LAUNCH at USF

What LAUNCH at USF does

LAUNCH at USF is a university-affiliated program operating under the University of South Florida's College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, established in 2009 (formerly Learning Academy Services) to improve employment and post-secondary outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum. Headquartered on the USF campus in Tampa, Florida, with a staff of 13, the program operates within the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities and the Department of Child & Family Studies.

The organization's service portfolio includes six core programs: LAUNCH Academy (a customized 30-week transition program for young adults on the autism spectrum), Employment Services (career-focused job placement and coaching), Business Solutions (employer-facing consulting, recruitment, training, and coaching), Youth Transition Programs (short-term training for adolescents and young adults with disabilities), Technology Programs (technology certification for persons with lifelong or acquired disabilities), and DIVE-VRT (a virtual reality training initiative). Programs are delivered through direct community engagement, referrals from educational institutions and healthcare providers, and partnerships across Florida.

LAUNCH's business model is primarily grant and donation-supported as a university program, supplemented by B2B consulting fees from Business Solutions. The organization does not publicly disclose pricing and generates revenue through a combination of university allocations, grants, donations, and program fees. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging partnerships with educational institutions, family networks, and employer channels within Florida.

Name

LAUNCH at USF

Legal name

University of South Florida

Website

https://usflaunch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LAUNCH at USF is a university-affiliated program at the University of South Florida, founded in 2009, that provides employment transition, career, and technology programs for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with disabilities across Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAKAK

Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Autism Support Services (Educational)

SECONDARYEDAKAAAG

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

SECONDARYEDAAAOAI

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYEDAKANAB

College Readiness & Disability Services Transition Support

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAKAAAA

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Autism transition programs
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Inclusive workplace consulting
• Disability youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational and Social Services: LAUNCH provides educational transition programs, employment services, technology certification programs, and business consulting solutions for individuals with disabilities. The organization operates as part of the University of South Florida's College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, likely funded through a combination of university allocations, grants, donations, and program fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LAUNCH provides a continuum of educational transition, employment, and consulting services for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with lifelong or acquired disabilities. Offerings include a 30-week customized LAUNCH Academy transition program at USF, Employment Services for job placement and coaching, Youth Transition short-term training, LAUNCH Technology Programs for technology certifications, and Business Solutions providing employer consulting, recruitment, training, and coaching. The DIVE-VRT project extends the portfolio into virtual reality-based training for individuals with disabilities.

Product overview

LAUNCH at USF is a multi-program service organization (formerly Learning Academy Services) offering a portfolio of employment-focused programs for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with lifelong or acquired disabilities. The core offerings include LAUNCH Academy (a 30-week transition program), Employment Services, Business Solutions, Youth Transition Programs, and Technology Programs. These programs work together to provide a continuum of support from training and certification through employment placement and retention, with DIVE-VRT representing a newer initiative in their service portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LAUNCH Academy A customized 30-week transition program for young adults on the autism spectrum at USF, focused on improving employment and post-secondary outcomes through employment preparation, social skills development, career exploration, and self-actualization support.
• Employment Services Career-focused services that help individuals on the autism spectrum and with disabilities achieve their career goals through job placement support and coaching.
• Business Solutions Business consulting, recruitment, training, and coaching services that support employers' unique needs in hiring and accommodating individuals with disabilities.
• Youth Transition Programs Short-term training and programming such as Summer 2026 Career Camps that prepares adolescents and young adults with lifelong or acquired disabilities for employment or college.
• Technology Programs Technology certification programs for persons with lifelong or acquired disabilities, expanding LAUNCH's reach beyond autism spectrum support.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• University of South Florida (USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUNCH is an integral program of USF's College of Behavioral & Community Sciences. The program operates within the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities and the Department of Child & Family Studies, leveraging university resources, research capabilities, and institutional infrastructure.
• DIVE-VRT (Disability Interactive Virtual Experience)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUNCH announced the DIVE-VRT project (dive-vrt.org), a significant initiative focused on virtual reality training technology for individuals with disabilities. This represents an innovative partnership for developing immersive training solutions.
• Florida Center for Inclusive CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUNCH is maintained by the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, a university center focused on disability inclusion. This center provides administrative infrastructure and research support for the program.
• Department of Child & Family Studies (USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUNCH is affiliated with USF's Department of Child & Family Studies, contributing to the academic mission and providing research-based approaches to disability employment services.
• College of Behavioral & Community Sciences (USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUNCH operates under the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences at USF, providing institutional oversight, funding support, and academic credibility to the program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: National community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including employment, transition, and inclusive workplace services. Comparable to LAUNCH's mission and target population, with a national chapter network versus LAUNCH's single-state footprint.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National behavioral health organization providing autism services, vocational programs, and transition-to-adulthood supports. Comparable to LAUNCH's transition and employment programming for individuals with autism, but operating across many states and with broader clinical offerings.
• Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit operating employment and job-training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Comparable to LAUNCH's Employment Services and Business Solutions offerings, but at a national scale with much larger employer partnerships.
• Autism Speaks: Large national autism advocacy and services organization funding employment, transition, and adult services programs. Comparable in serving the autism employment and transition space, though primarily a funder/advocate rather than direct service provider like LAUNCH.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including vocational rehabilitation, employment support, and transition programs across many states. Highly comparable to LAUNCH's mission of moving individuals with disabilities into employment, but operating at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Direct peers

• Melmark: Multi-state nonprofit provider of autism services including adult transition, vocational, and residential programs. Directly comparable to LAUNCH's autism-focused transition and employment programming, with overlapping service offerings but broader geographic reach.
• Dan Marino Foundation: Foundation operating autism-focused vocational, transition, and employment programs, including the Marino Campus and vocational training. Comparable to LAUNCH's autism transition and employment services model, also based in Florida.
• Els for Autism Foundation: Autism-focused foundation delivering education, transition, employment, and therapy programs for individuals on the spectrum. Directly comparable to LAUNCH Academy and Employment Services, with similar programmatic focus on autism transition and workforce outcomes.
• AHRC New York City: Nonprofit organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism) through vocational, employment, and transition services. Closely comparable to LAUNCH's academy, employment, and business solutions model, though concentrated in the New York region.

Regional players

• Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, employment, and transition services for individuals with disabilities. Comparable to LAUNCH's vocational and transition programming, but serving the visually impaired population primarily in the New York metro region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDusfx_CUiOr4kfUMqAn97w
• Facebookfacebook.com/LAUNCHUSF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/launchusf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about LAUNCH at USF