Programs

Skandalaris Launchpad

The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be hosting a 10-week immersive startup development program aimed at serving the WashU student and recent alumni community. This full-time commitment will take place in-person on the Danforth campus.

Incubator Cohort: The Incubator cohort will train founders as they test and learn their business forward; founders, with no intern support provided, will spend 10 weeks accelerating toward building a viable offering.

Accelerator Cohort: The Accelerator cohort is structured to enhance entrepreneurial skills for incorporated companies, providing essential intern support, processes, and technologies necessary to scale a venture.

Applications for Summer 2026 have closed.

Benefits for participating founders and startups

  • Full-time intern support for Accelerator cohort provided by the Skandalaris Center
  • Innovation Fund support for qualified technology needs
  • Access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and industry experts
  • Workshops focused on crucial business needs
  • Dedicated support for product development and market validation
  • Connect with a wide audience of supporters and potential mentors and investors at the Skandalaris Launchpad Expo
  • 24-hour access to shared co-working space

Skandalaris Launchpad 2026

Startups will be selected for the appropriate cohort based on a comprehensive application, interview, and potential references from faculty (or relevant stakeholders in the startup ecosystem). There are four key criteria we will be evaluating:

  • Venture: Evaluating how developed a product or service is at the time of application
  • Concept: Assessing how functional the prototype or offering is
  • Measurement: Qualifying how the team is measuring progress
  • Customer Fit: Measuring the team’s ability to find product/market fit

Eligibility

  • Current WashU students or recent alumni (graduated in or after May 2025), or current student at an identified STLREE university
  • Commitment to 40 hours per week working on your startup (Independence Day will be observed on July 4)
  • Business concept with potential for significant progress during the 10-week program
  • Attendance at all weekly required sessions on Wednesdays (12:00 – 5:00 p.m.)
  • Prepare for and participate in Skandalaris Launchpad Expo on August 5th.
  • Sign and adhere to a binding participant agreement upon acceptance into the program

Please submit one application per venture.

If you are a student interested in interning for a Launchpad company, learn more.

Important Program Dates

  • Friday, January 12: Application for founders opens
  • Friday, February 6: Application for founders closes at 5:00 p.m. CT
  • Monday, February 11: Summer Opportunity Job Board goes live
  • Monday, March 23: Last day for founder/intern matches
  • Monday, June 1: Kick-off breakfast and orientation
  • Wednesday, August 5: Skandalaris Launchpad Expo
  • Friday, August 7: Program ends

Frequently Asked Questions

Monday, June 2 through Friday, August 8. Independence Day will be observed on July 4.

The application will open on Friday, January 12 and will close on Friday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Intern matches should be made and communicated with the Skandalaris Center team, no later than Monday, May 5.

Feel free to contact startupsupport@wustl.edu with any questions. You can also stop by the Skandalaris Center or book a meeting with the Skandalaris Venture Development Team.

Interviews are by invitation only and will be held on a rolling basis between January 12 – February 6.

You will be notified within one week of your in-person interview.

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