State Policy Network selected five state think tanks from across the country to test and enhance their innovative, solution-oriented project ideas during the first ever SPN Launchpad in San Diego in September 2019. Launchpad’s workshop format is based upon the successful model developed by the Universidad Francisco Marroquín’s Antigua Forum.
During an intense two-days, think tank leaders presented project ideas to a group of experienced entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world. Trained facilitators then guided the teams through a process that helped solidify the various projects’ goals, strategies, and tactics so that the teams left the program with a solid action plan for making their ideas to solve public policy challenges a reality.
Much more than a panel conference discussing theory and research, LaunchPad took state think tank solutions, put them to the test, and set them on the path to implementation. Each group presented an idea that would address a specific public policy issue—in some cases the issue was state specific while others were national in scope. Attendees were invited to move from project to project to offer their perspectives and brainstorm on ways to envision more ambitious goals as well as design strategies and action plans. Each project team left Launchpad with an actionable plan to execute their ideas.
“LaunchPad is about taking an idea that can be implemented to solve a problem, and making it a reality,” said State Policy Network Vice President of Communications, Carrie Conko. “It’s not the type of event that theorizes about what’s possible only to have people return to their desks and change nothing. People walk out energized with something to do.”
The five state think tanks that participated included Commonwealth Foundation, Empire Center, Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA), Libertas Institute, and Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA). While each project focused on a different policy issue, all aimed to improve the lives of people in their states.
Commonwealth sought to educate lawmakers on the power of Pennsylvania entrepreneurs and their importance to a thriving economy. Empire wanted to educate New Yorkers on alternatives to public sector union membership. FGA’s project focused on ways to ensure people have both health insurance and access to quality healthcare. Libertas hoped to create more access to jobs and prosperity by creating a regulatory structure in Utah that allows for innovation. OCPA wanted to raise national awareness on the inequities of representation that would be created by eliminating the Electoral College, showing that if removed, many communities would be left without a voice.
The five projects were presented to LaunchPad’s Brain Trust, which included innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, board members, and experts in business, nonprofits, and marketing (dubbed “The Brain Trust”). Tapping their vast knowledge and real-world experience, they challenged the assumptions of the state think tank’s projects, asking them tough questions on the viability of their ideas. With the Brain Trust’s experience and know-how, trial and error that would normally take place over months or years was gamed out over two days. SPN’s Executive Vice President, Tony Woodlief, observed:
“You get a whole lot of high-level consulting compressed in a short time frame for people who don’t have access to that kind of advice and guidance. I saw projects that were radically altered in a good direction because of the advice of the Brain Trust. The project went from a cool idea into an actionable business plan. LaunchPad allows projects to get way past aspiration and vision and into implementation.”
The strategies for many projects were completely overhauled as a result of the event. Libertas, for example, altered the direction of its project three times before coming up with a final version.
LaunchPad is modeled off the Antigua Forum—an annual conference where people from around the world gather in Antigua, Guatemala to find solutions to real-world problems. The Antigua Forum method brings together experienced people, real-world projects, and an effective process to turn game-changing initiatives to concrete action plans. SPN partnered with the Forum team to create a United States model specifically for state think tanks.
LaunchPad is a testament to how state think tanks are not content to analyze societal challenges from the sidelines—many groups get in the game alongside the people in their state to find out what works and what doesn’t. When problems arise, state think tank leaders are part of the solution. LaunchPad accelerates that process.
SPN has a history of connecting the state think tanks with best practices, like-minded leaders, and supporters—and LaunchPad is a natural evolution of that. Entrepreneurship is rampant in the Network. LaunchPad gives innovators in public policy a chance to take ideas they’ve been working on and turn them into real solutions in their states. With Launchpad, SPN is proud to continue filling its role as the leading accelerator, connector, and incubator of free-market ideas in the states.
“As time goes by, we will look back on LaunchPad as an important catalyst in what became largely a cultural war, but ended as a resounding endorsement of those who took responsibility for getting it right. That is SPN.”—Attendee
“A trip through the thoughts of people, we came with an idea of a product and test it to its core. The result of this was an insight for project owners and the opportunity to give an added value from participants. The energy was amazing!”—Facilitator
“LaunchPad will put your strategy through the wringer and produce powerful results. It’s like having a dozen paid consultants, an operations manager, and a crowdsourced motivational talk all in one.”—Presenter
