Applications Open for Summer 2026
LaunchPad Academy

Give Your Child the Edge of Real-World Experience

We connect ambitious middle and high school students with hands-on internships at venture-backed startups. Not a simulation. Not a class project. Real work that admissions officers notice.

Our students intern at companies backed by

Y Combinatora16zSequoiaAccelGreylock

Everyone Has a "Project" Now

With credential inflation at an all-time high, traditional extracurriculars no longer differentiate applicants.

What No Longer Stands Out

  • 📄Self-published research papers
  • 🏢Self-started nonprofits with no traction
  • 🎨Generic passion projects
  • Activities without third-party validation

What Actually Impresses

  • 💼Real work at a real company
  • Third-party validation of skills
  • 📊Measurable business impact
  • 🤝Professional references & recommendations

Premium Access. World-Class Preparation.

We don't just place students — we prepare them to thrive.

The Network

Access to 200+ vetted venture-backed startups across fintech, healthtech, AI, and consumer. Companies that want hungry, talented interns.

The Mentorship

Every student is paired with a mentor from Stanford, MIT, or Berkeley who has navigated the exact path you're on.

The Guarantee

Every accepted student receives a guaranteed 3-month internship placement. No match, no payment. It's that simple.

The Team

Our team includes current students and recent graduates from Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and MIT who understand what elite admissions require.

How It Works

From application to internship in six straightforward steps.

01

Apply

Complete our quick application in under 15 minutes. Tell us about your interests, goals, and what excites you.

02

Vetting & Consultation

We review your profile and schedule a one-on-one call to understand your strengths and ideal placement.

03

Matching

Our team curates 2-3 internship opportunities tailored to your interests, skills, and schedule.

04

The Commitment

Once you choose your match, we handle all the paperwork. Payment is only collected after the contract is signed.

05

The Bootcamp

A one-week intensive training covers workplace skills, communication, project management, and startup culture.

06

Launch

Begin your 3-month internship with ongoing support from your mentor. Many students get extended or convert to part-time roles.

250+
Students Placed
97%
Top-20 Acceptance Rate
25+
Elite University Mentors
200+
Partner Companies

Success Stories

Real students. Real outcomes. See how LaunchPad Academy changed their trajectories.

PM
Priya M.
Software Engineering Intern

"Built a feature used by 10,000+ users. The experience was unlike anything I could have done on my own."

AI startup (YC W24)
Admitted to Stanford CS
DC
David C.
Growth & Marketing Intern

"Led a campaign that drove 300% increase in user signups. My interviewer said it was the most impressive extracurricular he'd seen."

Fintech Series A
Admitted to Wharton
AR
Aisha R.
Product Design Intern

"Redesigned the patient onboarding flow and reduced drop-off by 40%. Real impact, real metrics."

Healthtech startup (a16z)
Admitted to MIT
KL
Kevin L.
Operations Intern

"Managed vendor relationships and streamlined the fulfillment pipeline. Learned more in 3 months than 3 years of clubs."

Logistics startup (Sequoia)
Admitted to Columbia
ST
Sofia T.
Data Analyst Intern

"Built dashboards that the exec team uses daily. Having a real reference letter from a VP changed everything."

EdTech Series B
Admitted to Harvard
AN
Arjun N.
Engineering Intern

"The internship sparked my startup journey. I went from high school intern to YC founder in two years."

Dev tools startup (Greylock)
Now a YC Founder ($1.5M Seed)

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Launch Your Future?

Join hundreds of students who turned a startup internship into a top-tier college acceptance.

Apply for the Program

Scholarships available. No payment until the internship contract is signed.