Launchpad
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Bakersfield College Launchpad provides resources and educational workshops for entrepreneurs to help start and grow businesses in our community. The Launchpad is a resource guide by delivering educational opportunities and support services, and through fostering collaboration to empower you with entrepreneurial resources.
With the help of community partners, Bakersfield College Launchpad is here to help you find your way through the winding roads of starting a business. We collaborate with Kern County community business leaders to determine what skills are needed to survive and compete in the current marketplace.
Free Resources and Courses
Located in the heart of Bakersfield, the Launchpad offers free resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Kern County.
We offer several tuition free noncredit courses to enhance your business skills. Earn certificates of completion in office skills, sales, entrepreneurship and more.
In the future, the Launchpad will offer a series of one- and two-day workshops. The carefully selected workshops will provide the training you need to grow a business from idea to reality. The workshops are designed to result in a real world skill with a portfolio piece to prove it.
Who Should Attend
You! Whether you have an idea, are just starting out, have been in the workplace, or have an existing business that you wish to grow. This is an effective, convenient, and affordable way to rapidly acquire the skills you need. We welcome start-ups and small business throughout Kern County.
New Grant Program
Webinars, Certificates & Classes
We offer several noncredit certificates to improve your business skills. From office skills to entrepreneurship, we want to help you be a success.
Noncredit Certificates of Completion
The courses for earning these certificates are tuition free.
- Basic Internet Skills
- Basic Office Skills
- Basic Office Software Skills
- Customer Relations
- Digital Marketing for Small Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Powerful Presentation
- QuickBooks Basics for Small Business
- Recruiting and Managing Employees
- Sales Techniques
For information on hours and classes, see our Noncredit Certificates.
For the certificate of completion application after completing your courses, got to CE Certificate Applications.
Mission
The Bakersfield College Launchpad exists to empower its student and all residents of Kern County with entrepreneurial resources to successfully launch and grow small businesses through the delivery of educational opportunities and support services and through fostering collaboration.
Vision
By 2022, the vision of the Bakersfield College Launchpad is to increase the number of new entrepreneurs and successful small business owners in Kern County by collaborating with local like-minded community organizations and industry partners within the existing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Location
The Launchpad is located in the heart of Bakersfield to assure it is the center of free resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Kern County. We are located in the Weill Institute:
Address: 2100 Chester Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Directions
Phone: (661) 395-4104
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
