Ignite founders. A high bar, by invitation.
Join the Ignite Advisor NetworkCommunity supporter
Cheer founders on, come to events, and stay in the loop. Free, with a paid membership.
Join the communitySponsor
Put your organization behind a cohort or event and meet founders early. Or introduce us to a company that should.
Become a sponsorGovernment and economic development
Grow your region's startup ecosystem with a program founders can join now.
Partner on your startup ecosystemService provider
Offer founders a fair deal on legal, accounting, software or other services they need.
Offer services to foundersEarly-stage talent
Want to work somewhere you can see your impact? Meet startups that are hiring.
Work at a Launchpad startupStartup investor
First Light Fund is Launchpad's pre-seed fund for companies built by Launchpad founders.
See First Light FundMentor
Help a founder skip a few hard lessons.
Mentors meet with Assembly cohorts in person or online, from anywhere in the US. Founders who've built companies and subject-matter experts are both welcome.
Time: a handful of hours per cohort phase, scaled to your bandwidth.
Format: cohort sessions, one-on-one founder time, and help when founders ask.
What you get back: relationships with founders, a front-row view of what they're building, and standing in the Launchpad network.
Ignite Advisor Network
Work in depth with founders who are launching.
Ignite advisors are compensated and share in the equity Ignite earns. They work hands-on with a founder when a specific challenge calls for them, from product-market fit to fundraising to scaling.
The bar is high: we look for people who've done the work before. Tell us about yourself, and we'll reach out if there's a fit.
Community supporter
Two ways to stay close to founders.
Community, free.
The newsletter, public events like Founder Friday and graduations, and every way to get involved on this page.
See community eventsLaunchpad Membership.
The online community, member-only sessions and mentor office hours, the workshop archive, Launchpad perks and member pricing on events.
See Launchpad MembershipSponsor
Put your name behind founders.
Sponsors back a cohort, an event, or the community as a whole, and meet founders early.
You'd be backing a network of 190+ founders across 13 cohorts in Greenville, Columbia, New York, Los Angeles and online. Today's sponsors include Taft, Rho and Carta. Tell us what you'd like to support, and we'll shape it together.
Know a company that should sponsor founders? Introduce us.
Tell us who to talk to and why they'd be a fit. We'll take it from there, and we'll let you know how it goes.
Service provider
Offer founders a fair deal.
Founders need lawyers, accountants, developers and more, at prices that work early on. Offer Launchpad founders a reduced rate or a perk.
Early-stage talent
Join a startup while it's still small.
Launchpad founders hire for roles where one person can change the company. Tell us what you do, and we'll share your interest with founders who are hiring.