The Basement LaunchPad
The Basement LaunchPad equips college and university students with the entrepreneurial skills they need to build lasting careers.
Skills needed to build a successful business – growth mindset, creativity, critical thinking, leadership – are the same skills needed to build a successful career.
The Basement LaunchPad gives students a platform to hone these skills so that they can be more competitive and confident in today’s job market.
57+
Companies formed
$10.5M
Total funds raised
12,500+
Unique students served
Why You Should Join
- Available to all UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students with a startup, small business, or social innovation idea, regardless of major or industry
- Tailored in-person and online curriculum
- Assigned mentor throughout the duration of the program for one-on-one advising
- Extended access to The Basement’s co-working space
- Access to a network of subject-area experts
- Priority use of The Basement’s Prototyping Lab
- Curated funding sources
- Proof of concept prototyping funds (subject to availability)
- Access to the Makerspace
- Access to the Office of Innovation and Commercialization Startup Toolkit
- Networking opportunities with UC San Diego and San Diego entrepreneurial community
- CCR and AIP 197 credit available
Program Overview
Map your way to Demo Day!
Fall: Develop Your Entrepreneurial Mind
• Identify real-world problems using a design thinking approach • Understand key traits of successful entrepreneurs • Test assumptions and hypotheses about the problem space
Winter: Learn Your Customer and Explore Your MVP
• Conduct customer discovery and development • Formulate and validate hypotheses about customer pains and gains • Build low-fidelity prototypes based on customer feedback • Begin testing for product–market fit
Spring: Refine Solutions and Refine Your Pitch
• Continue customer discovery and iterate on hypotheses • Develop and test MVPs with potential users • Clearly articulate your product’s value proposition and benefits • Strengthen your pitch and storytelling skills
Demo Day
• Pitch your startup to a live panel of early-stage investors for a chance to win cash and in-kind prizes totaling $50,000+ • Showcase your venture to the San Diego entrepreneurial ecosystem and compete for the $1,000 Audience Choice Award • Connect with industry and community members who can help advance your venture • Engage with hundreds of attendees from campus and the local community • Celebrate your entrepreneurial journey at The Basement
Application
Applications are currently closed.
Dates & Duration
Fall 2025 cohort runs from October 2025 - May 2026.
Fall 2025 Cohort Important Application Dates
- Mid-September: Application opens
- Tuesday, October 7th at 11:59 p.m.: Applications due
- Wednesday - Thursday, October 15th - 16th: In-person interviews*
- By Monday, October 20th: Final application outcomes announced*
- Thursday, October 23rd, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.: Mandatory onboarding for selected teams & Mentor Meeting
*All application status updates and next steps will be communicated via email
Important Program Dates
See below for important program dates for admitted teams.
Requirements
Application Requirements
- Have a startup, social innovation, or small business idea that you are passionate about pursuing
- Founder or co-founder (team lead) must be a current UC San Diego student
Eligibility
Open to all current UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing.
Curriculum
Team Requirements
- Participate in quarterly Pitch Prep Sessions
- Participate in Demo Day, The Basement’s end of the year showcase
- Meet regularly with assigned mentor
- Attend check-in meetings Basement staff
- Attend in-person quarterly meetings
- Complete team and individual assignments
Important Program Dates
Fall 2025 | Develop Your Entrepreneurial Mind
- Thursday, October 23rd, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.: Mandatory onboarding for selected teams & Mentor Meeting
- Thursday, November 6th or Monday, November 17th: Fall Virtual Pitch Prep
- Wednesday, December 3rd: Fall Innovator's Table
Winter 2026 | Learn Your Customer & Explore Your MVP
- Wednesday, January 15th: Basement Recruitment Fair
- Friday, January 23rd: Winter Innovator's Table
- Thursday, January 22nd or Wednesday, February 11th: Winter Virtual Pitch Prep
Spring 2026 | Refine Solutions & Develop Your Pitch
- Wednesday, April 1st: Spring Innovator's Table
- Wednesday, April 22nd or Thursday, April 30th: Spring Virtual Pitch Prep
- Thursday, May 21st, 4:00pm - 9:00pm: Demo Day & Pitch Competition
Earn Academic Internship Credit
AIP 197 credit is available for undergraduate students. Enroll with the Academic Internship Program.
Winter Quarter 2026
Internship Dates: January 5, 2026 - March 13, 2026
|
Application Deadlines |
Dates |
|
Submit Learning Agreement to AIP via InternLink |
October 20 - December 5 |
|
EASy Request |
December 12 |
Spring Quarter 2026
Internship Dates: March 30, 2026 - June 5, 2026
|
Application Deadlines |
Dates |
|
Submit Learning Agreement to AIP via InternLink |
January 6 - March 13 |
EASy Request |
March 20 |
Dates are subject to change. Stay updated by visiting:
Send questions about AIP enrollment to the Academic Internship Program via the Virtual Advising Center.
Co-Curricular Record (CCR)
UC San Diego has an official record called the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) which highlights student involvement and achievements in opportunities beyond the classroom. The Basement Launchpad program is CCR approved.
How to apply: Students can request the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) along with their academic transcript through the Registrar or print an unofficial PDF copy through the CCR Portal.