What GOOD BUSINESS LAB does

Good Business Lab (GBL) is an India-based not-for-profit labor organization founded in 2017 that designs, tests and scales evidence-based programs to improve wellbeing among the world's working poor, particularly in garment manufacturing, gig work and migrant worker populations. The organization operates as a program portfolio rather than a unified software platform, delivering six interconnected service modules: Solution & Design, Program Deployment, Measurement & Evaluation, Coalition Building, Capability Development, and Analysis Advisory. Its core technical claim rests on causal methodologies for impact measurement and AI-driven data analysis, which underpin flagship programs such as a vision-correction intervention with Shahi Exports and VisionSpring (5.7-6% productivity gains, 337% ROI, planned scale to ~100,000 workers), peer support for migrant workers (5% depression reduction), and earned wage access (33% reduction in high-interest loan reliance). GBL reports having impacted 2 million workers since 2017, with its work cited in the Government of India's Economic Survey 2025-26.

GBL does not sell products commercially. Its revenue model is grant-based, drawing from corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, private foundations, philanthropic organizations and international development bodies. The go-to-market is sales-led direct B2B engagement with large enterprises, beginning with a consultation to align on objectives and culminating in a partnership proposal — a model that mirrors professional services rather than SaaS distribution. Customer concentration is anchored by Shahi Exports, the original incubator, alongside a major Indian delivery platform for gig-worker research. The team of 11-50 staff spans India, Colombia and the United States, supporting global NGO positioning with multi-channel thought-leadership (newsletter to 1,500+ professionals, podcast, LinkedIn) and convening platforms such as the Good Business Forum 2025.

Name

GOOD BUSINESS LAB

Legal name

Good Business Lab Foundation

Website

https://goodbusinesslab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Good Business Lab is a global NGO that designs, tests, and scales evidence-based worker wellbeing programs — spanning vision correction, peer support, and earned wage access — for the world's working poor, partnering with large enterprises and funded by CSR, foundations, and international organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Worker Wellbeing Research and Program Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wellbeing, Mental Health & Employee Assistance (EAP) (BPACAPAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work Injury & Workers’ Compensation / Occupational Injury Benefits (BPAIAKAJ), Occupational Health Surveillance & Worker Health Monitoring Programs (HLAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Worker wellbeing programs
• Labor welfare research
• Social impact consulting
• Nonprofit labor organization
• Workforce wellbeing research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CSR Funding: Corporate Social Responsibility funds from companies seeking to improve worker wellbeing
2. Private Foundations: Funding from private foundations supporting worker welfare and poverty alleviation initiatives
3. Philanthropic Organizations: Funding from philanthropic organizations focused on labor and worker welfare
4. International Organizations: International development and aid organizations funding worker wellbeing programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Good Business Lab designs, tests, and scales evidence-based worker wellbeing programs for large private-sector organizations across climate, health, livelihoods, gender, and workplace domains. The organization delivers program design, deployment, and measurement services, using causal methodologies and AI-driven data analysis to quantify impact. Specific program offerings include Vision Correction (near-vision glasses for garment workers), Peer Support Programs for migrant workers, and Earned Wage Access initiatives for garment workers.

Product overview

Good Business Lab is a global NGO that creates pathways out of poverty for the world's working poor through research-backed worker wellbeing programs. Rather than a unified software platform, GBL operates as a program portfolio organization offering six interconnected service modules: Solution & Design, Program Deployment, Measurement & Evaluation, Coalition Building, Capability Development, and Analysis Advisory. These services support specific program initiatives including Vision Correction (near-vision glasses), Peer Support Programs for migrant workers, and Earned Wage Access for garment workers. GBL measures success through causal methodologies and focuses on climate, health, livelihoods, gender, and workplace domains, having impacted 2 million workers since 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worker Wellbeing Programs GBL's umbrella service through which it designs and deploys worker-centered programs that improve wellbeing and business resilience at scale, covering climate, health, livelihoods, gender, and workplace domains for large organizations and enterprises.
• Vision Correction Program A program delivering near-vision glasses to garment factory workers through partnerships with employers and vision-care providers. A study with Shahi Exports provided free spectacles to 682 workers, producing a 5.7-6% productivity increase over 12 weeks and a 337% ROI, with plans to scale to approximately 100,000 workers.
• Peer Support Programs Peer-led support interventions designed for migrant workers that address mental health and productivity. Documented outcomes include a 5% reduction in depression rates and a 6.4% productivity boost among participating migrant workers, alongside a 5.3% reduction in anxiety.
• Earned Wage Access A program that provides garment workers access to their earned wages in advance of payday to reduce reliance on high-interest payday loans. The intervention has been associated with a 33% reduction in reliance on high-interest payday loans among participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Productivity increased by 5.7% to 6% among garment workers receiving near-vision glasses over 12 weeks
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Shahi ExportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Shahi Exports partnered with Good Business Lab on a vision correction study for garment factory workers. The study involved nearly 5,000 screened workers and 682 participants receiving free spectacles through VisionSpring. Shahi Exports has announced plans to expand the vision correction programme to approximately 100,000 workers across its factories.
• VisionSpringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026VisionSpring provided free spectacles to 682 garment workers participating in the vision correction study conducted by Good Business Lab in partnership with Shahi Exports. The study found 5.7-6% productivity increase and 337% ROI.
• Shahi Exports (Incubator)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017GBL was incubated within Shahi Exports in the early days and has now spun off as an independent organization as the team has grown and funding sources have diversified. This founding relationship established GBL's approach to worker wellbeing research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): BSR is a global sustainability advisory network helping enterprises improve worker rights and supply-chain practices. It is comparable to GBL because it works with large multinational buyers on labor conditions and wellbeing, though it is broader in scope and operates as a fee-for-service consultancy rather than an NGO.
• Better Work (ILO/IFC): Better Work is a joint ILO-IFC program improving working conditions and competitiveness in the garment industry worldwide. It is comparable to GBL because it conducts rigorous impact evaluations of worker wellbeing interventions in apparel supply chains, with a focus on evidence-based program design.
• IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative: IDH convenes companies, governments, and NGOs to design and scale worker livelihood and supply-chain programs across multiple emerging markets. It is comparable to GBL because of its focus on coalition-driven, evidence-backed interventions for working poor in global supply chains.
• J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab): J-PAL is a global research center using randomized evaluations to measure the impact of antipoverty programs. It is comparable to GBL because both rely on rigorous causal evaluation to assess interventions for low-income workers and communities.
• Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA): IPA designs and evaluates programs in health, labor, and financial inclusion for low-income populations. It is comparable to GBL for its evidence-first approach to designing and measuring welfare interventions in developing countries.

Direct peers

• IDinsight: IDinsight is a global advisory, data, and analytics organization that helps leaders use rigorous evidence to improve programs for low-income populations. It is directly comparable to GBL because both combine causal impact measurement with direct deployment support to social-sector clients in emerging markets.
• FSG: FSG is a global social-impact consulting firm that advises foundations, corporations, and NGOs on strategy and evaluation. It is directly comparable to GBL because both serve enterprises and funders on evidence-based programs targeting social and worker outcomes.

Emerging players

• VisionSpring: VisionSpring is a global social enterprise providing affordable eyeglasses to workers in low-income communities. It is comparable to GBL because it is an active implementation partner on GBL's vision correction program with Shahi Exports and addresses the same working-poor population through workplace-based interventions.
• Asia Floor Wage Alliance: Asia Floor Wage Alliance is a coalition of labor rights organizations campaigning for living wages across Asian garment-producing countries. It is comparable to GBL because both center worker welfare in the apparel supply chain and engage brand-level actors in India and South Asia.

Regional players

• Fair Wear Foundation: Fair Wear improves labor conditions in garment supply chains across Asia, Europe, and Africa through brand accountability and worker programs. It is comparable to GBL because it operates in the same garment-sector worker wellbeing space and engages enterprises on evidence-based labor improvements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoodBusinessLab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@goodbusinesslab9876
• Facebookfacebook.com/goodbusinesslab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/good-business-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodbusinesslab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GOOD BUSINESS LAB