Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad

What Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad does

Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad (ZIP Launchpad) is an on-campus entrepreneurship incubator at San Diego State University, established in 2012, that supports SDSU students, staff, faculty, and researchers in launching startups from early-stage ideas. The program operates through a structured multi-track system — Launch Track, In Flight, E-Track, and Researcher Track — that accepts applications once per semester and supports founders with advisors, mentors, and resources across the startup lifecycle. Notable alumni outcomes include 49 teams successfully launched, over 500 teams served, more than 1,091 students helped, and cumulative alumni capital raises exceeding $73 million; standout alumni include Trust & Will ($23M raised), Classy ($2B+ facilitated for social good), CourseKey ($5M), Sēkr ($2.25M), and RipTie (Shark Tank deal). The program won the USASBE Best Model Accelerator/Incubator award in 2023.

The program's core technical infrastructure is the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab, a prototyping facility equipped with 3D printers (Ultimaker 3, Formlabs Form 2, Robo R2, XYZ DaVinci, Stratasys Mojo), a Universal Systems VLS350 50W laser cutter, CNC mills (Levil 400, ShopBot, Roland mdx-40a), and an electronics workstation. Additional offerings include the Seed Fund (up to $5,000 per team for product development, manufacturing, and marketing), the Aztec Cooperative Fund (paid SDSU student internships at early-stage startups), the Mintz Awards, and a flagship partnership with Techstars (Techstars San Diego State University Accelerator) along with a higher education partnership with Apple.

ZIP Launchpad is a non-revenue-generating program funded entirely through private donations and university support. All facilities, mentorship, and seed funding are provided at no cost to participants. The program is governed by an advisory board with representation from H.G. Fenton Company, U.S. Bank, and Sand Hill Angels. Leadership includes Cathy Pucher (Executive Director of SDSU Entrepreneurship Initiatives) and Alli Howard (Assistant Director of Development for Fowler College of Business and ZIP Launchpad). The program operates exclusively on the SDSU campus in San Diego, California, with no disclosed geographic expansion beyond the university.

Name

Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad

Legal name

San Diego State University

Website

https://ziplaunchpad.sdsu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZIP Launchpad is SDSU's on-campus entrepreneurship incubator, helping university students, faculty, and researchers transform early-stage ideas into launched startups through structured program tracks, mentorship, prototyping facilities, and donor-funded seed grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Startup Accelerator

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

Keywords

• University startup accelerator
• Entrepreneurship incubator programs
• Prototyping maker space
• Student entrepreneurship support
• Seed funding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Private Support: ZIP Launchpad relies on private donations and grants to provide facilities and support to teams for free. The program is supported by individual donors and corporate sponsors.
2. Aztec Cooperative Fund: Provides paid internships for SDSU students to work with early-stage startups, funded through donations. Students gain hands-on experience while founders fill skill gaps.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZIP Launchpad is a free university-based startup accelerator program at San Diego State University that helps SDSU students, staff, faculty, and researchers launch startups from early-stage ideas. It provides structured program tracks (Launch Track, In Flight, E-Track, Researcher Track), advisors and mentors, access to the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab for prototyping, and pathway support to external accelerators such as Techstars. Complementary offerings include a Seed Fund of up to $5,000 and the Aztec Cooperative Fund that funds paid student internships with early-stage startups.

Product overview

The ZIP Launchpad is a university startup accelerator program at San Diego State University. The core offering is the ZIP Launchpad Program itself, which provides students, staff, faculty, and researchers with transformational support to launch startups from early-stage ideas. The program is complemented by the H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab, a prototyping facility offering equipment and technical support. Additional offerings include the Seed Fund (providing up to $5,000 in startup funding), the Aztec Cooperative Fund (for paid student internships), and multiple program tracks including E-Track, Launch Track, In Flight, and Researcher Track. The program has supported 49 teams to launch and over 500 teams with over 1,091 students helped.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab: A prototyping lab within ZIP Launchpad that provides tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, CNC routers, and electronics workstations to help startup teams and students develop their ideas at no additional charge

Products and services

• ZIP Launchpad Core Program Free university-based accelerator program that helps SDSU students, staff, faculty, and researchers launch startups from early-stage ideas through structured tracks (Launch Track, In Flight, E-Track, Researcher Track) with advisors, mentors, and resources.
• H.G. Fenton Company Idea Lab Prototyping lab providing free access to 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC mills, electronics workstations, hand tools, and 6-8 student intern design support for early-stage startup teams.
• Seed Fund Donor-supported grant program providing up to $5,000 to ZIP Launchpad participant teams to cover product development, manufacturing, and marketing costs during startup formation.
• Aztec Cooperative Fund Program providing paid internships for SDSU students to work with early-stage ZIP Launchpad startups, giving students hands-on experience while helping founders fill skill gaps.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49 teams successfully launched into the community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• TechstarsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechstars San Diego Accelerator in collaboration with San Diego State University, completing inaugural year in 2023. Provides advanced accelerator pathway for top SDSU startups.
• ApplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple X ZIP Launchpad Higher Education partnership featured on Apple's education success stories page, supporting student app development initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network that runs flagship programs in multiple cities and operates the Techstars San Diego State University Accelerator in direct partnership with ZIP Launchpad. Both support early-stage founders through mentorship-driven cohort programs with seed capital.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's most prominent startup accelerator, providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo-day exposure to early-stage companies. Comparable to ZIP Launchpad in mission (helping founders launch and scale) but at vastly greater scale and with equity-based economics.
• Stanford StartX: StartX is Stanford University's founder community and accelerator supporting student, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs. Comparable to ZIP Launchpad in university-based acceleration model with multi-track programs and mentorship focus.
• Berkeley SkyDeck: Berkeley SkyDeck is UC Berkeley's premier startup accelerator supporting students, alumni, and faculty. Comparable to ZIP Launchpad as a university-based accelerator, though at much larger scale and with more capital-intensive offerings.
• UCI Beall Applied Innovation: UCI Beall Applied Innovation is UC Irvine's innovation center supporting student and faculty founders through incubation, acceleration, and commercialization programs. Direct comparable as a California university-anchored entrepreneurship hub.
• MIT delta v: MIT delta v is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's summer accelerator program supporting student founders. Mirrors ZIP Launchpad's summer-style cohort structure and researcher/founder support model at a top-tier university.
• UC San Diego (The Basement): The Basement is UC San Diego's on-campus innovation and entrepreneurship hub serving students and researchers in the San Diego region. Operates the same university-anchored accelerator model as ZIP Launchpad and competes for the same Southern California student founder pool.
• 500 Global: 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) operates accelerator programs worldwide and invests in early-stage founders. Comparable to ZIP Launchpad in supporting high-volume early-stage startup formation with mentorship and capital access.

Emerging players

• Techstars San Diego Accelerator: The Techstars San Diego Accelerator specifically partners with SDSU and ZIP Launchpad, representing the program's direct downstream pathway. Comparable as an emerging accelerator within the same geographic and institutional ecosystem.

Others

• National Science Foundation I-Corps: NSF I-Corps is a federally funded entrepreneurship training program for academic researchers commercializing innovations. Adjacent to ZIP Launchpad through the Researcher Track, which similarly helps SDSU faculty commercialize research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZahnCenterSDSU
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZahnCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-diego-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ziplaunchpad
• TikToktiktok.com/@ziplaunchpad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad