The Better Lab
The Better Lab is an independent non-profit research organization embedded within UCSF Department of Surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital that applies human-centered design methodology to healthcare challenges. It serves safety-net hospitals, trauma centers, and global health programs through HCD research services, deployable products (WrapApp, VR trauma training, 99DOTS), and grant-funded academic collaboration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Better Lab does
The Better Lab is an independent, non-profit human-centered design (HCD) research organization founded in 2016 and embedded within the UCSF Department of Surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center in San Francisco. Co-founded by Amanda Sammann, Lara Chehab, Devika Patel, and Susan Dix Lyons, the organization applies HCD methodology—empathy interviews, co-design workshops, ethnography, rapid prototyping, and rigorous quantitative/qualitative evaluation—to study and address stubborn healthcare challenges in safety-net hospitals, trauma centers, and global health settings.
The organization operates a portfolio of products and services. Core products include The WrapApp (a mobile platform for hospital-based violence intervention programs piloted with the Wraparound Project at ZSFGH), a VR Trauma Training Program built on 360-degree video and eye-tracking with Ohio University GRID Lab, a redesigned 99DOTS digital adherence technology for tuberculosis treatment in Uganda, and a PPE Bundle redesign. Service offerings include HCD research services, HCD courses and workshops (UCSF, Temple University Hospital, American College of Surgeons, international symposia), and the recurring Design Wednesdays Journal Club. The organization has produced 28+ peer-reviewed publications across JMIR, PLoS Medicine, BMC Health Services, and Journal of Surgical Education, and its American College of Surgeons Trauma-Informed Care Curriculum has been piloted across 21 U.S. trauma centers.
The Better Lab is funded almost entirely through research grants and institutional funding from organizations including NIH/NIDA, California Healthcare Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UCSF, SFGH Foundation, DCYF, CalVIP, STOP TB Partnership, and UCAAN. Revenue is not commercially monetized; instead, the model depends on continuous grant acquisition and academic collaboration. The team is small (11-50 employees, including 4 co-founders, 5 core members, and 5 design research fellows) with senior leadership drawn from IDEO, Meta, Stanford, and UCSF public health backgrounds. Operating geographies span the United States (primarily San Francisco Bay Area), Uganda, and Tanzania.
The Better Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Better Lab
- Legal name
- The Better Lab
- Website
- https://thebetterlab.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Better Lab is an independent non-profit research organization embedded within UCSF Department of Surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital that applies human-centered design methodology to healthcare challenges. It serves safety-net hospitals, trauma centers, and global health programs through HCD research services, deployable products (WrapApp, VR trauma training, 99DOTS), and grant-funded academic collaboration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Better Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Better Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research Grants and Funding: The Better Lab operates primarily through research grants and funding from healthcare foundations, government agencies, and institutional partners. Projects are funded by organizations including CalVIP, DCYF, California Healthcare Foundation, NIH, NIDA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and UCSF internal funding.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Better Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Better Lab is an independent academic research organization that applies Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodology to study and solve healthcare challenges. It delivers HCD research services for safety-net hospitals and global health programs, developing healthcare interventions such as The WrapApp mobile platform for violence prevention, VR trauma training, 99DOTS digital TB adherence technology, and the PPE Bundle. It also teaches HCD courses and hosts the Design Wednesdays Journal Club to disseminate its methodology.
Product overview
The Better Lab is a human-centered design (HCD) research organization focused on healthcare innovation. Rather than a traditional product company, it provides HCD research services and has developed several healthcare interventions including The WrapApp (violence prevention mobile platform), VR Trauma Training (using 360-degree video), 99DOTS Digital Adherence Technology (TB medication monitoring), and the PPE Bundle. The organization also offers HCD educational courses, workshops, and hosts the Design Wednesdays Journal Club for ongoing community learning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The WrapApp: Mobile platform for hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) to enhance communication between case managers and clients to prevent violent re-injury
- Design Wednesdays Journal Club
Products and services
- The WrapApp A mobile platform designed to enhance communication and planning between case managers and clients in hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs), aiming to prevent future violent injury. Piloted with the Wraparound Project at San Francisco General Hospital.
- VR Trauma Training Program A virtual reality training experience using 360-degree video and audio (cineVR) with eye-tracking technology, allowing trainees to experience trauma activations from multiple provider perspectives.
- 99DOTS Digital Adherence Technology A digital adherence technology for tuberculosis treatment supervision, redesigned using human-centered design to better suit the needs of Ugandan TB patients; implementation in Uganda achieved a 10% increase in TB medication adherence.
- PPE Bundle A personal protective equipment redesign combining a gown with necessary PPE components (gloves, mask, hair cover) adhered at ergonomic positions, plus a quick-release rack system.
- HCD Research Services Human-centered design research services for healthcare organizations, encompassing empathy interviews, expert interviews, co-design workshops, prototyping, ethnography, literature review, ecosystem mapping, landscape review, quantitative data collection and analysis, user testing, and remote design and prototyping especially in developing world contexts.
- HCD Courses and Workshops Educational offerings including HCD courses at UCSF (Implementation Science 243, 10-week Health-Care Design Course, Health Professionals Education Pathway guest lectures) and workshops at institutions such as Temple University Hospital, the American College of Surgeons Conference, the International Symposium on Incisional Hernia Prevention, the CMS Quality Conference, and others.
- Design Wednesdays Journal Club A monthly virtual journal club where healthcare professionals and designers discuss intersections of design and healthcare, featuring guest speakers and recordings of past sessions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10% increase in TB medication adherence in Uganda
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Better Lab
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Better Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Better Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Wraparound Project at ZSFGHcoreHospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) providing resources, mentorship, and case management to victims of violence. Collaborates on The WrapApp mobile platform development, data management system, and youth violence prevention programs.
- UCSF Trauma Recovery CentercoreDivision of trauma recovery services collaborating on mental health screening in surgical aftercare clinic for victims of violence.
- UCSF Department of Surgical OncologycoreCollaboration on GI Surgical Oncology Patient Navigation project to uncover challenges in patient coordination for complex cancer care.
- Code TenderloinminorCommunity organization partner for The WrapApp project and UI/UX curriculum collaboration.
- Global Health LabscoreCollaboration on designing, prototyping, and testing innovative TB medication adherence technology, building on previous 99DOTS redesign work.
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research ConsortiumcorePartner for tuberculosis treatment adherence research including 99DOTS digital adherence technology and 3HP preventive treatment studies.
- Temple UniversitycorePartner for trauma-informed care workshop and implementation at Temple University Trauma Center.
- Muhimbili Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI)coreCollaboration with Dr. Mary Xu to improve cancer care delivery in Tanzania through tumor board redesign.
- Ohio University GRID LabminorTechnical partner for Virtual Reality trauma training program using 360-degree video and eye-tracking technology.
- Reset HealthminorResearch partner for End of Life Care for Patients with Advanced Dementia project.
- Homeless Prenatal ProgramminorCommunity partner for Solid Start perinatal care improvement project.
- San Francisco Department of Public HealthcoreGovernment health department partner for hospital-based violence intervention program database design.
- TriadsminorPartner for American College of Surgeons Trauma-Informed Care Curriculum implementation.
- Trauma TransformedminorPartner for trauma-informed care curriculum development and implementation.
- Faithful FoolsminorCommunity partner for trauma-informed perioperative care research.
- AlternovaminorTechnology partner for The WrapApp development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Better Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mayo Clinic Platform: Innovation arm of a top U.S. academic medical center running internal innovation, clinical AI, and care redesign programs. Larger and broader in scope but operates the same 'AMC-embedded innovation' archetype as TBL.
Direct peers
- IDEO: Global design consultancy with one of the most established healthcare practices applying human-centered design to clinical, payer, and medtech clients. Directly comparable on HCD methodology, healthcare focus, and design-driven intervention design.
- Design Institute for Health (University of Texas at Austin): Joint UT Austin/College of Fine Arts and Dell Medical School institute embedding designers in clinical teams. Closest academic analogue to TBL's embedded-in-AMC, design-meets-medicine model.
- Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign: Academic health technology innovation center training multidisciplinary teams in needs-driven medtech invention. Comparable on embedding within a top-tier AMC, applying structured innovation methodologies, and producing publications/talent.
- Center for Care Innovations: Non-profit focused on health equity and innovation across safety-net providers in California. Directly comparable mission alignment on safety-net populations and improvement of care for underserved communities.
- Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design: Johns Hopkins academic center applying design thinking and bioengineering to global and domestic health challenges. Comparable academic structure, design-driven methodology, and clinically embedded operating model.
- IDEO.org: Non-profit spin-out of IDEO applying human-centered design to poverty, health, and economic inclusion in low-resource settings. Strongly comparable on non-profit structure, HCD methodology, and focus on vulnerable populations.
Emerging players
- PATH: Global health non-profit that designs, evaluates, and scales health innovations across infectious disease and maternal health. Comparable on global health focus, intervention design, and evaluation rigor — though broader in scale and disease scope.
Others
- UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations: UCSF-based research center studying health disparities and improving care for vulnerable populations at ZSFG. Sits in the same institutional ecosystem and shares TBL's safety-net patient population focus.
- Mad*Pow: U.S. design and experience strategy agency with a substantial healthcare and behavioral health practice. Comparable on HCD methodology applied to healthcare behavior change, digital health, and service design.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Better Lab social profiles
Digital presenceThe Better Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Better Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Better Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Better Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Better Lab
What does The Better Lab do?
The Better Lab is an independent academic research organization that applies Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodology to study and solve healthcare challenges. It delivers HCD research services for safety-net hospitals and global health programs, developing healthcare interventions such as The WrapApp mobile platform for violence prevention, VR trauma training, 99DOTS digital TB adherence technology, and the PPE Bundle. It also teaches HCD courses and hosts the Design Wednesdays Journal Club to disseminate its methodology.
Is The Better Lab a public or private company?
The Better Lab is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Better Lab founded?
The Better Lab was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Better Lab based?
The Better Lab is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Better Lab make money?
One revenue line is on record: research Grants and Funding.
Who are The Better Lab's main competitors?
Mayo Clinic Platform is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are IDEO, Design Institute for Health (University of Texas at Austin), Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, Center for Care Innovations, Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design and IDEO.org. PATH is listed as an emerging player. Others are UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations and Mad*Pow.
Does The Better Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Better Lab.