The LaunchPad at UT Austin

PAID INTERNSHIPS??? Sign up for BASTA Discovery, a free program that connects students to over 275+ paid internships! Discovery offers free live virtual workshops with career coaches to help you craft a standout resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Participation?unlocks access to 275+ paid Blackstone LaunchPad internships?and a priority applicant tag in Handshake, making you more visible to top employers. Students with?paid internships are 2x more likely to land a great job?after graduation. Apply by 11:59 PM February 7th?to lock in your spot. You'll receive immediate confirmation and be among the first to register when new slots open in February. https://lnkd.in/emP9YWjs

5-Min Study Break: Apply for Discovery! ? Take just 5 minutes today while grabbing coffee or walking to the library to apply for Discovery. This career prep program connects you with expert career coaches and exclusive opportunities through Blackstone LaunchPad and BASTA. - Get 1:1 coaching from career experts - Build a standout resume and LinkedIn profile - Gain insider access to internships you won’t find anywhere else Act now— submit your application by 12/16 and secure your spot today! APPLY: https://lnkd.in/g7kam9Zc

Access hundreds of paid internships through Blackstone LaunchPad's Skills For Success Series - LaunchPad’s brand new online Skills for Success series is packed with interactive lessons, career-building exercises, expert insights, and more – whether you’re just starting out on your undergraduate journey or nearing graduation.??? Unlock hundreds of internship application opportunities when you’re done! Benefits: ? Discover the four key innovation skills needed for career success ? Improve resumes, prep for interviews and create your personal brand ? Hear expert advice from professionals who use these skills every day ? Unlock hundreds of internship application opportunities when you’re done! Access the series here! https://lnkd.in/gcTMCBYk

Career Catalyst connects Pell Grant and first-generation students from any university within the Texas LaunchPad Network to paid internships - $20/hr or more - in innovative and entrepreneurial companies such as: startups, corporate innovation, accelerators and incubators, lean nonprofits, venture capital, and investment firms. Selected participants gain access to: ?? Career Readiness Support: Resume development, innovation skills workshops, and entrepreneurial mindset programming to enhance their career readiness. ?? Job Opportunities: Access to open paid positions, regularly shared job listings, and sometimes direct matching with employers. ?? Competitive Compensation: If placed, participants receive a minimum of $20/hour, paid directly by the employer or subsidized by the program. Positions can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. ?? Hands-on Experience: Practical learning within startups, early-stage nonprofits, investment firms, accelerators, and more. One application gives you three tracks for securing a paid internship: ?? Track I - Student Sourced: Students can independently apply for and accept internships while participating in career readiness programming. If their position pays less than $20/hr, Career Catalyst will subsidize wages up to $20/hr, with a maximum of $3,500 per student per calendar year. ?? Track II - LaunchPad Sourced: The LaunchPad team provides regular internship listings from partner employers. Students can apply directly for these roles and receive wage subsidization for positions paying less than $20/hr. ?? Track III - Direct Matching: Some partner employers request direct access to student resumes. For these employers, LaunchPad staff will match students to specific roles based on experience, major, and goals, providing application information directly. These tracks are designed to maximize placement opportunities and access to paid roles. Participants can engage in multiple tracks and receive wage subsidization for more than one role, up to the annual cap of $3,500 per student. *Rolling applications for the Spring and Summer 2025 internships open now through December 6. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ec-DFuH2

Great businesses don’t begin with perfect solutions—they start with a deep understanding of a problem. Founders who focus on customer pain points and build with empathy are the ones who drive meaningful change in their industries. That's why businesses that start at UT Austin, change the world! #WhatStartsHere #UTAustin

Innovation Grant recipients unlock access to a panel workshop with expert founders, and a mentor mixer with industry professionals. Peep this throwback to last fall's funding and budgeting workshop. It was a packed house! Applications are open for Innovation Grants through September 30 at 11:59PM. Don't miss this opportunity to receive $250-$1.5K toward your career, academic, or entrepreneurial goals! Application link in bio.

The Mom Test is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and innovators to validate their problem-space without falling into the trap of biased feedback. By asking the right questions, founders can uncover genuine insights from potential customers and avoid the risk of building products based on false assumptions. It's about moving beyond compliments and digging into the problems, needs, and behaviors that motivate customers. At LaunchPad, we teach this skill in the IDEATION phase of the innovation journey. We encourage founders to master this skill early to test assumptions, refine their solutions, and accelerate growth. Thoughtful, honest conversations are the foundation of successful innovation. #UTAustin #entrepreneurialmindset # #Ideation

Co-work with us! The LaunchPad's coworking space is open to all students. You can work on your business, network with other student founders, connect with a mentor, and even host meetings. We're located on the first floor of the Flawn Academic Center (FAC). No reservation required, come on by! Co-working hours: Monday - Thursday, 12-8PM. Ps. We have free snacks. ?? #UTexas #hookem #longhorn #coworking

Meet Sensate ?? Co-founders Anna and Simi are undergrads on a mission, building discreet fidget tools for working professionals that attach to everyday items. Sensate Sensory Tools LLC provide neurodivergent and anxious individuals with a seamless way to fidget, enhancing concentration and relaxation in the workplace. This summer, the Sensate team was accepted into the LaunchPad's 16th batch of the SEAL Accelerator. SEAL is the capstone accelerator program at UT Austin designed for founders who have a validated concept and are ready to scale their venture’s operations, governance, and capital structure. Over nine weeks, the founders participate in bi-weekly seminars led by entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors. The program’s curriculum is carefully crafted to help teams "SEAL the deal" by preparing them to fundraise and scale. Sensate is shown here pitching at SEAL's final Decision Day, where teams present on stage at Capital Factory, announcing their fundraising strategies and planned pivots based on their summer learnings. #whatstartshere #whatstartsuphere #studentfounder #entrepreneurship #UTstartup

Fuel your dreams with a LaunchPad Innovation Grant! ?? Any UT Austin student can apply for these micro-grants, ranging from $250 to $1.5K to support their career, academic, or entrepreneurial goals. Funding can be used for professionals pursuit, including career readiness, resume building, gig work, side hustles, entrepreneurship, small businesses, startups, etc. APPLY: bit.ly/Grants24 Innovation Grant FAQs - ??? Applications are due by September 30 at 11:59PM. ?? Innovation Grants are awarded to individuals, not companies. The funds belong to the awarded student, who may choose to share them with co-founders at their discretion. ?? Multiple co-founders from the same company can apply, but selection is not guaranteed for all co-founders. ?? Students may reapply each semester, even if they have received funding in the past. ?? Grant funds may affect financial aid awards and/or have tax implications. Please consult with the financial aid office if you have any questions. APPLY: bit.ly/Grants24 #NonDilutiveFunding?#StartSomethingNew?#CareerReady?#EntrepreneurialMindset