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Last week, the LaunchX community came together in the heart of New York City for a long-overdue alumni reunion—and it was everything we hoped for. Hosted at Kalder’s beautiful office on Wall Street (yes, right across from the Charging Bull), the evening brought together alumni across the years to reconnect over pizza, sushi, and a shared passion for building things that matter.
As the sun set over the skyline from the 10th floor, conversations flowed easily between old friends and new connections—founders, creatives, interns, and dreamers all linked by LaunchX.
Midway through the evening, we paused the chatter for a few words from two inspiring alumni who’ve gone on to build impactful ventures.
First up, Kalder founder Gokce Guven (LaunchX 2017), who hosted the night in her startup’s stunning space, shared her journey of starting Kalder from the ground up.
Gokce also reflected on how she was often underestimated growing up, and how staying close to her idea—and to her customers—got her through the toughest moments.
We also heard from Jenna Wu (LaunchX 2019), founder of Amino Ave, a healthy boba company built on listening and iteration. When asked about the thing that kept her going in tough times? “Delusion.”
We were joined by alums doing everything from building tech solutions for emerging markets (Victor, LaunchX MIT 2017) to interning at NASA (Stanley, LaunchX Online Entrepreneurship 2020), becoming a solo creative director (Reid, LaunchX MIT 2019) and consulting at McKinsey (Sina, LaunchX MIT 2018). Even current students like Benson and Serena (LaunchX Bay Area 2024) brought fresh energy to the mix.
LaunchX alumni have always been driven to keep exploring startups, solving hard problems, and chasing bold ideas. Whether they’re launching their own ventures or shaping the future from inside top companies, they’re united by a bias for action—and a belief that building is the best way to learn. This spirit continues to ripple through every new cohort and every reunion.
We’re proud of where this community is headed—and thankful for the chance to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate it all.
Next up: San Francisco, August 2 at BeyondX.
Sign up here, and if you're in town August 1, email Rachel for details on a special alumni dinner.
