Launchpad LA

Great to be in Launchpad LA

Today Launchpad announced that we’re taking applications for our second class. I say “we’re” because, thanks to Mark Suster, I’ve recently been asked to manage Launchpad with Mark and Josh Roth.

When Mark asked Josh and me to join him, I immediately said yes. I believe that Launchpad has an incredible mission, an amazing community of VCs, tech executives and entrepreneurs, and an ability to change the lives of many southern-California based entrepreneurs each year.

I have been starting Internet companies in Los Angeles for over 15 years. With each success and failure, I learned the lessons of capital raising, hiring great teams, market timing and position, organic growth vs investing in scaling faster. I’ve built a large local network but it took a very long time. I was lucky. I raised money from Silicon Valley years ago and learned many of these lessons from up North because they live and breathe it everyday. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen the landscape of Southern California venture capital and start-up formation change. It’s been exciting to see. An LA-based company has a better chance than ever to take an idea and make it a big business. It’s still not easy and still requires A LOT of work.

For those exciting companies that are accepted into Launchpad, they are given just that: a Launchpad for their company. They get education, advice, and connections with individuals and companies that have already reached the level that they aspire to achieve. They get to directly connect with top Venture Capitalists in Southern California. They get help in avoiding the costly mistakes that are common when you just don’t know.

I’ve witnessed it firsthand. As a mentor in Launchpad last year, I helped an amazing company, AudioMicro, and it’s CEO, Ryan Born, navigate through its growing pains. I helped it connect with potential partners, work through its business model, and decide what path to take in fundraising. I was a small contributor to Ryan’s growth but Ryan also had a community to tap into that would have taken him years to build without Launchpad.

If you think you’re at the stage for Launchpad, I recommend you sign up fast. Applications are due on the 6th of April and we’ll be introducing the new class on April 15th.

Adam Lilling