What is LAUNCH?

LAUNCH (Lead, Act, Undertake, Navigate, Change, Heal) is a unique entrepreneurial training program, funded by The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to help individuals with a history of mental illness explore self employment and start their own businesses. LAUNCH provides classroom instruction, specialized workshops, networking opportunities and individual support and guidance to aspiring business owners and also those with existing businesses.

LAUNCH is housed at the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), a not-for- profit founded in 1979 to stimulate economic growth and neighborhood stability in Brooklyn.

All LAUNCH services are free to qualified participants.

Who is Eligible to Participate in LAUNCH?

• If you are in recovery from a mental illness
• If you have a reasonable small business idea or are already operating a small business
• If you are a resident in one of the five boroughs of NYC

Who Do We Serve?

LAUNCH serves individuals who are in recovery from mental illness and want to start a small business or seek to expand or stabilize an existing enterprise. Our clients come to us with widely diverse business experiences, educational backgrounds, and economic situations. Our clients also possess a variety of skills, talents, and interests including carpentry, crafts, child-care, counseling, gardening, writing, and others. LAUNCH staff work intensively with clients, harnessing client’s strengths to turn them into solid business concepts and realities.

LAUNCH successes stories include:

• an artist who creates and sells unique and personalized jewelry
• a gardening expert who designs and installs terrace gardens
• an entrepreneur who sells perfumes and essential oils
• a hair salon owner
• a carpenter
• a candy vendor
• a clothing manufacturer
• a website developer.

What We Offer

LAUNCH offers:

• a three month training course that covers all aspects of writing a business plan and starting a small business. Course includes selling your idea, product, or service, understanding business accounting and finance, marketing, where to look for grants and loans to get started.
• workshops on essential topics such as speaking about your business in public, business ethics, insurance, legal aspects of starting a small business, and other topics helpful to all entrepreneurs.
• networking opportunities that meet regularly to provide topical information, discuss business issues, and provide a forum to encourage mutual support for up-and-coming and more established entrepreneurs
• Individualized support and guidance with one of our business counselors
• Referral to other services such as accounting and legal services

Clients can pick and choose from the services that LAUNCH offers taking advantage of as many services as suits their business needs.

Our Approach

LAUNCH does not believe that mental or Physical disability is a barrier to successful entrepreneurship.

LAUNCH provides assistance to clients who have chosen self employment as a goal. We guide entrepreneurs to channel their talents into income generating activities. Our focus is to provide professional small business development services. LAUNCH believes that entrepreneurs are not born, but made. Anyone can acquire the skills and knowledge to become a successful entrepreneur. Business knowledge and good business planning increase the chances of creating a successful business.

LAUNCH responds to the business needs of entrepreneurs and respects the different learning styles of each entrepreneur.

LAUNCH offers comprehensive business services, such as entrepreneurial training classes, specialized workshops, networking events, individualized technical assistance and access to free legal services. All LAUNCH entrepreneurs choose any of our services that suits their learning style and their business needs.

Accomplishments

• Several LAUNCH entrepreneurs entered and reached the finals of the recent Business Plan Competition sponsored by the Brooklyn Business Library.
• Over one third of LAUNCH clients have businesses that are up and running and generating income.
• Over 30 entrepreneurs have received Trickle Up grants or other forms of financing.
• Over 90 Business Plans have been completed.
• Many of our entrepreneurs participated in BEDC Holiday Bazaar and sold their product or services to the public
• Several clients have formalized their businesses by registering their businesses with the County Clerk’s Office

Accomplishments

Recognitions

•Award for advancing entrepreneurial opportunities for people with disabilities.
• The program received favorable publicity in Psychiatric News, the on-line journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
• In April 2005, LAUNCH, four of its clients, and one of its businesses were featured on Channel 12 news. LAUNCH was noted for its innovation in the area of micro-enterprise development and mental health recovery.
• In September 2005 LAUNCH was awarded New York Newsday’s “Community Champion” status. LAUNCH was recognized for its leadership and innovation in providing entrepreneurial training to mental health consumers.
• In June 2006, the LAUNCH program was featured on Manhattan Neighborhood Network. LAUNCH was noted on a show sponsored by NAMI as an innovative approach to recovery.

Client Testimonials

LAUNCH is an “excellent, great way for self starters to get ideas out of their heads, into planning and making them become reality.”

“Very informative, I am proud to be part of LAUNCH. You follow up with everyone, I like that.”

“I would recommend this class to others as it is essential to anyone with business pursuits”.

“I think LAUNCH is a great program, I learned a lot about my business.”

“I would recommend the program and class to others. BEDC provides vital services with the LAUNCH program that gives an incredible boost to those who might otherwise not had [sic] an opportunity. BEDC is able to bring in very informative lecture presenters and provide resources that are very valuable. The individual attention and assistance is priceless!”