The Basement LaunchPad
The Basement LaunchPad seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping 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.
10+
Years in excellence
70+
Schools in the network
1M+
Students with access annually
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 Blackstone 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.