Grow Your Business in GSO
Launch Greensboro accelerates growth for local entrepreneurs and small business owners through education, mentoring and access to capital.
Entrepreneurship Programs
For more than ten years, Launch Greensboro has helped entrepreneurs and small business owners launch and grow their businesses. Our three education experiences, LaunchCamp, LaunchLab 101, and LaunchLab Growth have served thousands of individuals and hundreds of companies.
Explore our programs, held at transform GSO, and then let our team tailor a recommendation based on your business goals and objectives.
LaunchCamp
Level up your company with a hands-on weekend intensive that equips you with the tools and resources needed to start and build every part of your business. Participants build a framework to grow their business using the Lean Startup approach and test their value propositions and feasibility. For entrepreneurs at the Idea stage, or entrepreneurs introducing new products/services to their businesses.
Program runs several times annually: May 4-5, June 8-9, September 21-22, October 26-27, 2024
Registration is now OPEN for the October 26-27 LaunchCamp program. Click the button below to register to participate.
LaunchLab 101
Weekly meetings for 5 weeks held with support from experts to assist entrepreneurs while they set-up their corporate and financial structure, determine if they have intellectual property, develop customer personas and marketing strategies, and other requirements to start a business. For entrepreneurs just launching their new businesses.
Program runs twice annually: Spring (TBD), and July 29 – August 26, 2024
LaunchLab Growth
LaunchLab Growth is a 14-week entrepreneurship program designed to accelerate your business’s growth. With weekly meetings culminating in a Demo Day event, you’ll gain valuable insights on marketing, sales, funding sources, hiring employees, pitching to investors, and more. Each participating company is paired with a dedicated mentor, while interns offer assistance with growth projects. Objectives include evaluating your business, setting short and long-term goals, organizing finances, customer definition, refining your brand, and pitch deck creation. Connect with a diverse community of fellow entrepreneurs, fostering meaningful relationships and collaboration.
Program runs twice annually: February 19 – May 20, and September 9 – December 9, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the programs in-person or virtual?
Yes, the programs are held in-person at transform GSO (111 Bain Street) in a cohort model. This means you’ll be going through these programs within a group of entrepreneurs at a similar stage as you.
I’ve submitted my application. When can I start a program?
Our application is a rolling application, meaning it’s open year-round. Completing our application does not immediately place you in a program.
Once we receive your General Application, you will not need to complete the application again. You will receive an emailed invitation to the program(s) you are qualified for from Launch Greensboro 6-8 weeks prior to the start of the program. Within the invitation there will be a link for you to follow to let Launch Greensboro know if you are interested in participating or not. You will be notified within the following 2 weeks if you have been placed in the program or if you are on the waiting list.
In order to be invited to LaunchLab Growth, you will need to complete a separate LaunchLab Growth application. You can contact Kaitlin Conover, Director, for more the LaunchLab Growth application link.
What criteria does my business need to meet in order to qualify for Launch Greensboro programs?
LaunchCamp and LaunchLab 101 are for aspiring and new entrepreneurs and business owners. You are not required to have any customers or revenue to participate in those two programs.
LaunchLab Growth is for businesses generating at least $15,000 in Average Annual Revenue, has customers and product-market fit, and are ready to grow/scale.
Our programs are industry agnostics, meaning we welcome ventures of any industry, function or focus!
Is it required to attend every session of the program?
We have attendance policies for each of our programs. For LaunchCamp, you must attend both days of the 2 day program. For LaunchLab 101, you can miss up to one (1) session of the 5-week program. For LaunchLab Growth, you can miss up to two (2) sessions of the 14-week program. If you are unable to meet the attendance policy, we will defer you participation to a future program.
Does Launch Greensboro offer funding opportunities or grants?
Short answer – no. However, participants in our LaunchLab Growth program are awarded a small sum of money to spend on impactful purchases or professional services.
Launch Greensboro hosts an annual pitch competition, Capital Connects, that awards prizes to winners.
We encourage you to research Piedmont Business Capital, Carolina Small Business Development Fund, or NC IDEA as funding opportunities.
Can nonprofits participate in Launch Greensboro programs?
Our programs are primarily geared towards for-profit businesses. However, broader instruction and networking can help in any case. Schedule a meeting with our team to talk about your non-profit’s needs and how we can provide support.
A Look Inside Our Impact
See how we’re supporting entrepreneurs and our community.
Launch Greensboro served 431 entrepreneurs in 2023
Minority participants made up nearly three-quarters of the entrepreneurs who took part in our programs in 2023
We’ve reached hundreds of community members through our programs and initiatives
Upcoming Events
Entrepreneurship Initiatives
Build a business strategy that works for you using our expertise, community and resources.
Capital Connects
Our signature pitch event puts entrepreneurs and startups in front of investors and mentors, ready to provide the capital and funding needed to grow.
Learn more
First Launch Capital Fund
A seed-stage venture fund that drives economic development and job creation to sustain a more robust start-up community.
Learn more
TriadNavigator
Build your network and get to know Greensboro and the surrounding areas with our entrepreneur’s guide to connection, support and events in the Triad.
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Mentorship
Share your experience and support the next generation of startups in Greensboro and the Triad area through mentoring. Advise and coach early-stage entrepreneurs to increase their connections, expand their thinking and support their growth.
Learn moreSustain
What comes after LaunchLab Growth? An invitation to our vibrant community of alumni entrepreneurs, advisors and experts. LaunchLab Sustain supports LaunchLab Growth alums with connections, mentorship and education offerings like Sales and Operations training, specialized Launch ‘n’ Learns, and Strategy Scrubs to help them grow their revenue and employee base.
Meet our Alumni
“Having this community hasn’t just grown my business, but actually grew me as a person. Any entrepreneur would be doing themselves a service to try to build their business in Greensboro.”
— Falon Thomas, Founder & CEO, Onyx Ocean Technologies
Circle of Champions
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Forvis Mazars
Carolina Core FC