Launchpad Philly: For students looking for a career in tech, unique program offers training — and a cash stipend

Posted by Billy Penn on November 11, 2025

Launchpad Philly helps high schoolers and recent high school grads in city carve the path to high-paying tech jobs.

Yara Kemeh learned about Launchpad Philly after watching her friend, who was a part of the organization, give a presentation.

“They had an app idea, and they presented the app idea,” she said. “There’s an audience, and I was one of those in the audience supporting my friend. And I saw a lot of women of color and people of color in this program, and it encouraged me to come in, since I’m an Arab woman.”

A graduate of The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Kemeh focused on arts and graphic design in high school, but has a long-standing  interest in technology.

“I always thought I didn’t know enough, or I didn’t have resources to actually learn what the tech was about,” she said. “I recently got a PC, and I was trying to understand all the parts and how it’s actually functioning, and when I’m getting errors, how to fix it. I have technically skilled friends and they would help me, but I wanted to learn on my own, so I don’t have to depend on others to learn these things and do all these technical aspects of it.”

Applications for the next cohort will be due on February 15, 2026. There is a short essay attached to the application, and an interview process that follows.

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