Launching toward positive adolescent health outcomes
Join Launch to participate in a cohort experience supporting innovation in adolescent health. Learn more about what we offer, what we’re looking for, and what to expect during the program.
What we offer
Deep expertise
Participate in workshops and trainings led by Launch staff, a group of professionals with expertise in youth health and entrepreneurship.
Funding
Accelerate your idea’s growth with financial resources. Each team accepted to Launch will be awarded up to $150,000.
Individualized coaching
Join forces with a coach who can help your team identify and address your unique needs.
Connections & capacity-building
Find the support you need to test innovations and build capacity—because it takes more than funding to reach success.
Supportive cohorts
Expand your professional network by engaging with fellow innovators focused on addressing similar problems.
Integrated youth engagement
Conduct research to understand whether your ideas resonate and engage with youth every step of the way.
What we look for
We’re looking for people with ideas that can improve the status quo. We believe that with the right resources to ignite their ideas, anyone can be an innovator.
You should join Launch if you:
- Are part of a team of 3 to 5 people developing a solution that addresses a problem in health outcomes for youth
- Are passionate about improving the health of young people
- Have feedback from end users after testing or implementing your solution
- Have ideas for how to improve your solution
- Are ready to participate in a 12-month program to accelerate your idea
We’re extra excited about:
- Teams that represent a range of lived experiences
- Innovators who have implemented a solution multiple times
- People who have ideas for the end goal for their solutions
Your commitment
Your participation in Launch will require at least 8 hours of time per month, across 12 months, with more time needed in the months with in-person training.
By joining Launch as a team working to develop an innovation, you agree to:
- Connect monthly with your coach for virtual coaching sessions
- Participate in monthly virtual group trainings
- Attend three in-person gatherings over the course of a year (1-3 days each)
- Spend independent time working on and testing your solution
- Ask for support when you need it
Cohort 3 Program
Innovators who join Launch will work alongside their Launch coaches and cohort members for a full year. See below for more details about the Launch Cohort 3 timeline.
In-Person
Virtual
FALL 2025
FALL 2025
Applications open
Submit your ideas for consideration. Our team will reach out to selected innovators to move to the next stage.
Virtual
WINTER 2025
Cohort 3
teams announced
Teams selected to join Launch Cohort 3 will be notified by email.
Virtual
FEBRUARY 2026
Cohort 3
kick-off meeting
Gather with us in person at the RTI campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina for a two-day kick off to meet the team and make plans for the year.
In-Person
SPRING 2026
Cohort 3
virtual meeting
Present innovations to cohort virtually
Virtual
AUGUST 2026
Mid-year training
Gather with us in person to connect with the cohort, pitch plans and ideas, and participate in additional training.
In-Person
FALL 2026
Demo Day
Gather with us in person at the RTI office in Washington, DC to demo your innovations and celebrate your progress!
In-Person
Winter 2027
About Launch
The program was established in 2023 and is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs.
We aim to recruit five overlapping cohorts of innovators between 2024 and 2028, with the first cohort beginning in August 2024. We anticipate applications for cohort 3 will be available in September 2025.
