Unmet needs of the local population and potential business opportunities are discovered. These insights form the basis for defining sustainable business opportunities and attracting suitable companies for the lab of tomorrow programme.

The participating companies – often supported by actors from local public sector, civil society and academia – ideate business solutions in small, interdisciplinary groups. This happens in an ‘Ideation Sprint’ – an intense 4-day workshop supported by professional facilitators that concludes with the outline of a business model.

The participating teams enter the incubation phase to refine, test and ultimately pilot their business model in the target market. Typically, the incubation phase takes about 3-4 months and encompasses coaching for the teams by Business Design experts and might also include additional in-kind support. The incubation phase closes with a pitch in front of investors.

The results of the lab of tomorrow programme are viable ventures owned and driven by the private sector that make a strong, scaling contribution to reaching the SDGs and are independent from development corporation funding.