Launch 180 is built on a simple premise. Most small businesses don't fail because the idea is wrong. They fail because they open with nothing left in the tank. We change that, one founder per cycle.
Launch 180 is not a grant program. It is a runway program. Each recipient is matched to the specific combination of cash, services, and resources they need to walk through opening day with their head clear and their lights on.
Launch 180 builds a cash floor that holds while a business finds its footing in those first critical months.
Pro-bono and discounted services from Launch Jax partners, matched to the recipient's stage and industry.
Physical resources and operational essentials sourced through community giving and partner contributions.
Strategic mentorship from Launch Jax's leadership plus connections into Jacksonville's broader ecosystem.
Launch 180 runs in cycles. Each cycle selects one Jacksonville entrepreneur and walks them from application through their first day open.
Entrepreneurs can apply directly, or anyone in the Jacksonville community can nominate a founder who is ready. Nominations are confidential. We reach out to the nominated entrepreneur directly.
We evaluate each candidate on viability, community impact, founder readiness, and what 180 days of runway would actually unlock. We are looking for businesses Jacksonville will be better for, not just easier ones to launch.
Once selected, we work with the recipient to map their specific needs. What cash reserves cover the right months, which professional services fill the biggest gaps, what operational resources turn a space into a business.
The community campaign launches publicly. Cash gifts, Amazon wishlist contributions, and pro-bono services come in. Launch Jax coordinates delivery, partner introductions, and ongoing strategic support.
The recipient opens with stability. Launch Jax stays close through the first year. Check-ins, intros, troubleshooting, and access to the network that helped them open in the first place.
Launch 180 is intentionally selective. We support one entrepreneur per cycle, so we look closely at what each application is asking us to invest in.
Launch 180 recipients receive warm introductions to ecosystem partners across Jacksonville as part of their support. JWBC for programming on sales, marketing, and leadership. JAX Chamber's Jax Bridges program for accelerator support. The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship for the Small Business Executive Program.
If you are building something Jacksonville needs and you are within twelve months of opening, we want to hear from you. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Start the applicationNominate them. Nominations are confidential. We reach out to the entrepreneur directly. Some of the strongest founders never raise their own hand.
Submit a nominationThe application has multiple sections. Take your time. The more clearly you tell us your story, the better we can evaluate your readiness for Launch 180.
Nominations are confidential. We reach out to the entrepreneur directly. Take your time on the "case for the nominee" sections. That is what we read most carefully.