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CREATE-X
CREATE-X

CREATE-X Startup Launch 2027

Agnostic
Investment

$5K in optional seed funding and over $200,000 in-kind services

Deadline
Rolling
Applications
Open
Location
Atlanta
Duration
12 weeks

About this program

CREATE-X Startup Launch is a program for Georgia Tech students, faculty, researchers, and alumni who want to launch their projects from idea stage (or beyond) into fully functioning and viable startups. During the 12-week summer program, Startup Launch participants intern for themselves and attend sessions, team socials, and pitch practices. Teams receive coaching and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and notable Georgia Tech alumni and gain access to Atlanta's entrepreneurial ecosystem to prove product/market fit. Admitted teams are eligible to receive $5K in optional seed funding and over $200,000 in in-kind services. CREATE-X and Quadrant-i work together on Startup Launch, so the application is for both student and faculty founders.

Key Benefits

  • $5K in optional seed funding
  • Over $200,000 in in-kind services
  • Intense coaching from experienced entrepreneurs and business faculty; each startup gets a dedicated coach who meets with them weekly
  • Mentorship from industry veterans and notable Georgia Tech alumni
  • Pro-bono legal incorporation services from a full-service law firm
  • Accounting services from a CPA firm, including tax planning and compliance
  • 24/7 access to co-working office space (the CREATE-X co-working space in the Biltmore)
  • Access to prominent investors at Demo Day
  • Quadrant-i track: $10K commercialization grant for projects based on funded research from a Georgia Tech lab

Eligibility

  • At least one co-founder must be a Georgia Tech student, faculty member, or alumnus (other co-founders do not have to be Georgia Tech students)
  • Startups based on Georgia Tech IP are only eligible for the summer version of the program
  • A team is not required; solo founders can apply
  • Being incorporated is not a requirement to apply
  • An international (F1 or J1) cofounder does not disqualify a team
  • CREATE-X looks for Launch readiness (customer discovery done or a working prototype) and founder commitment (at least one co-founder full-time during Launch)

Program Structure

  • 12-week program that starts the week following classes
  • Two batches for 2027: B14 Spring 2027 (geared towards December graduates working on their startup full-time) and B14 Summer 2027
  • Week 1: Kickoff with full-day sessions
  • Weeks 2-12: Tuesday sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a guest speaker, lunch, and a workshop or small-group breakouts with your coach
  • Week 7: Preview Day, a mid-point showcase of the cohort's progress
  • Weeks 8-12: Showcase Video practice
  • Demo Day: a public showcase that attracts over 1,500 attendees, including investors
  • At least one member of the team must attend all sessions, team socials, pitch practices, Preview Day, and Demo Day
  • After the startup application, each co-founder must complete a separate Co-Founder Application sent by email

Program questionnaire

19 questions

What CREATE-X asks on its own application. Nothing is answered here, prepare these, then apply on their site.

  1. 1

    Does at least one founder in the startup have a Georgia Tech affiliation (i.e., student, alumni, faculty, employee, etc.)?

    Choose one

    If the answer is no, your startup isn't eligible for the program at this time unless you believe you fall into a special category (i.e., you won a Georgia Tech hackathon).

    Yes · No

  2. 2

    What batch are you applying for?

    Choose one

    The Spring cohort is geared towards December graduates looking to work on their startup full-time. Preference will be given to founders pursuing their startups full-time with no internships or classes.

    B14 Spring 2027 · B14 Summer 2027

  3. 3

    What is your startup's name?

  4. 4

    Is your company incorporated?

    Choose one

    Being incorporated is not a requirement to apply to Startup Launch and does not impact our selection process positively or negatively.

    Yes · No

  5. 5

    What stage is your startup in?

    Choose one

    Idea stage · Prototype built · 1 or more customer using it · 1 or more customer paying for it

  6. 6

    Briefly describe your startup in this format, "X will buy Y because of Z."

    Long answer

    ex. Outdoor adventure enthusiasts will rent a ready-to-use outdoor emergency device because they don't have to worry about setting up a subscription or safety in isolated areas.

  7. 7

    Briefly describe your market and target customer.

    Long answer
  8. 8

    If your startup has a website, provide the link to below

    Link
  9. 9

    If you have a product demo, please provide a link to a video here. This is not required to apply to the program.

    Link
  10. 10

    Is your startup based on technology developed in a Georgia Tech lab through funded research?

    Choose one

    Most applicants will answer no to this question, especially undergraduate and master's students. This primarily applies to Ph.D. students and faculty members commercializing Georgia Tech research. If you're unsure, select no and we will review it. Please note startups based on Georgia Tech IP are only eligible for the summer version of the program.

    Yes · No