Our Mission
Launch League exists to help every Ontario dreamer — whether you're starting a business, a non-profit, or an idea to make your community better — with competitions, expert advisors, free hands-on help, and a community that has your back. We started in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, and we believe great things can start anywhere — that's why we champion founders across the whole province.
Why I Started This
In high school, I started a small lawn and landscaping company and entered it in a business plan competition — and won 1st place in Ohio. That one opportunity to be taken seriously, to have real people read my plan and back a rough idea before it was anything close to polished, changed how I thought about what was possible for me.
I've spent the years since building real things: 10 years in the U.S. Air Force in financial management and construction, then settling in Chatham-Kent. Along the way I've stayed close to the same kind of opportunity that started it all for me — volunteering with Junior Achievement in classrooms for over a decade, and now serving on the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce board.
Launch League is my way of building that same opportunity for Ontario, at scale. I believe Ontario's economy and prosperity depend on more people building real, well-run businesses — and the biggest barrier usually isn't talent, it's not knowing where to start or having someone take your idea seriously. This platform is how I'm trying to make the biggest impact I can on that.
— Nicholas Gonzalez, Founder, Launch League
Nicholas Gonzalez
Founder, Launch League
Nick's background spans construction, financial management, and operations leadership — including 10 years in the U.S. Air Force as a structural airman and in financial management, and associate's degrees in Financial Management and Construction Management from the Community College of the Air Force.
He's a board director with the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce and a longtime Junior Achievement volunteer, teaching real-world business skills in local classrooms.
His own first business — a lawn and landscaping company he founded in high school — placed 1st in a statewide business plan competition, an early experience that's shaped everything he's built since.
How Launch League Works
Ontario-Wide Pitch Competitions
Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of judges across multiple categories — with real feedback, real prizes, and real community support.
- 7 competition categories
- Volunteer judges who know the market
- Sponsor-backed awards and prizes
- Open to ages 13 and up
Advisors
Beyond competitions, we're building a network of volunteer advisors — experienced professionals who give their time to help entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders across Ontario succeed.
- Vetted experts in various fields
- One-on-one advisor conversations
- Industry-specific guidance
- Community-focused support
Business Planning Tools
From a free course to a full AI-assisted plan, we help entrants prepare a real, specific pitch instead of guessing what judges and lenders want to see.
- Free Business 101 course
- Free 1-page plan builder
- Elite Business Plan Maker, AI-assisted
- Grounded in real industry benchmarks
Our Values
Community First
We believe the best support comes from people who know your community and care about its success.
Accessible to All
Everyone with an idea deserves a chance. We remove barriers and create opportunities for all aspiring entrepreneurs.
Learning Over Winning
Competition isn't just about prizes. It's about feedback, growth, and becoming a better entrepreneur.
Celebrate Local Success
We showcase the incredible ideas coming from communities everywhere, not just major cities.
How Launch League Is Funded
Launch League is a for-profit social enterprise, not a charity and not a non-profit. That is a deliberate choice: it means we can change a privacy policy, a program rule or a competition format in a week when a school board asks us to, instead of waiting on a grant cycle or a board approval. We are not a registered charity, so contributions are not tax-receiptable.
Students never pay.Entry to the competition and the core program are free, always, with no fees and no equity taken in anyone's idea. The program is funded by sponsors and partners, and by optional paid tools for adults — none of which affect judging in any way.
Award sponsorship pays the prize it names, in full, to an Ontario entrant. Partnership funds delivery: the platform, travel to classrooms, Awards Night, and the people who run the season. We would rather tell you that than pretend this runs on air.
Our Journey
Launch League launches in Chatham-Kent, Ontario with its first pitch competition
Competitions open to founders and non-profit leaders across Ontario
Advisor network opened for founding advisors — recruiting now, matching opens for the 2027 seasonPlanned
Leadership Circle membership community — planned, waitlist openPlanned
Expanded programming, workshops, and sponsor-backed awards across the provincePlanned
Join the Movement
Whether you're launching your first business, starting a non-profit, sparking a community idea, or an expert who wants to judge or advise — there's a place for you at Launch League.
Keep going
- The Launch League programAll five stages — learn, plan, connect, pitch, launch — and how they fit together.
- Ontario pitch competitionsSeven award categories, free to enter, open to anyone in Ontario from age 13.
- How we research and correct these guidesOur sourcing rules, what our review dates mean, and how to report an error.
- Become a sponsorSponsorships fund the prize pool and keep every part of the program free to enter.