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 2025 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 2025
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 2024), 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 6
- 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, click here to learn more!
Important Program Dates
Friday, January 17: Application for founders opens
Friday, February 14: Application for founders closes at 5:00 p.m. CT
Monday, February 24: Summer Opportunity Job Board goes live
Friday, April 4: Last day for founder/intern matches
Monday, June 2: Kick-off breakfast and orientation
Wednesday, August 6: Skandalaris Launchpad Expo
Friday, August 8: 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 17 and will close on Friday, February 14 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
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 17 - February 14.
You will be notified within one week of your in-person interview.