CASE Launch Pad Award

The CASE Launch Pad Award recognizes a Duke MBA student or team working on an idea or venture to address a social challenge. Each annual winner receives a $10,000 grant and coaching from CASE’s staff and global network of impact enterprise leaders and investors. The Launch Pad Award recognizes solutions at any venture stage, including:

• Investigation Stage: You do not have an idea for a venture yet, but you have a passion for a certain domain that you want to further explore and believe could evolve into a venture.
• Idea Stage: You have an idea for a venture that you have not yet begun operating, although you have done initial research, may have developed business plans, etc.
• Operating Stage: You have a venture now that you are looking to scale.

The award may be used at the winner’s discretion, to fund learning, founding team time, operational expenses, etc.

Current Duke Daytime MBA students are eligible to apply.

2026 Application & Selection Process  

• Email your 3–4-page application to  to case@fuqua.duke.edu by February 15, 2026, by 11:59pm EST  
• Top applicants participate in an interview on February 23 or February 24, 2026 
• The winner will be announced by 2/27 
• The winner will give an introductory presentation to CASE and I&E staff in April 2026 
• The winner will give a capstone presentation to CASE and I&E staff in April 2027 

Additional Information

Interested students are encouraged to preview the application to better understand the expectations and evaluation criteria early. 

Questions? Contact CASE Assistant Director Kelsey Zavelo at kelsey.zavelo@duke.edu. 

Ready to apply? Download the application and get started 

Past Launch Pad Winners