Learning Launchpad FAQs

What is Learning Launchpad?

The Learning Launchpad is an early stage social venture fund developing promising ideas into new ventures in the field of practical learning. We provide intensive hands-on support in the form of financial, intellectual and social capital to move projects forward. Part of Launchpad at the Young Foundation, our goal is to speed up society's ability to respond to changing social needs.

What do you really mean by practical learning?

Practical learning is learning by doing things for real, working with experts and integrating theory and practice. It is a doorway to the working world - easing the transition to adulthood for young people. We seek projects where acquiring skills and aptitudes for the world can be harnessed through experiential and practical opportunities.

Who is EDGE?

Edge www.edge.co.uk is an educational foundation and a 10-year campaign to promote practical learning. Edge engages with students, employers, teachers, government and the media, in order to change the way practical and vocational learning is viewed and carried out. Edge supports organisations and new initiatives that will deliver real changes and works with opinion formers, educationalists and policy makers to identify the key barriers and opportunities for change.

What are your criteria for projects?

We seek projects in the field of practical learning that impact upon young people aged 16-25. These ideas must have the potential to become independent ventures and at their heart be truly innovative. In addition these projects or ideas must have the potential to be sustainable - ensuring there is a viable funding route to continue in the future, and scaleable - with the potential to move beyond a unique starting location.

Many projects arrive with us without rigorous analysis of these sustainability and scalability implications. We prioritise developing and exploring the most promising ideas, seeking vehicles through which these elements can be fulfilled..

How do you select projects?

We initially engage with projects that fulfil our criteria in an informal manner - probing its elements, conversing with its founders and analysing the landscape it seeks to work in such that the Launchpad team can make a decision on the most viable projects to progress with. Decisions to progress with expressions for funding are made through internal Launchpad meetings once such an analysis of the project has been completed. If agreement is reached by the team, the project is taken forward to an investment committee meeting where a formal decision on the funding will be decided.

What kind of support can I receive in addition to funding?

We recognise that funding is always a critical element however for innovative projects there is also a need for clarity of vision, clear project direction and the ability to build momentum around emerging themes. The Launchpad team contains individuals with a vast array of backgrounds, all who may support projects to be realised - be it via hands-on or light-touch approaches. Launchpad's aim is to accelerate social innovations by helping new ventures to be realised. Projects therefore get individualised support alongside funding in order to provide the project with the best chance of success.

I have an idea - what happens now?

Please submit your idea via the website! A member of the Launchpad team will then contact you shortly to discuss your idea and its background with you.

If my project is approved funding, does Launchpad then own it?

No. Launchpad's involvement is to help realise the social venture. On occasions where there is an established team and intellectual property is a central element, a discussion about equity stake and partnership would naturally evolve - on other occasions, an agreement of partnership becomes the central model.

If I submit an idea - what is to stop Launchpad stealing it?

Launchpad wants to realise the most promising social innovations and with a small team we are best placed to support others to drive ideas into reality. As such, our preference is to work with idea originators to progress their vision. In some cases ideas may be submited to us where there is no team in place or the originator does not want to drive the project forward. In these cases Launchpad will explore the best approach to achieving social impact by bringing together a team or delivery partners.