Find Your Cofounders

LavaLab for Impact Fall 2020

Social Entrepreneurship Toolkit

LavaLab is dedicating its efforts this semester to support USC's black community.

LavaLab will be shifting its focus from recruiting a cohort to building an accessible, inclusive, virtual program this fall. We are launching a Social Entrepreneurship Toolkit that has two components, LavaConnect and LavaLearn.

LavaConnect

LavaConnect pairs students who have entrepreneurial ideas that support the BIPOC community with Lava alumni who can provide coding, designing, project management and mentorship.

LavaLearn

LavaLearn provides open access curriculum along with entrepreneurial and tech resources, workshops, and fireside chats to USC and the greater public.

LavaLearn is now live!

Demo Night

Los Angeles, CA · Fall 2019

Welcome

Welcome

Fully immerse yourself in the startup experience.We are the University of Southern California’s premiere, student-run, product incubator. Every semester, LavaLab invites a new cohort of visionary designers, developers, and project managers to build tomorrow’s startups, today.

The Experience

Every semester for the past 7 years, LavaLab takes a cohort of 28 students composed of designers, developers, and project managers. After getting to know your fellow cohort members, you are then put into teams of 4 to create your startup. Dream big: makeup company, bar hopping app, parking hardware--anything goes.

Curriculum

Our trademark curriculum teaches you how to build a product, from ideation to deployment, while reinforcing principles of entrepreneurship and innovation. Learn the ins-and-outs of your role as a designer, developer, or project manager.

Welcome

Fully immerse yourself in the startup experience.We are the University of Southern California’s premiere, student-run, product incubator. Every semester, LavaLab invites a new cohort of visionary designers, developers, and project managers to build tomorrow’s startups, today.

The Experience

Every semester for the past 7 years, LavaLab takes a cohort of 28 students composed of designers, developers, and project managers. After getting to know your fellow cohort members, you are then put into teams of 4 to create your startup. Dream big: makeup company, bar hopping app, parking hardware--anything goes.

Curriculum

Our trademark curriculum teaches you how to build a product, from ideation to deployment, while reinforcing principles of entrepreneurship and innovation. Learn the ins-and-outs of your role as a designer, developer, or project manager.

The Experience

Events

Idea Grind

Jump right in and see what LavaLab is about with our spin on an Info Session. Through discussion and brainstorming, hearing from E-board, and asking questions, you'll get a taste of what LavaLab is about.

Beach bonfire

The first social event of the new cohort. Bond with your fellow cohort members and LavaLab alumni over roasted marshmallows.

Fireside Chats

Each semester, LavaLab invites the industry’s top pioneers and entrepreneurs to share their experiences and engage with our members. In the past, we’ve had industry leaders like Elon Musk, Evan Spiegel, and Arielle Zuckerberg.

Alumni Workshops

LavaLum know best. Learn insights and skills from alumni-led workshops on anything from React Native, to Figma shortcuts, to giving the best pitch.

Community Retreat

Who doesn’t love a weekend getaway? Join fellow cohort members and LavaLab alumni for a trip away from Downtown Los Angeles. Get to know your future co-founders on a whole ‘nother level.

Pitch Night

Two weeks before the final showcase, run through your pitch with no judgement. Get feedback from LavaLum on how to perfect your product and pitch for Demo Night.

Hack Night

It’s the final stretch. Join your fellow devs and designers to grind out the finishing touches of your product. Fuel up with free food and encouragement from our E-board.

Demo Night

The Oscars of LavaLab. Demo and pitch your product to investor judges to showcase your team's hard work. Congratulations, you’re now a LavaLum!

LavaLab Formal

A celebration of hard work, new friends, and the graduation of another accomplished cohort. Cheers!

Idea Grind

Jump right in and see what LavaLab is about with our spin on an Info Session. Through discussion and brainstorming, hearing from E-board, and asking questions, you'll get a taste of what LavaLab is about.

Beach bonfire

The first social event of the new cohort. Bond with your fellow cohort members and LavaLab alumni over roasted marshmallows.

Fireside Chats

Each semester, LavaLab invites the industry’s top pioneers and entrepreneurs to share their experiences and engage with our members. In the past, we’ve had industry leaders like Elon Musk, Evan Spiegel, and Arielle Zuckerberg.

Alumni Workshops

LavaLum know best. Learn insights and skills from alumni-led workshops on anything from React Native, to Figma shortcuts, to giving the best pitch.

Community Retreat

Who doesn’t love a weekend getaway? Join fellow cohort members and LavaLab alumni for a trip away from Downtown Los Angeles. Get to know your future co-founders on a whole ‘nother level.

Pitch Night

Two weeks before the final showcase, run through your pitch with no judgement. Get feedback from LavaLum on how to perfect your product and pitch for Demo Night.

Hack Night

It’s the final stretch. Join your fellow devs and designers to grind out the finishing touches of your product. Fuel up with free food and encouragement from our E-board.

Demo Night

The Oscars of LavaLab. Demo and pitch your product to investor judges to showcase your team's hard work. Congratulations, you’re now a LavaLum!

LavaLab Formal

A celebration of hard work, new friends, and the graduation of another accomplished cohort. Cheers!

Beach Bonfire

First Steps

Beach Bonfire

Fireside Chats

Alumni Workshops

Community Retreat

Pitch Night

Hack Night

Demo Night

LavaLab Formal

Retreat

Los Angeles, CA · Fall 2019

Community

A network of passionate innovators, over 350 members strong and growing.

The LavaLab network is like no other. We are a community of entrepreneurs, go-getters, and change makers who value connection, deep engagement, and building for a brighter future. Grow together in an environment that meets you where you’re at and pushes you to become the best version of yourself. At LavaLab, you’ll meet your future co-founders and some of your closest friends.

Connect with our community
“
Lavalab made my semester one of the most rewarding experiences as a student so far. Turning a vision into a reality, finding lifelong friends and potential cofounders, and learning to hustle make this something I'd recommend to everyone.

Shub Gaur

Product Manager · Spring 2020

Alumni Project Spotlight

Kyoku

Post-ride recovery shakes made for your body type, riding style, and cycling goals from plant-based superfoods. Personalized for optimal performance.

https://kyoku.com/

Recess

Recess creates shared calendars that display free-time between all parties and suggests personalized activities for you and your group. Maintain your friendships with a frictionless scheduling flow.

Spree

Everyone hates comparing prices online. Spree turns anyone into a shopping wizard by automatically comparing prices and checking out from everywhere, in just one click!

https://www.joinspree.com/

Kyoku

Post-ride recovery shakes made for your body type, riding style, and cycling goals from plant-based superfoods. Personalized for optimal performance.

https://kyoku.com/

Recess

Recess creates shared calendars that display free-time between all parties and suggests personalized activities for you and your group. Maintain your friendships with a frictionless scheduling flow.

Spree

Everyone hates comparing prices online. Spree turns anyone into a shopping wizard by automatically comparing prices and checking out from everywhere, in just one click!

https://www.joinspree.com/
Recess

Alumni Industry Employment

Airbnb
Amazon
Apple
Facebook
Google
Microsoft
Robinhood
Snapchat
Slack
Twitter
Uber
And more

Executive Team

Glory Kanes

President

Viren Parmar

Director of Operations

Bella Archer

Director of Recruitment

Anant Vasudevan

Director of Community

Madison Gong

Director of Industry Relations

Jimena Villarreal

Director of Sponsorship

Ivy Tsang

Director of Design

Tomas Acin

Director of Development

Jessica Wang

Director of Marketing

LavaLab 2020. All Rights Reserved.