Have a Business Idea but No First Check? Apply to Launchpad

Most new businesses get their first funding from family and friends. That money pays for the LLC filing, the website, the equipment, and the first few months of getting customers. Plenty of capable people in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay have the skills and the idea but no one in their circle who can write that check.

Launchpad is a program of CodeBoxx Foundation built for those founders. It pairs a seed grant with a mentor who has been through the early stages of building something. Applications are open now to anyone 16 or older in the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay area.

You do not need a polished business plan. The application asks what you want to build, who it is for, how you would use the funding, and what barriers you have faced in getting started. An advisory committee reviews each application and recommends award amounts, and the CodeBoxx Foundation Board approves the awards.

Ventures that use artificial intelligence in their product or service are encouraged to apply, but an AI component is not required. Retail, services, creative work, software, and food businesses are all welcome as long as the idea is early-stage and you are ready to start.

"St. Pete doesn't have a shortage of good ideas or hard workers, it has a shortage of that first check," said Irv Cohen, founder of CodeBoxx Foundation. "Every business we help get off the ground means real jobs in this community."

If you are building something, or know someone who is, the application takes about 20 minutes and is available at here.