News / Business
Launchpoint to Award $50,000 to Winning Innovator of Frequent Flyer Competition
The fastest growing brand for frequent flyers, Milepoint, announced today that Launchpoint has committed to provide a platform where frequent flyers are funded. With this announcement, Launchpoint throws its support behind a monetary award program starting with the first qualifying competition of the year at the Frequent Traveler University event on April 27 in Washington, DC.
Launchpoint is the first and only funding competition led by frequent flyers for small startups focused on providing tools, services and applications designed for road warriors/frequent flyers.
“We understand that it can be very difficult for startups to get the exposure they need to be successful, so the expressed goal of Launchpoint is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that can help the road warrior/frequent flyer,” said Launchpoint and Milepoint founder Randy Petersen. “Launchpoint stands out because it takes no equity in any of the winners, is not ‘pay-to-pitch‘ and 100 percent of all sponsor money goes directly to the winners. Our competitions are completely free, and participants compete for $50,000 in cash, in-kind prizes and various awards”.
“I love the concept -- great idea,” said Jeff Robertson, Vice President, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Program. “This feels like the type of program that should have the entire industry’s support -- it’s a way for all of us to do a better job at servicing our worldwide airline customers. We will be involved as a founding partner.”
Launchpoint has a novel approach to funding ideas for road warriors/frequent flyers -- funding these ideas at competitions held in conjunction with Frequent Traveler University events -- in front of actual road warriors/frequent flyers. After pitching their ideas to the 600 travelers in attendance, they will then be questioned by three prominent travel bloggers. Voting by the audience will then ensue. As a result of the competitions at Frequent Traveler University, both the winner and the first runner-up become eligible for the final round, which will be conducted by popular voting in early 2014.
One winner will be awarded up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.
“Launchpoint is a terrific idea that Points is thrilled to be a part of … it’s not that long ago that we were in ‘start up’ mode, and the advice and support of people like Randy [Petersen] was critical to our early development,” said Rob MacLean, CEO, Points.com.
“I’m a big believer that we are an industry that has an exciting future, and that a good bit of that future will be shaped by today’s entrepreneurs,” continued MacLean. “Some well placed capital, and perhaps some timely advice, may be just the help that a great idea needs to get launched successfully.”
“The companies chosen to demonstrate at Frequent Traveler University are innovators with significant potential to transform the experience of the road warrior,” said Petersen. “But, it takes more than a great idea to succeed in the marketplace and Launchpoint enables us to provide these entrepreneurs with the best possible resources -- including networking, audience, mentorship and funding”.
Launchpoint’s initial sponsors include Points.com, ICLP, Switchfly, Wall+Main, Delta Air Lines, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, National Car Rental and Southwest Airlines.
Launchpoint is currently accepting applications for entrepreneurs to demonstrate at the Frequent Traveler University Competition events in either Washington, DC or Tampa, FL. To learn more, visit http://launchpoint.milepoint.com/backstory/
About Launchpoint
Founded by Milepoint, Launchpoint is the first and only funding competition led by frequent flyers for small startups focused on providing tools, services and applications designed for road warriors/frequent flyers.
About Milepoint
Milepoint was created by frequent flyers, for frequent flyers. Its online forums allow members to share experiences and advice related to travel and frequent flyer programs with like-minded road warriors, leisure travelers, infrequent flyers, travel hackers and mileage junkies.
Milepoint is a privately funded venture by a small diverse group of experienced travel experts, travel community builders, technologists and friends of the frequent flyer. Headed by Randy Petersen, who has founded many of the top websites for road warriors including InsideFlyer, FlyerTalk, BoardingArea, SeatExpert and the very popular Freddie Awards, Milepoint has in the last two years lead its members in donating/lending more than $5,000,000 to various charity causes and is a LIVESTRONG President’s Circle member.
