Launchpad LA is a startup accelerator in Santa Monica, CA.
We offer each accepted company a $100,000 investment, free office
space in the heart of Santa Monica (one block from the beach) for four
months, a ton of perks and discounts, and most importantly, access to a
massive network of mentors, advisors, and investors.
In 2012,
Launchpad LA invested in 18 companies, 17 of which raised outside
capital – over $30 million combined. Launchpad LA is ranked the #5
accelerator in the United States by Forbes, has the highest median
funding rate of any accelerator in the world according to Seed-DB, and
is described by PandoDaily as “the top accelerator in Southern
California.”
Launchpad LA was founded as a mentorship
organization in 2009 with the goal of helping talented local
entrepreneurs build relationships, get funded, and grow while remaining
in Southern California. Launchpad LA began as a collaboration among the
area’s top VCs with a shared interest in seeing a robust tech community
continue to grow and thrive in Los Angeles.
From 2009 to 2011,
we accepted 23 companies into the mentorship program. The program at
that time did not invest in companies, take equity, or have an official
office space, but featured regular events and dinners to support the
participating companies. Of those 23 companies, 19 received outside
funding, and 9 have been acquired to date. In total, the 19 companies
that went through the mentorship program raised over $80 million. Their
combined exits exceed $60 million.
In late 2011, inspired by
the growing market opportunity in LA and the success of Classes 1 and 2,
the Launchpad LA team decided to raise a fund, open an office, and grow
into a full-blown accelerator in the model of TechStars or
Y-Combinator. Sam Teller, an LA native and local entrepreneur/angel
investor, joined as Managing Director, and several firms participated in
the investment including Rincon Ventures, Idealab, Baroda Ventures, GRP
Partners, David Cohen (founder of TechStars), David Tisch (founder of
TechStars NY), DLA Piper, and Stubbs Alderton. In early 2013, LA native
and local entrepreneur Jamie Kantrowitz joined as a partner.
