I’m Laurie – engineer, educator, entrepreneur, and maker. I founded LaunchX, a program where high school students start real companies, and I write here about entrepreneurship, leadership, decision-making, and building a life worth exploring.
The Fun Stuff
A few things you should know about me:
- I’m obsessed with 2×2 matrices (you’ll understand once you read the blog)
- I collect TLAs (three-letter acronyms)
- I have a whiteboard wall in my living room, yes, really (painted with IdeaPaint)
- I walk a fine line between silliness and dorkiness
The Background
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering, MIT
- Commercial Leadership Program, GE Energy
- Mechanical Engineer, BMW Designworks
- MBA, Harvard Business School
- Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
- Program Manager, High School Education, MIT Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship
- Commander, ProtoWorks Maker Space at MIT
- Founder & CEO, LaunchX (founded alongside consulting; still running)
Why I Started LaunchX
I founded LaunchX to fill a real gap in education: there’s no place for high school students to explore their ambitions and creativity by building something real. Coming up with the right question is just as important as answering it. Starting a company is one of the best ways to build the resourcefulness, adaptability, and innovation mindset that actually matters in the real world.
LaunchX began as a 4-week residential summer program at MIT where students start real companies. They go through the full business process from scratch, build professional skills, and get the mentorship and resources to bring their ideas to life.
We’ve since developed Becoming an Entrepreneur, an online course for aspiring entrepreneurs, available on edX: edx.org/course/becoming-entrepreneur
I love being able to make an impact in so many students’ lives. I hope through this blog more people feel inspired to follow their passions, learn from my experiences, and take one step closer to their goals.
Interested in having me speak at your event? Check out my speaking page.
Laurie Stach 