We are now accepting applications for Launch Innovation Accelerator’s next cohort. We are looking forward to hearing from the next round of innovators working to advance sexual health outcomes for young people. If you are working with young people or are a young person and have innovative solutions for advancing sexual health and well-being among youth, join us! Applications close January 21, 2025 at 10:00am ET. If you are not sure if your idea is innovative enough or if it is the right fit, we encourage you to attend one of our office hours and connect with us.

In the spirit of innovation, we have continued to refine the Launch application process to make it clearer, more user-friendly, and less burdensome for teams to apply. During the accelerator program, our innovation teams are continuously testing their innovations and gathering input from the end users of their products or services. We have used the same approach to assess our own work. To learn how the first cohort’s application process worked we:

• Conducted a roundtable at the recent Healthy Teen Network annual conference to hear reactions about usability of the application
• Collected feedback from our Cohort 1 teams about the application process
• Surveyed teams who applied to Launch but were not selected for the first cohort  

Some of the findings included:

• Applicants appreciated that the written portion of the application was short, but some found word limits challenging and wanted more space to explain their ideas fully.
• Applicants liked that they were able to submit either a video or written application.
• Having a chance to talk to reviewers in a pitch presentation and answer their questions was helpful.
• Having a brief application, followed by a longer one, made it easier to apply. That said, our reviewers said it was more challenging to review.
• Although we held office hours for applicants and posted questions and responses discussed on our website, we found that applicants wanted additional opportunities to talk to the Launch team before submitting.

Some features of our application that we believe contribute to ensuring our application is straightforward, not overly burdensome, and accessible to all include:

• We accept both written and video applications.
  We know everyone has different strengths. Some may have excellent written communication and grant writing skills, while others may be amazing oral storytellers. We want to make the application accessible to everyone so that we can recruit the most diverse cohort possible. We encourage teams to submit applications in whichever format they feel most comfortable with.
• A screening process helps teams understand whether Launch is the right fit.
  Teams answer a few simple questions first. Based on their answers about their progress so far, they are automatically directed to either a) finish the application or b) consider applying to one of the other hubs funded by the Office of Population Affairs, like an incubator for earlier-stage innovations.
• Our application consists of two simple steps.
  In Step 1, teams provide either a written or video application that is evaluated by multiple reviewers. In Step 2, based on application reviews, select teams are asked to pitch to the Launch team for further consideration and provide a budget for their work.
• Teams are not expected to provide lengthy written statements.
  We understand that applicants likely have many roles as an innovator, and we know their time is valuable. We want to get to know our teams quickly—without requiring them to write a novel.
• We hold office hours to answer questions in real time.
  We know that applicants may benefit from a live conversation about a specific question, so we’re holding three different office hours during the application period. Find out more about office hours.

We hope you check out our streamlined application and consider applying to our accelerator hub. And if you have any feedback, we’d love to hear it!