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.
How It Works
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.
Resources
StartItUp Mobile App
StartItUp is a mobile app that increases an entrepreneurs’ chances of success by matching you with an Advisor and helping your progress with a range of business and Artificial Intelligence tools. Bakersfield College Launchpad and StartItUp have partnered to help entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses.
Entrepreneur Club
The Bakersfield College Entrepreneur Club and CSUB Entrepreneur Club have joined forces to provide consistent and continuous resources that enable entrepreneurs to launch their ideas by developing and executing new ventures. The club offers a support system for entrepreneurs regardless of age, background, or stage of business. The club meets twice a month. The location of the meetings vary, but you can find the schedule on the Bakersfield College Calendar.
Bilingual
The center welcomes local bilingual/bicultural students seeking to improve their language skills while gaining the skills required to start and grow a business.
Computer Lab
The support staff in the computer lab at the Bakersfield College Launchpad are focused on enhancing the learning experience of entrepreneurs throughout Kern County.
Scan & Print
The computer lab allows you to print from any lab computer. You may also scan documents and then print them. The Launchpad support staff is ready to help you accomplish the task on hand.
Software
The computer lab has all the software you need to get the job done. The available programs include Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, Adobe Photoshop, and other software commonly used in an office environment. If you’ve never used the software, not to worry! The support staff can guide you through the steps.
Wi-Fi
The computer lab is great place to work in a group or go work with your own laptop. The computer lab offers free Wi-Fi and team working tables.
Equipment
Our lab has many technology items that can be borrowed for a few hours while in the Launchpad.
- Calculators – Graphing and scientific
- Presentation Equipment – HDMI/VGA Adapters suitable for any Mac or PC for presentation purposes.
- Phone Chargers – Iphone and Android phone chargers available
- Laptop Chargers – Chargers for all Mac laptops available, HP and Dell chargers as well.
- Headphones – Headphones available for use in the lab.
- Computer Mice – Available for use on laptops for working more efficiently.
About Us
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 likeminded 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
Community Partners
With the help of community partners that have the same goal in mind, Bakersfield College Launchpad has the resources to help and guide students to the right location. If the Bakersfield College Launchpad does not offer what you need, we can find one of our community partners that does.
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.
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