Kara Laws
Founder & CEO | Launched
What emerging market trends or disruptions are you preparing your company for?
I’m preparing Launched for the marketing shifts we are seeing in how people buy, trust and engage with businesses. Reports are showing that consumers are increasingly more cautious in 2026. Scams are on the rise with the introduction of over-automated AI businesses and consumers are taking notice — especially in the business education space. This changes how many people shop and make decisions.
We are also seeing trends leaning towards ad-driven funnel systems that meet customers where they are already spending their time. These funnels are designed to educate, build familiarity and trust, and guide customers through clear next steps. Consumers want to engage before committing. These marketing trends are what I am preparing my company for.
Because trust matters more than ever, I’ve put a strong focus on being human and visible. We are focusing on sharing real faces, real client stories, real testimonials and behind-the-scenes looks at how we work. While we lean on automation for heavy lifting and mindless tasks, we are not hiding behind it. I want people to know exactly who they’re learning from and why they can trust us.
At Launched, we are also in the process of launching a new ad-driven funnel system that will walk customers through our client journey on the social media platforms they are already using.
At the core of all of this is accessibility. I care deeply about affordable business education, especially for rural and underserved business owners. Part of accessibility is adjusting marketing to meet business owners where they are instead of being frustrated that they are not where we want them. Marketing changes. Adjustments will always need to be made.
What has been a significant challenge you’ve faced? How did you overcome it?
One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced was building Launched from the ground up in an extremely rural location. Launched is based in Blanding, Utah, a town with a very small population and limited access to the rest of the world. There were few local opportunities for networking, speaking or professional collaboration. I didn’t have access to established business communities, built-in audiences or nearby mentors. I used to drive five hours (one way) for my business education.
On top of that, Launched wasn’t an existing business I stepped into or inherited. It had to be created piece by piece, one step at a time. There were no systems, no curriculum, no audience, no team and no office. In my first year of Launched, I moved offices six times — two of those offices were sheds. Every program, process and offering had to be built from scratch while the business was actively serving clients.
At the same time, Blanding doesn’t have a large pool of specialized talent, which made hiring and scaling challenging. I couldn’t rely on local hiring to meet the needs of a growing company. Instead of treating those limitations as reasons to stay small, I made intentional decisions to build differently.
I designed Launched to be fully virtual out of necessity, then leaned into that model as a strength. I invested early in systems, documentation and processes so the business could function smoothly regardless of location. I built partnerships outside my immediate area and created my own opportunities through virtual events, programs and collaborations. I didn’t wait for opportunities to come to me.
When local hiring wasn’t an option for everything I needed, I built a remote team, intentionally creating roles for talented women across the country — many of whom are rural or disabled working mothers who need flexible, meaningful work. This allowed me to build the skills the company needed despite my location.
Starting from nothing in a rural area forced me to be more resourceful, more disciplined and more strategic than I would have been in a larger market. It pushed me to build strong systems, clear communication and scalable education early on.
That challenge ultimately shaped Launched into what it is today: a national company with global reach that exists specifically to break down barriers to business education services and support entrepreneurs, no matter where they are located.
Describe the growth of your company in recent years. What other major achievements did the company accomplish under your leadership?
Launched existed only in name and a few blog posts three years ago. We will hit our fourth anniversary in April 2026. The most significant achievement Launched has reached in the last three years has been growing from a brand new business to a company with global reach. We have major clients coast to coast in the U.S. and in seven additional countries, with services reaching to more than 20 countries and all 50 states.
In these last three years, we have done the following:
- Served more than 3,000 entrepreneurs through programs, events and direct support.
- Built and launched a six-month flagship program, called the Launch Your Business Academy, that has helped entrepreneurs establish sustainable businesses — with several reporting full income replacement during periods of financial crisis.
- Designed and executed large-scale virtual education events.
- Built and led a 100% remote team, intentionally creating flexible, paid roles for rural and disabled working mothers.
- Created and taught interactive business education for middle school students from the Navajo Nation Reservation.
- Maintained a 100% virtual delivery model, removing geographic barriers and expanding access for rural and underserved communities.
- Expanded influence through pro bono and was invited to teach for Utah State University, Women’s Business Centers, Custom Fit Training, SBDCs, SCORE, and statewide and national business events.
