LaunchLab Pre-Accelerator

LaunchLab Pre-Accelerator

Free. In-person. For WVU undergrads.

Do you have a problem you want to solve? A business idea you want to test? Not sure where to start?

The LaunchLab Pre-Accelerator is a free, 8-week program for WVU undergraduate students. You will learn how to find a real customer, test your idea, and build something worth pursuing. No prior experience required.

Applications Open Fall 2026

What Is It?

The Pre-Accelerator runs as two back-to-back programs.

LaunchLab: Discover runs four weeks starting September 22, 2026. You will define a real problem, identify a real customer, and figure out how to test your idea quickly.

LaunchLab: Test runs the following four weeks starting October 19, 2026. You will have real conversations with potential customers. You will build a simple business model from what you learn.

You can join Discover first and then decide if you want to continue into Test. Up to five spots in Test are open to students who did not complete Discover but can show they are already ready.

Sessions meet once a week for 50 minutes. Outside work is 2 to 3 hours per week.

Who Is It For?

This program is open to WVU undergraduate students only. We accept students from any college and any major.

You do not need a business background. You do not need a finished idea. You need curiosity and a willingness to show up and do the work.

We look for students who are coachable, ask good questions, and care about building something real.

What Will You Do?

Every week you will work with an experienced facilitator and a small cohort of fellow students.

In Discover you will:

• Learn how entrepreneurs think and act
• Find a problem worth solving
• Define who your customer really is
• Build and test a simple version of your idea

In Test you will:

• Read and apply The Mom Test — a guide to talking to customers the right way
• Have at least five real customer conversations
• Build a Lean Business Model Canvas from what you learn
• Present what you learned at Demo Day on December 3

Demo Day is a report-out, not a pitch competition. You share what you learned, not a polished startup plan.

What Happens After?

Students who complete the program and meet expectations may receive a warm referral to Vantage Ventures, WVU's accelerator for high-potential ventures.

Completing the Pre-Accelerator prepares you to apply to IgniteWV when Round 1 opens in January.

Funds are available to graduates who need support with legal, accounting, marketing, or other early-stage services. This is not a prize. It is a resource you can access if you have a specific need.

Your idea stays yours. Under WVU Board of Governance Rule 1.5, ideas created at LaunchLab remain student-owned.

Key Dates — Fall 2026

No Equity. No Fees.

LaunchLab does not take equity. There is no cost to apply or participate. This program exists to help WVU students build real things for West Virginia and beyond.

Applications Open Fall 2026
Applications open August 18, 2026. Check back then.

QUESTIONS?

Have a question before applications open? Email us at launchlab@mail.wvu.edu.