Learn and Launchs 2024 International Startup Summer Day camp kicks off on Arrival day, Sunday June 30 and runs until Saturday July 13 in Santa Barbara, California. The camp sessions run from 9am to 5:30pm and are hosted at the University of California Santa Barbara. Students stay on campus in the Santa Catalina residence halls. On the final day (Saturday, July 13) students will present their idea at an evening dinner event to a panel of judges at THE SANDBOX Goleta (69 Santa Felicia Drive).
The camp will jump start a student’s summer though entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership. The program will introduce the steps needed to create a startup or entrepreneurial venture and walk students through what is needed along the way to launch, grow and manage it. From idea creation to building a team, students will learn through projects, classroom sessions, visits to companies and discussions with business leaders, entrepreneurs and startup companies.
The camp will also introduce tools and techniques that students can apply to their own business idea, school project, leadership opportunities at their school, or volunteer experience opportunities.
Location: Our morning classes will be held at UC Santa Barbara’s Alumni Hall. Our afternoons will be made up of visits to companies throughout the Santa Barbara area.
Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Our kickoff session focuses on entrepreneurial practices with an emphasis on learning how to solve problems, find business ideas, evaluate the potential of the ideas, and how to recognize success. Exposure to the startup business structure and the uncertainties that exist.
Learning from Failing
Entrepreneurs consider failure to be a natural stepping stone to success. They celebrate failure, because they’ve learned firsthand that mistakes can be a great source for learning.
How Prototypes and Market Validation help build a better product or company
Learn to build basic versions of an idea to help you explain the idea and make sure there are customers who are interested in using, and paying for it!
Universal & Inclusive Design
Universal and inclusive design techniques are meant to help create products with everyone in mind. Whether creating buildings or developing products universal design encourages accessibility for the widest range of people!
Introduction to Business Models
A business model describes shows how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value for its customers. The process of business model construction is part of business strategy and is a sustainable way of doing business. The business model helps businesses survive over time and create a successful, perhaps even profitable, entity in the long run.
Introduction to Impact Entrepreneurship
A look at what it means to build an impact focused business.
Students will learn how mission-driven businesses solve social, environmental, or economic problems and/or create social value while also making money.
Building and Marketing a Brand
Creating a strong brand is one of the most important parts of business. In this course students will learn the elements of branding and how they apply to company culture, marketing and business success.
How Investment Works
Learn about the basics of the traditional investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, startup companies and small businesses.
Presenting and Elevator Pitches
Learning to present ideas and pitch your business are key skills or any entrepreneur. Using business ideas as a means for practicing your presentation techniques students improve their public speaking skills and gain confidence!
A Learn and Launch daily schedule packed full of hands on learning, guest speakers and company visits. Below is a sample of a single day in our 2 week program.
9:00am – Class session
Business Model Canvas
Students will learn what it takes to create businesses, and what components of the
business work together to make it successful.
10:00am – Business Model Canvas Workshop
Students prepare and present business model canvases for a number of existing companies. The workshop teaches them how to look at the important functions of a company and how focusing on specific details create revenue and success.
Students also get comfortable with
11:00am – Guest Speaker
12:30pm – Lunch at De La Guerra Dining Commons ($14 a meal)
2:00pm – Meet at busses for tours of local businesses
2:30pm – Visit to Company 1
4:00pm – Visit to Company 2
5:30pm – Return to basecamp for the end of the day
Companies and Organizations We Visit
