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UCL LaunchPad
UCL LaunchPad
LaunchPad is UCL’s founder-building programme. Student entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs work on real industry problems, with mentors, partners and a Demo Day.
Student builders
60+
Industry and ecosystem partners
8+
Live industry challenges
10+
Cohort 01
Live now
What we are building
About LaunchPad
Every year, ambitious students graduate with start-up ideas and no clear path to mentors, capital or corporate collaboration. LaunchPad closes that gap.
Innovation Lab
A working studio where students prototype real products with real users.
Founder curriculum
Practical, sprint-based learning: from idea to MVP to first customer.
Ecosystem access
Warm introductions to investors, corporates, mentors and ecosystem partners.
Demo Day
An annual showcase for the top ventures, in front of investors and industry.
Programme journey
The programme
A structured, cohort-based journey with clear milestones.
Discover
Ideation sprints, founder bootcamps and problem discovery.
Build
Prototype MVPs with mentors, engineers and design coaches.
Validate
Test with real users, iterate and land first paying customers.
Scale
Investor readiness, corporate pilots and Demo Day.
So far
Activity so far
LaunchPad was officially launched on 10 July 2026 at UCL Rajagiriya. Here is what the first cohort has done so far.
01 · Workshop
Behavioural science
Kavinda Welagedara, founder of Cranial, led the first LaunchPad session on building products for people in the age of AI.
02 · Workshop
Sustainability
Nishanka De Silva, founder of the ZeroPlastic Movement, on turning a plastic problem into a scalable business.
03 · Workshop
Design thinking
Heminda Jayaweera of TRACE led a hands-on design thinking workshop for the LaunchPad cohort.
04 · Workshop
Branding and storytelling
Ali Shabaz of TSA Media on building a brand that stands out and telling its story well.
05 · Site visit
TRACE Expert City
The cohort explored the startup ecosystem at TRACE and saw how ideas become real-world solutions.
08 · Workshop
Innovation
An innovation workshop led by Ganga Iddamalgoda, founder of Gadfly Innovation and designer of the LaunchPad programme.
Why partner
Why partner with LaunchPad
First-mover access
Meet founders before they raise, hire or launch.
Talent pipeline
Recruit vetted interns, graduates and future intrapreneurs.
Innovation surface
Pilot student-built solutions to your real business problems.
Brand alignment
Stand alongside a globally connected higher education brand.
Thought leadership
Speak, mentor and judge. Build authority with the next generation.
Sri Lanka’s ecosystem
Anchor your innovation strategy in a fast-growing talent hub.
Partnership tiers
Partnership tiers
Tiers for corporates, investors and ecosystem partners, with room for custom, non-cash and knowledge partnerships.
Benefit
Ecosystem
Innovation
Founding
Price per year
LKR 500,000
LKR 1.5 million
LKR 3 million
Logo and brand placement
Yes
Yes
Yes
Demo Day invite
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mentorship sessions
1
6
Unlimited
Intern and graduate pipeline
–
Yes
Yes
Branded workshop or hackathon
–
Yes
Yes
Pilot project matching
–
3
Custom
Judge seat at Demo Day
–
Yes
Yes
Named programme track
–
–
Yes
Board advisory seat
–
–
Yes
Where we are going
Roadmap
2026: Cohort 01
Doubling founder intake and launching a corporate pilot track.
2027: Regional Demo Day
Opening LaunchPad to SAARC partner universities.
2028: LaunchPad Fund
A formal pre-seed vehicle for graduated ventures.
Non-cash partners
Non-financial partnerships
We work with mentors, knowledge partners, media and in-kind sponsors, as long as it moves student ventures forward.
Knowledge partners
Industry insights, curriculum and content.
Mentor networks
Founders, operators and domain experts.
In-kind sponsors
Cloud credits, tooling, venues and prizes.
Media and community
Storytelling, event and distribution partners.
Enquire
Partner with LaunchPad
Applications for Cohort 04 partners are open. Tell us about your organisation and we will be in touch within 48 hours.
Email us
info@ucl.lk. Tell us your organisation and partnership interest.
Call 077 411 0000
Speak to the UCL team about LaunchPad.
Industry partners
Other ways companies work with UCL students.