Launch House

Launch House operates as a membership-based community and accelerator program targeting early-stage startup founders, engineers, and investors. Founded in 2020 by Michael Houck, Brett Goldstein, and Jacob Peters, the company emerged from the trio's experience of co-living and co-working in Tulum, Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initial experiment led to a more formal, cohort-based model located in a Beverly Hills mansion, aiming to recreate the collaborative environments where major tech companies began.

The founders brought diverse tech backgrounds to the venture; Houck was a product manager at Airbnb and Uber, Goldstein worked as a product manager at Google, and Peters co-founded the community platform Commsor. Their shared insight was that with the rise of remote work, a new institution was needed to foster connections and support for the next generation of entrepreneurs. The company's business model is centered on membership fees, which provide access to its programs and community without requiring members to surrender equity in their startups. Fees can range up to a few thousand dollars, with different tiers available, such as an annual membership that unlocks various benefits.

Launch House provides both physical and digital platforms for its members. The core offering includes month-long residency programs where participants can live and work together in locations like Los Angeles and New York City. These programs are specialized, with offerings like 'Hack House' for engineers and 'Venture House' for investors. Beyond the in-person residencies, members gain access to digital courses, intimate mastermind groups called 'squads,' private events, and a social platform to maintain connections. A significant milestone was the establishment of a venture arm, House Capital, in 2022. This $10 million fund invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies from both within and outside the Launch House community, with returns reinvested into the main company to enhance member programs. The firm has successfully raised capital, including a $3 million seed round in 2021 and a $12 million Series A in 2022, with participation from notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz.

Keywords: founder community, accelerator program, co-living, venture capital, early-stage startups, networking, membership model, mentorship, tech entrepreneurs, seed funding