The right minds. The right challenge. Real outcomes, fast.

“Catalyst Co-Labs was like turning coals to fire. I reached people I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to and was able to take a risk … to attempt a systemic change with a team through collaboration.”

— Poonam Bir Kasturi on aiming to solve the plastic bag waste problem in India

A Co-Lab is a structured, virtual co-creation process built around a single, well-defined challenge. We recruit 30 hand-picked experts — practitioners, researchers, sector leaders, and people with lived experience from around the world — and convene them in two intensive 90-minute sessions. The result: new relationships, actionable strategies, and outcomes ready to implement. All results are open-sourced.

Co-creation that delivers outcomes

not just talk

Most collaboration takes too long, doesn’t match the right people, and produces outputs that sit on shelves. Co-Labs are different by design. The challenge is defined precisely before anyone is recruited. Participants are selected specifically for that challenge — not from a standing roster. Sessions are facilitated for decisions, not just discussion. And the process ends with clear next steps, not just a report.

WE CONVENE.

SPARK.

& COLLABORATE.

Through our meticulously cultivated networks, we've brought together thousands of innovators, bold thinkers, passionate doers, and dedicated activists. They are young and old, new and experienced, holders of advanced degrees and wisdom forged from lived experience.

What truly unites them is a burning desire to broaden their horizons, connect with kindred spirits, and find allies like you.

Through Catalyst Co-Labs, that access becomes your reality.

Our lean process sparks connections and solutions

The Co-Labs process starts with carefully defining the new challenge we have been given. We then engage hand picked experts and peers around the challenge and facilitate a rapid series of global co-creation sessions for the host, designed to build trust, connections and hopefully, joint solutions.

We engage diverse voices and perspectives

Solving social challenges requires diverse perspectives. We engage experts in our sessions by leveraging the reach of global social innovation networks from Catalyst 2030, Ashoka, Echoing Green, Schwab, Skoll and more.

We unleash collaborations & impact

Following the sessions, our Co-lab Hosts use their newfound relationships and insights to accelerate their progress towards positive change. The fresh collaborations lead to the sharing of ideas and practices, often resulting in new projects. All solutions are open sourced.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW A CO-LAB WORKS

TESTIMONIALS

“This Co-Lab brought us so many collaborators and points of expertise to rapidly improve our technical approaches to MPHSS support and learning for Gaza-based teachers and psychologists to implement directly on ground, providing critical support the children of Gaza. As a result we raised two grants to support our program implementation..”

Dr. Mohammad Issa - PRESIDENT CREATIVITY LAB ARAB WORLD

DR. Wamuyu Mahinda - FOUNDER OF COLLABORATIVE VALUE PARTNERS AFRICA

“After the rich discussions during the Co-lab, I realized we need to focus on Social Investment ROI to measure our progress and impact. We gained the ideas and resources to build the system we were aiming for - the ICE Framework — we use with all our partners.”