The first gathering of the Startup Launchpad cohort for 2023-24 will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Other Brother Beer Co., 877 Broadway Ave., Seaside, 

Startup Launchpad is designed to assist budding entrepreneurs in getting their businesses off the ground. It offers mentoring and advising, workshops, referrals to resources, assistance in obtaining funding, and connection to an extensive network of entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and service providers. The program is offered through the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development in partnership with the College of Business. 

Companies that apply will go through an assessment to identify priorities in their development processes as well as match them with appropriate advisors. Each launchpad company will establish milestones for getting to launch. Companies “graduate” from the launchpad when they are ready to operate independently or to enter an accelerator program.