ETX Launchpad

Entrepreneurial Action Starts Here

The hub of innovation and entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Tyler.

The ETX Launchpad helps all UT Tyler students turn ideas into action. Through pitch competitions, workshops, networking, mentoring, hands-on learning, and our student marketplace, we give students the tools and support to explore entrepreneurship, build real projects, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Our goal is to help students create opportunities for themselves while contributing to the growth of East Texas.

In The News

Kanu Marketplace
August 5, 2026 | Andy Alvarado
UT Tyler Students Are Building Real Side Hustles.

Group BIP
September 20, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan
At the heart of entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Tyler is the ETX LaunchPad, a hub where ideas take shape and opportunities grow.

TT Winners
December 1, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan
The University of Texas at Tyler is a top 50 finalist of the 2026 Baylor New Venture Competition

The staff are knowledgeable, personable, accessible, and want us to understand and synthesize the material being taught to succeed. This may be an online program, but I feel more in touch with my professors than I ever did in a face-to-face program.

Elanie Ironsmith

The LaunchPad has helped me in my career by giving me a platform to explore a path outside my engineering field. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this program; it challenged my extracurricular skills, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and additionally helped give my profile a new dimension.

Rand Khalid

I am so grateful for what The LaunchPad has given me. It gave me an amazing opportunity to present my business idea and practice my public speaking skills. The LaunchPad is a great platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to explore their ideas and get feedback from industry professionals.

Sergio Garrido

Unleash the Innovators of Tomorrow

Are you passionate about innovation? Fuel the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs with your investment in the ETX Launchpad Innovation Fund. We empower students by removing barriers and providing the resources they need to turn their ideas into reality.

Your contribution is more than just money. It's an investment in a brighter future for East Texas and beyond. Join us in building a thriving ecosystem of innovation!

Support the Innovation Fund