Lightning Launchpad
Lightning Launchpad is Tennessee's gateway for merchants and entrepreneurs looking to harness the speed, efficiency, and freedom of Bitcoin's Lightning Network. Whether you're a retail shop, online vendor, or large established company, this event equips you with what you need to start accepting bitcoin quickly, cheaply, and securely.
Each Launchpad session is practical, focused, and designed to get you from “bitcoin curious” to “live” in a single day. You'll walk away with a functioning Lightning wallet, a tested point-of-sale flow, and the confidence to offer your customers a modern payment experience that aligns with the future of money.
What to Expect
Our quarterly workshops are held in-person at rotating locations across the state, with occasional virtual options for remote participants. Sessions begin with a crash course on Lightning and how it fits into the broader bitcoin ecosystem. Then we dive straight into demos and guided setup.
What You'll Learn
• How Lightning lets you collect bitcoin payments at near-zero cost – keep more revenue that usually goes to credit card network fees.
• What wallets and payment terminals work best
• How to price in dollars while receiving bitcoin (and vice versa)
• The tradeoffs of self-custody vs. custodial setups
• How to integrate tipping, invoices, and ecommerce plugins
• You'll also hear the stories of local businesses already using bitcoin so you learn what’s working – and what’s not – straight from the source.
Who Should Attend
If you run a business and you’re even slightly bitcoin-curious, this event is for you. No technical experience is required. Our sessions are especially useful for:
• Coffee shops, bars, and restaurants
• Professional services like law firms and medical clinics
• Ecommerce and digital product merchants
• Independent contractors and freelancers
• Civic groups and nonprofits
Featured Speakers and Instructors
Each month we invite guest speakers who share their real-world experience. You’ll hear stories of how bitcoin transformed their business operations, attracted new customers, and reduced payment friction. Instructors walk through live implementations, and volunteers are on-site to help troubleshoot as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to already have experience bitcoin?
Nope. We’ll help you get started from scratch.
Is there a cost to attend?
Launchpad is free to attend, thanks to support from local sponsors and volunteers. Just bring a phone or laptop.
Do I need to be technical?
Not at all. If you can use Venmo, you can use Lightning. We’ll guide you every step of the way.
What should I bring?
Bring your device (smartphone or laptop), a willingness to experiment, and any questions you have. We'll supply the rest—including test Bitcoin.