Catch Up with LaunchX Alumni from 2014 to 2024
At LaunchX, we’re proud to see our alumni continue to thrive in various fields—from entrepreneurship to sport to academia, and everything in between. We caught up with a few inspiring individuals to hear about their journeys since LaunchX, the lessons they've learned, and their advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Rachel K Zhang (2020 Online Entrepreneurship Program)
Since LaunchX, Rachel co-founded SheUp, a women’s entrepreneurship community in China, and YES, a Gen-Z entrepreneurship community in Amsterdam. In addition to these ventures, she’s also training for a full-distance Ironman.
Rachel’s favorite memory from LaunchX is working with an all-female team, where shared understanding and fun group chats made the experience unforgettable. Her biggest learning from LaunchX was to “fail fast, reiterate, repeat. We had to get comfortable with constantly making mistakes and moving forward.”
Looking ahead, Rachel is excited about running the beyondX conference in San Francisco in 2025, which will bring LaunchX alumni together from all over the world.
Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Harshpreet Kaur (2024 Online Entrepreneurship Program)
From India, high school student and co-founder of The Research Guild.
Harshpreet co-founded The Research Guild, an initiative to make research more accessible, and has also been building Buniyaad, a community service initiative, while competing in the Lawn Tennis Nationals. Her favorite part of LaunchX was the challenging but rewarding negotiations and simulations. The most important lesson Harshpreet learned was that with the right team, anything is possible.
Currently, Harshpreet is excited to start her college journey and meet new people who will help shape her future.
“Keep trying, keep experimenting, and don’t chase the money, yet. Focus on what truly matters: building connections, finding great mentors, and learning from feedback. These will take you much further in the long run!”
Connect with Hashpreet on LinkedIn.
Nathan C. (2014 Entrepreneurship Program)
From the USA, now working in sales strategy at Snappy.
Nathan’s journey since LaunchX has taken him from earning degrees in Economics and English at the University of Pennsylvania, and Data Science at UC Berkeley, to working in sales strategy at Snappy, a B2B gifting startup. His favorite LaunchX memory was performing "The Swan" on the cello during the MIT Launch talent show and creating a crowdfunding video for an on-demand tutoring startup. Nathan’s biggest takeaway was learning to pitch not just startups, but himself as well. He encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to be curious, ask lots of questions, and “don't be afraid of mistakes and learn from them!” Nathan is now focused on and excited about running strategy for later-stage startups.
Sofia Peng (LaunchX Online Entrepreneurship Program 2023)
From China, studying at NYU and working on event planning and social impact.
Sofia co-founded Voices for Female Athletes, where she served as the marketing director, and currently works as the Event Planning & Operations Coordinator for one of NYU’s clubs. Her favorite memory from LaunchX is giving her teammates a virtual tour while on a family trip, sharing what she ate and did during their biweekly meetings. A crucial lesson she learned at LaunchX was that it’s never too late to pivot and start again, which her team did midway through the program after receiving expert advice. Sofia’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to take bold steps even when you don’t feel fully ready. Right now, she’s focused on supporting socially conscious startups and networking with impact-driven professionals.
Connect with Sofia on LinkedIn and Instagram.
More to come soon…
These inspiring alumni continue to prove that LaunchX is just the beginning of a lifelong journey in entrepreneurship. Whether they’re launching startups, excelling academically, or making a positive impact, each of them carries forward the lessons learned at LaunchX. We can’t wait to see where their journeys take them next!
Are you a LaunchX alumni looking to get more engaged with the community, mentorship, or to feature your story? Reach out to Rachel at rachel@launchx.com!
