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APPLICATIONS OPEN EVERY SEMESTER

 

Spring 2024 Application Cycle: October 25 - February 2

Applying to the ZIP Launchpad

 

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2024 Sample Application

Applying with a Problem Related to Water? Click Here

 

 

  1. Apply at F6S - ZIP Launchpad
    •  As long as your application status is "in-progress", you can continue to make changes until you move your application to "finalized".
    • IF you move your application to "finalized" and want to make a change prior to the deadline, please email [email protected] and we can move your application back to "in-progress" allowing you to make further changes and improvements.
    • We recommend that you attend office hours and/or application workshops. Ideally, it is helpful if you do a draft application prior to attending one of these resources however it is not required.
  2. Get feedback at Idea Office Hours
    • We have idea office hours available with one-on-one help from ZIP Launchpad staff for improving your idea and application. The applicants who come in for help have a much better chance of being admitted to the program. 
  3. Sign up for an Application Workshop

    • While this is not required, it is highly recommended.  Teams that follow the process as outlined in the application innovation workshop are 60% more likely to be accepted. If the dates provided conflict with school or work, please email [email protected].

    • Follow the guidance provided in the Application Innovation Workshop including but not limited to completing at least 10 customer interviews.  
  4. Submit! 
    • If you've completed your application, don't forget to submit! ZIP staff can always reset your application if there are changes you'd like to add, but we don't review applications that have not been submitted.  
ZIP Launchpad will not accept ideas in the following areas: Cannabis, Alcohol, Gambling, and other areas by discretion. 

 

Non-Actionable Problems

We often receive applications with problems that are non-actionable. When the selection committee reviews applications they are seeking actionable problem statements.

To further help applicants understand what we’re looking for we’ve provided the following example:

A non-actionable problem statement for a ride sharing app would be “people cannot find a taxi when they most need one.”

It is non-actionable for the following reasons:

  • Can you identify people? No - it’s too broad of a term and represents the universe of all people. This makes it difficult to prove 100% correct.
    • Instead, hypothesize who do you think experiences this problem the most. 
      • You may hypothesize that it's “business people working in the New York Financial District.” This specific group would replace “people” in your problem statement. 
  • What does “when they most need one” mean? This is also broad and difficult to prove.
    • Instead, think “what is the acute pain point you hypothesize the New York business person is trying to solve”.
      • You may hypothesize that they “can’t find a taxi at rush hour, resulting in missing a critical cross town meeting impacting their credibility in the industry.”

Your new problem statement would be, “business people working in the New York Financial District can’t find a taxi at rush hour, resulting in loss of credibility/revenue.”

While this sounds very narrow, the key is to identify something highly actionable to investigate.  Through our program, we will help you explore and identify critical problems seeking solutions in the most effective manner.

Why Should I Apply to the ZIP Launchpad?

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