The CASE Launch Pad Award recognizes a Duke MBA student or team working on an idea or venture to address a social challenge. Each annual winner receives a $10,000 grant and coaching from CASE’s staff and global network of impact enterprise leaders and investors. The Launch Pad Award recognizes solutions at any venture stage, including:
- Investigation Stage: You do not have an idea for a venture yet, but you have a passion for a certain domain that you want to further explore and believe could evolve into a venture.
- Idea Stage: You have an idea for a venture that you have not yet begun operating, although you have done initial research, may have developed business plans, etc.
- Operating Stage: You have a venture now that you are looking to scale.
The award may be used at the winner’s discretion, to fund learning, founding team time, operational expenses, etc. Current Duke MBA students should look for application information to be announced in the spring of each academic year.
Previous Launch Pad Winners
2023
Arya Diwase, Himayat
2022
Michelle Addison, Allergood
2021
Sandeep Panda, Patrick Pierson-Prah, Lilian Oneyekachi Izuorah, & Eric Reynolds, Renmo
2020
Josefina Van Thienen, Ana Neri, & Laura Gutierrez, MiLibreta
2019
Michelle Egger, Resilient Foods
2019
Ariadne Sabatoski & Antonia Taline de Souza Mendonca,
Balné Brazil
2018
Eric Smith, Ncycle
2017
Tim Scales, CivicRise
2016
Joy Anena Odongpiny, Lamwaka
2015
Anne Steptoe, MedServe
2014
Frederico Rizzo, Broota
2013
Rachel Lichte, The Clarity Project
2012
Jack Beuttell & David Nicola, Working Lands Impact Fund