About our Founder: How he revolutionized hitting gear

Six years ago, Chris Cohen would have never guessed he was going to become a baseball equipment entrepreneur. Now, he’s the Founder of Launchpad. 

Not even two years after introducing it to the market, his thumb guards are used by top tier players all the way up through college baseball, the minor leagues, and MLB. Not to mention, they’ve locked up partnerships with the NECBL and the Baseball Bat Bros. 

We thought we’d share a bit more about him, his inspiration, and his process. 

Tell us a little bit about your background and what you do for fun

Chris: “While I currently live in Maine and have ties to Maine my entire life, I grew up in a small town in Western Massachusetts called Leverett, near Umass Amherst. 

I love sports of course, but my other obsession is boating, and being on the water in general. I’ve spent a lot of time maintaining and repairing boats, which has influenced other interests in my life, including studying composite construction and design prior to Launchpad. Except for an MLB stadium watching players use Launchpad, there’s no place I’d rather be than on a boat with good friends.” 

What was your career before Launchpad? How did it help you build better protective gear? 

Chris: “I’ve worked a lot of different jobs, from a Spanish interpreter to a deckhand on tug boats, but I’ve primarily worked in supply chain/logistics positions for companies that manufacture and sell products. It gave me a good understanding of the core functions of large companies, and a lot of the experience and skills also required to start a small business. 

On the creating/inventing side of the business, I’m a tinkerer by nature and I’m experienced in working with molds, hazardous materials, and a wide variety of tools. This gave me the confidence to take on the exhaustive Launchpad prototyping process, and the skills to pull it off.”

How would you describe your design process?

Chris: “My design process is unconventional, but so is my product. Rather than designing through a strictly digital process in CAD, my design process is a hybrid approach that incorporates both digital tools and analog tools. I do a lot of molding by hand. 

The first Launchpad prototypes began as hand-shaped clay, which was then scanned into CAD and turned into a 3D print. Then I took those and continued to hand-shape them again - and I repeated that until it was exactly what I wanted. 

When we made the Launchpad Max, it was a similar process, but I was focused on making certain improvements based on player feedback. I feel confident it’s one of the best batting aids and thumb protectors out there - and we’re not slowing down.”

Describe the moment when you had the idea for Launchpad

Chris: “It was 2019 and I was watching playoff baseball at home. I noticed so many players using Pro Hitter thumb guards but its design struck me as sub-optimal. I had an immediate vision of a thumb guard that cradled the bat and molded to your hand. Hit Hero and ThumbPro hit the market shortly after that moment, but their designs didn't solve the big problems I saw, either. 

I immediately sketched out my design and set out to build the best thumb guard on the market - one that eliminated bat sting and enhanced bat grip and control all while barely feeling like it was there. Shortly after, I took my design to my CAD designer and that was when I started working on Launchpad professionally.”

What's your favorite part about running Launchpad? 

Chris: I truly love the design and manufacturing process, and of course working with an awesome team of people who help me deliver Launchpad to baseball and softball players across the country! I’ve always been drawn to designing and building things, it’s a comfortable and happy place for me.

But it’s hard to choose just one favorite part. I also love being around a lot of talented players and hearing their feedback, what they love about Launchpad, and how it’s helped them at the plate. At the end of the day, it’s their input that’s helping me drive the design forward. 

What's your vision for the company 5 years from now?

Chris: I have been at this for 6 years now when you consider the initial design phase. I still take the mission of my company and products seriously, and my commitment is still to make some of the best baseball and softball gear on the planet.

At first, I was driven by this dream of turning on an MLB game and seeing a player wearing Launchpad. When that happened, it validated everything I had been working on - and I doubled down. 

In five years, I see Launchpad being worn on every team throughout the MLB and AUSL, thriving as an established and respected brand. I want us to be known as the true “player’s thumb guard” - gear that’s designed with them and customized to their needs. We will never stop responding to feedback and innovating - so you should expect to see more products in the years to come. 

Ready to see it for yourself? Try Launchpad today.