About Us
Become an Entrepreneur at the ZIP Launchpad
The Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad (ZIP Launchpad) is SDSU's FREE, extracurricular on campus incubator that supports SDSU students, staff, faculty, and researchers from all majors, departments and experience levels in launching their startup companies.
Within 2 years, participants can begin the ZIP Launchpad program with a passion to solve a problem and exit with a viable, growth oriented business. The ZIP Launchpad surrounds aspiring entrepreneurs with the support and resources needed to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality.
Each semester, all year long, SDSU students, researchers and faculty have the opportunity to apply to the ZIP Launchpad during the application cycle. Once accepted, participants embark on an entrepreneurial journey exploring the problem they seek to solve, validating their solution, building their company, and gaining traction all while surrounded by experienced advisors, mentors, and domain experts. Participants gain access to a weekly step by step programming, a wide range of domain experts, support and materials to create hardware and software based prototypes, up to 2 paid student interns per semester, up to $10,000 in non-equity funding, access to a co-working space, sponsorship to attend national business competitions, and more.
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Providing Value to Startups
Through the generosity of our donors, including the Moxie Foundation, H.G. Fenton
Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric, and in conjunction with support from SDSU,
these benefits are provided at no cost to admitted startups. A sample of benefits
and services are listed below:
- Access to the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab, which provides all the tools necessary for designing and creating a prototype.
- Mentorship and guidance from successful local entrepreneurs and executives
- Pro bono legal guidance from the law offices of Mintz Levin
- Access to investors
- Working capital grants for up to $5,000 to fund idea validation through the ZIP Launchpad Success Fund
- Collaborative work space open 24/7, housed in EISC 103
- Workshops around startup fundamentals
Apply to the ZIP Launchpad
How should you prepare?
Check out our different opportunities to get application help
Shredlights Class Presentation