What is Startup Launch?
Startup Launch is a 12-week accelerator that helps students launch their startups and go from prototype to their first customer.
Do all co-founders have to be Georgia Tech students?
No. We require only one co-founder be a Georgia Tech student, faculty member, or alumnus.
Faculty members looking to commercialize research are encouraged to select this option within the application, so that you can be routed into the Quadrant-i section of our Startup Launch program.
What do you require of teams accepted into Startup Launch?
At least one member of the team must commit to attending all the summer sessions, team socials, pitch practices, Preview Day, and Demo Day.
What resources do admitted teams receive?
You are eligible to receive $5K in optional seed funding, and over $200,000 in-kind services.
As a Launch founder, you will have access to the CREATE-X community, which includes our industry leading mentors, alumni founders, and access to our co-working space in the Biltmore. Each startup gets a dedicated coach for the duration of the accelerator.
What is the format for Launch?
- Week 1: Kickoff - includes full day sessions with foundational information for your startup
- Week 2 – 12: Tuesday sessions from 10a.m. – 1 p.m. This will include a guest speaker, lunch, and either a workshop or small group breakouts with your coach.
- Week 7: Preview Day – mid-point showcase of your cohort’s progress to prepare for Demo Day
- Week 8 – 12: Showcase Video Practice
12-week program that starts the week following classes
Demo Day – Public showcase that attracts over 1,500 attendees, including investors, political leaders, industry executives and potential customers.
What are Showcase Videos?
Showcase videos are a 1-minute video using our proven framework to highlight you and your startup. These videos are shared with Demo Day attendees. You can check out the 2025 cohort videos in the Demo Day archives. These videos will also serve as a valuable asset our CREATE-X team uses to showcase your startup to investors, mentors, and potential customers.
What is Preview Day?
Preview Day is an event during Startup Launch to showcase your progress and learn about the other startups in your cohort. This is also a chance to begin testing your elevator pitch and call-to-actions and make helpful connections.
Who are the Launch coaches?
Each startup is assigned a dedicated coach that will meet with them weekly throughout the accelerator. Launch coaches are handpicked experts with deep knowledge or first-hand experience of early-stage startups. Ranging from former founders to early-stage operators, our coaches bring world class expertise and coaching skills to help your startup progress.
Who are the mentors?
Mentors are a curated group of Georgia Tech alums and startup experts with a track record of success. Our goal is to match founders with at least one mentor during Launch that can help provide information, connections, or opportunities.
What do you look for in selecting teams for Startup Launch?
There are two primary things we evaluate for Launch. The first is Launch readiness. This is to ensure Launch serves as an accelerator for your startup. We define readiness as having conducted customer discovery to validate a market problem or having created a working prototype (duct tape solutions count). Traction is a bonus but not a requirement. The second is founder commitment. The expectation is that at least one co-founder will be working on your startup full-time during Launch.
I don’t have a team. Can I still get in?
Yes. While we encourage our founders to find a cofounder due to the lonely nature of startups, it is not a requirement.
What information should I have prepared for the application?
Find the list of questions in the Startup Launch application.
What if I have additional questions about Startup Launch or CREATE-X?
If you have any further questions, please email us at: create-x@groups.gatech.edu.