Student Launch Initiative

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory’s campus lies in the heart of San Franciscan innovation and the broader Silicon Valley. Working with our network of alumni, parents and professional partners, we’ve established the Student Launch Initiative (SLI), an entrepreneurship program aimed at inspiring young visionaries and doers who dare to change the world. SLI goes beyond the classroom to provide hands-on experience, practical learning, direct mentorship, and seed funding to help launch student projects.

Mission

We start with our mission ... Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve. SLI is about more than just trying to create the next social media unicorn. The program teaches students to identify problems and design solutions that serve others and positively impact the lives of their peers, their families, and their community.

Process

Through SLI’s workshops and speakers series over the course of the school year, industry innovators and entrepreneurs introduce students to entrepreneurial concepts including ideation, Lean Project Development, and business model development. Mentors guide students through the process of building teams and turning ideas into products, businesses or social organizations.

Funding

On a project-by-project basis, the SLI advisory board will administer seed funding at critical points to assist with prototyping, marketing or other needs that the students identify. In addition to supporting ongoing projects, SLI invites young entrepreneurs to participate in its annual "SHarC Tank." Click here for highlights from the 2021 SHarC Tank!

The program is open to any high school student or SHC alumni with an entrepreneurial project or mindset.