Feb 13, 2026

Is LaunchX Online Worth It? A Student’s Perspective

LaunchX 2024 Alumni Mariya

For many students considering an online summer program, the question isn’t just what will I learn? It’s will this actually feel real? Can an online experience replicate the intensity, uncertainty, and growth that come from building something from scratch in person?

The most honest answers often come from those who have experienced it firsthand. Arpon, a rising senior at Jashore Government City College in Bangladesh, shares his reflections on LaunchX, particularly its online format, and offers valuable insight for students weighing the program.

Why Choose LaunchX in the First Place?

For Arpon, LaunchX stood out because of its focus on entrepreneurship and its reputation for intensity.

Due to my interest in entrepreneurship, I knew I wanted to participate in LaunchX from the start. I also knew that it was a very demanding course. So, I was ready to experience some challenges.

Beyond mere interest, he saw LaunchX as an opportunity that many students never have access to. Arpon approached it as preparation, both for college and for understanding what entrepreneurship actually looks like in practice.

This is a unique opportunity that many high school kids are unable to experience, and the alumni network of LaunchX is just unparalleled. I wanted to prepare myself for the rigor of college while also seeing firsthand what it means to be an entrepreneur.

The Reality of LaunchX Online

Let’s get this out of the way: LaunchX Online is intense. The days are long, the expectations are high, and the cognitive load builds quickly. Students move through lectures, simulations, discussion groups, and constant team collaboration. It can feel exhausting, especially on a screen.

While Arpon initially would have preferred an in-person format, he found that the online structure still delivered depth, rigor, and growth. His days were demanding, sometimes exhausting, but ultimately rewarding. That mindset alone makes a difference. LaunchX doesn’t carry you through the experience; the program expects you to keep up.

What Online Can (and Can’t) Do

Would LaunchX be different in person? Of course. LaunchX is open about that and does not try to replicate exactly the in-person experience, because it simply isn’t the same. But what stands out is how little the online format diluted the core of the experience.

Despite being virtual, the program maintains a strong sense of structure, accountability, and community. Mentorship and assistance remain accessible, and peer interactions do not feel optional or superficial. These interactions are embedded into the work itself. You’re forced to engage, explain your thinking, defend your ideas, and iterate constantly to others.

Beyond Learning Comes The Direction

One of the strongest indicators that a program is “worth it” is whether it helps students clarify what they don’t want or confirms what they do.

For Arpon, LaunchX gave him a realistic understanding of entrepreneurship. Over five weeks, he moved from curiosity to conviction, gaining a clearer perspective of what it means to build something from the ground up and what the earliest stages of a startup actually require.

Online Community

If there’s one consistent thread across meaningful programs, it’s that the people make the experience. It’s understandable that one of the biggest concerns students have about online programs is connection.

LaunchX Online addresses this by emphasizing collaboration, discussion groups, and team-based work. Students come from different countries, cultures, and academic interests, creating an environment where perspectives constantly collide and expand.

Even online, LaunchX makes sure to put together students who are curious, motivated, and unafraid to challenge one another. If anything, students now get to exchange ideas with others around the globe without being limited by geography. The energy of the cohort, the sudden insights, the late realizations can become as valuable as the formal curriculum, as the need to extend connections feels more urgent when one finds themselves sitting in front of a screen.

So, Is LaunchX Online Worth It?

If you’re looking for a passive online course, LaunchX Online may feel intense. It requires time, energy, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. But for students who want to challenge themselves, test ideas in the real world, and learn how to adapt when things don’t go according to plan, that intensity is exactly the point.

For many, that lesson alone makes LaunchX Online worth it. And that kind of growth tends to stay with you long after the Zoom calls end.

Learn more about LaunchX Online Programs here.

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