The Economic and Workforce Development Committee of San Antonio convened on May 27, 2025, to discuss the progress and future initiatives of LaunchSA, the city's resource center for small business owners and entrepreneurs, operated by Geekdom. The meeting began with an overview of LaunchSA's accomplishments over the past year and a half, highlighting its role as an ecosystem hub connecting small business owners with essential resources and support.

The presentation detailed the core services provided by LaunchSA, including one-on-one assistance, event coordination, and partnership development. Since Geekdom's partnership with the city, LaunchSA has undergone a full service relaunch, which included branding updates and renovations to its central library workspace. The team emphasized the importance of gathering real-time feedback from the small business community to guide their programming and services.

In the first year of operation, LaunchSA hosted approximately 200 events, attracting over 4,000 attendees. The events ranged from workshops to panels, aimed at addressing the needs identified through their assistance request forms. The data collected indicated that business planning, strategy, and access to funding were the primary reasons small business owners sought assistance. The industries most represented among those seeking help were retail and food and beverage.

Looking ahead, LaunchSA plans to introduce several new initiatives, including the Waypoint program, designed for new entrepreneurs, and a funding resource fair to connect small business owners with financial institutions. The committee discussed the importance of marketing LaunchSA's services to potential business owners and ensuring that local banks and legal firms are aware of the resources available.

Council members expressed their support for LaunchSA's efforts and acknowledged the improvements made since Geekdom took over operations. They encouraged further collaboration with local organizations, such as the Texas Restaurant Association, to enhance support for specific industries.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue monitoring LaunchSA's progress and impact on the local business community, with plans for future updates to the council. The overall sentiment was one of optimism regarding the potential for LaunchSA to further empower small businesses in San Antonio.