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.
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 Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Independence Day will be observed on July 3rd).
- Business concept with potential for significant progress during the 10-week program.
- Attendance at all weekly required sessions on Wednesdays (12:00 - 5:00 pm).
- Prepare for and participate in Skandalaris Launchpad Expo on August 5.
- 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
Monday, January 5: Application for founders opens
Friday, February 6: Application for founders closes at 5:00 p.m. CT
Wednesday, February 11: Summer Opportunity Job Board goes live
Friday, March 20: 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 1 through Friday, August 7. Independence Day will be observed on July 3rd.
The application will open on Monday, January 5 and will close on Friday, February 6 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
When do I need to match with an intern?
Intern matches should be made and communicated with the Skandalaris Center team, no later than Friday, March 20.
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 5 - February 6.
You will be notified within one week of your in-person interview.