How It Works

• Open application period of 6 weeks.
• Free to apply.
• NOT looking for “designs”, but rather problem-solving and innovation.
• Open to students, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, industry pros, and industry outsiders.
• Applicants submit a 5-page PDF covering the idea, market fit, approach, and potential impact.

• LaunchPad team spends weeks reviewing all submissions and filtering.
• LaunchPad team goes deep into each entry.
• We select the top 50 innovators.
• From the top 50, we then choose an ‘Elite 8’ based on:
• Problem they solve
• Opportunity created
• Scalability
• The innovator's vision, talent, coachability and avilability

• LaunchPad team works to ensure no talent or concept is left on the table.
• If you make the top 50, we will contact you to let you know.
• Each innovator outside the Elite 8 the LaunchPad identified with a good idea may be placed with an industry expert or professional to provide some form of consultation.
• There is no guarantee of engagment. This depends on the idea and person behind it.

• As we begin to select the top 8 we will reach out and schedule video interviews with a group we feel has the most potential and who are willign to put in the time and effort to move their idea forward.
• From there we choose the 8 to enter the next stage of our program.
• Top 8 innovators (the Elite 8) go through an intensive 8-week program to help them refine and build their ideas. *Most competions end here with an award – we take it to the next level to move ideas closer to reality.
• LaunchPad training and development suport is worth $250,000+ per person in direct consulting/education/building up.
• Each week, participants join 1.5 hr expert briefings on:
• Finance
• Business planning
• Footwear marketplace
• Supply chain
• Technology
• Prototyping and commercialization
• Intellectual property (including helping file for provisional patents as needed)
• Several weekly 1:1 sessions between innovators and selected technical experts helping with gaps or challenges needing solutions.
• Each participant leaves with:
• Their idea fleshed out
• A clear pitch deck
• A prototyping and deployment plan
• Investment/support asks

First public look at Elite 8 ideas and innovators:

• Private event with judges and select industry leaders.
• The top 3 are selcted.
• *The program continues for all 8 who wish to continue to commercialization.

After the elevation event, particpants can choose to continue to engage with the FIF and Liminal Group to build their ideas into a reality. We want to provide clear pathways to real commercaliztion in a way no one else can.