a board that can bend, helping people to jump higher when jumping or diving into a swimming pool or when doing gymnastics

something that provides you either with the opportunity to follow a particular plan of action, or the encouragement that is needed to make it successful

The firm's director is confident that the new project will act as a springboard for/to further contracts. 公司主管确信，新项目将会是一个开端，随后会有更多的合同。