What MakerLab does

MakerLab is a private, founder-led innovation consultancy headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2014 and operating as a member of the MakerStreet diversified group. The firm employs 11-50 professionals (approximately 10-15 visible team members across designer and operational roles) and serves enterprise, healthcare, education, and public-sector clients with structured programs spanning rapid validation through full-scale implementation. Its core service portfolio includes one-week Innovatie Sprints, eight-week Concept Accelerators, Living Labs conducted in real-world physical environments (such as airports, hospitals, and transit stations), Inhouse Expert engagements that embed experiment and business designers inside client teams, and Expert Assessments for portfolio review. Underpinning these is a proprietary Business Impact Model — a structured framework with stakeholder mapping cards and value-stream visualization for designing business model viability — which is positioned as a registered methodology and brand asset.

The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and consulting-led, with revenue generated through quote-based professional services engagements rather than disclosed pricing. Multi-year contracts are referenced as a billing cadence, and clients span aviation (Schiphol), public transport (OVpay), insurance (Centraal Beheer, OHRA, Independer), healthcare (OLVG, Zorgkantoor, Spaarne Labs, Duchenne Parent Project), media (BNNVARA), education (Haags Montessori Lyceum, VAN IN), events (RAI), and technology (Viaconnect). Channel strategy relies on content marketing through a blog and case-study library, LinkedIn presence, recurring event partnerships (notably Hacking Health Amsterdam), and cross-referrals within the MakerStreet ecosystem (Unplugged, Elevator, MIX, DesignThinkers, Startup Village, AMS Institute).

MakerLab's technology stack combines traditional service design with operationalized generative AI. The team uses ChatGPT, custom GPTs (including a Persona Multiplier GPT for synthetic persona generation), Formless-powered conversational questionnaires, and internally-built tools — Equalwrites for inclusive-language checking and a knowledge-bank chatbot — to accelerate research, persona development, and methodology lookup. Operating geographies are concentrated in the Benelux and Western Europe. The firm does not disclose revenue, has no recorded funding rounds, and operates from a single Amsterdam office at Fred. Roeskestraat 99 as part of the MakerStreet innovation campus.

Name

MakerLab

Legal name

MakerLab

Website

https://makerlab.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MakerLab is a private Amsterdam-based innovation consultancy, founded in 2014 and part of the MakerStreet group, that helps enterprise, healthcare, education, and public-sector clients validate and scale new propositions through structured programs including Innovatie Sprints, Concept Accelerators, Living Labs, and its proprietary Business Impact Model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Consulting Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (54143)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• Service design
• Experiment design
• Business design
• Living labs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Innovation Consulting: MakerLab generates revenue through consulting engagements including Innovatie Sprints, Concept Accelerator programs, Living Labs projects, Expert Assessments, and Inhouse Expert placements. Services are delivered by experiment designers and business designers through structured programs ranging from 1-week sprints to multi-month engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MakerLab is an innovation consultancy that helps organizations validate new products, services, and business models through structured experiment design and business design methodologies. Its core offerings include Innovatie Sprints (1-week intensive problem-solving), Concept Accelerator (8-week validation programs), Living Labs (participatory innovation in real-world physical environments), Inhouse Experts (embedded design talent), Expert Assessment (innovation and business evaluation), and the Business Impact Model (business model design tool).

Product overview

MakerLab is an innovation consultancy bureau that offers a portfolio of consulting services organized around experiment design and business design methodologies. The core offerings include: Innovation Sprint (1-week intensive problem-solving sprints), Concept Accelerator (8-week concept validation program), Living Labs (participatory innovation in physical locations), Inhouse Experts (embedded team augmentation), Expert Assessment (evaluation services), and Business Impact Model (strategic planning tool). Additionally, MakerLab has developed internal AI-powered tools including Equalwrites (inclusive language checking), a Persona Multiplier GPT (synthetic persona generation), and a Knowledge Bank Chatbot. These services and tools work together to help clients move from problem identification through validation to business model development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Impact Model: A proprietary model to explore and design the business model of a concept, providing insights into potential value early in the innovation process.
• Innovatie Sprint
• Concept Accelerator
• Living Labs
• Inhouse Experts
• Expert Assessment

Products and services

• Innovatie Sprint (Innovation Sprint) A one-week intensive sprint that tackles a concrete customer problem or validates product viability. Available in two variants: Design Sprint for problem-solving and Business Design Sprint for market viability assessment. For enterprise clients with concrete innovation questions.
• Concept Accelerator An 8-week program where experiment and business designers help turn a concept into a validated solution through a structured 4-step process: Discover, Ideate, Problem Solution Fit, and Roadmap. For innovation managers with defined concepts.
• Living Labs Physical location-based participatory innovation methodology where experiments are conducted in real-world environments (airports, hospitals, schools, transit stations) to research and implement positive changes at specific locations. For organizations seeking validated innovation in real user contexts.
• Inhouse Experts Temporary injection of experiment designers and business designers who bring expertise and bridge strategy, tactics, and operations to accelerate innovation projects. For organizations needing embedded design talent without long-term hires.
• Expert Assessment External expert review available in two variants: Innovation Assessment (evaluates innovation context and processes) and Business Assessment (evaluates specific business cases and opportunities). For organizations seeking a fresh perspective on stalled or underperforming innovation projects.
• Business Impact Model A strategic tool that helps explore and design the business model of a concept, creating clarity on value exchange between stakeholders using stakeholder mapping cards and value stream visualization. Includes downloadable PDF and physical Card Deck. For innovation teams designing new business models.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced intake process from 35 to 8 days for healthcare organization
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hacking Health AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2023Annual healthcare hackathon where MakerLab serves as partner, providing experiment design coaching to teams. MakerLab coaches guide teams from concept to prototype over 3-day events addressing healthcare challenges in Amsterdam.
• DesignThinkerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign-driven innovation consultancy and training partner. DesignThinkers helps organizations realize innovation strategies with strong human focus, training and developing teams for bold innovation and positive change. MakerLab refers clients needing design thinking training to DesignThinkers.
• Startup VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of start-ups and network partners focused on AI and Quantum technologies. Located at a magical place where start-ups apply new technologies to promote innovation and improve lives. Provides access to emerging technology innovators for potential collaboration.
• AMS InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. Works on finding interdisciplinary urban solutions in close collaboration with public and private partners and citizens, using Amsterdam as a living lab.
• MakerStreetcoreOthersParent company of MakerLab. MakerStreet is an innovation and marketing ecosystem that includes multiple specialized agencies including Unplugged, Elevator, MIX, and others. Provides shared infrastructure, resources, and cross-referrals among member companies.
• UnpluggedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSister company within MakerStreet ecosystem. Worked with MakerLab on Haags Montessori Lyceum project. Provides complementary consulting services.
• MIXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing bureau and sister company within MakerStreet ecosystem. Collaborated with MakerLab on Viaconnect/Coolgradient project to develop sales deck and go-to-market materials.
• VAN INcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest educational publisher in Belgium. Nine-year successful partnership with MakerLab for in-house innovation programs, including 4-month intensive programs where MakerLab helps develop new educational products through structured innovation methodology.
• Verbond voor VerzekeraarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Insurers in the Netherlands. Organized 8 editions of Jongeren Innovatie Programma (Youth Innovation Program) with MakerLab, where young professionals from insurance industry develop propositions with coaching from MakerLab experts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy that pioneered design thinking and human-centered design, offering services closely comparable to MakerLab's experiment design and business design engagements. IDEO is the benchmark for the kind of innovation consulting MakerLab operates in.
• Frog (Capgemini Engineering): Design and innovation consultancy (now part of Capgemini) that runs product, service, and experience design engagements for global enterprises. Direct competitor to MakerLab in the design and innovation services market.
• Board of Innovation: Innovation consultancy that helps corporates build new ventures and innovate from within, with methodology and corporate workshop offerings that closely overlap with MakerLab's Innovatie Sprint, Concept Accelerator, and Expert Assessment services.
• Smart Design: Consultancy combining product, service, and experience design with innovation strategy for enterprise clients. Closely comparable to MakerLab in offering design-led innovation engagements to large organizations.
• Fahrenheit 212 (Capgemini Invent): Innovation consultancy within Capgemini Invent that focuses on growth, innovation, and venture building for Fortune 500 clients. Operates in a directly comparable space to MakerLab's concept validation and business model design offerings.
• ustwo: Digital design studio and innovation consultancy that combines product design, service design, and venture building. Operates in a closely comparable space to MakerLab's experiment design and Living Labs offerings.
• Method (GlobalLogic): Global design and innovation consultancy that combines experience design, brand, and technology to help enterprises innovate. Directly comparable to MakerLab's innovation design and service design practice.

Broad incumbents

• FJORD (Accenture Song): Design and innovation arm of Accenture Song, offering service design and innovation at global scale. Overlaps with MakerLab's service design and Living Labs capabilities but operates as part of a much larger portfolio.
• McKinsey Leap (by McKinsey & Company): McKinsey's build, design, and operate unit, offering rapid product and venture building for enterprise clients. Competes for the same enterprise innovation budgets as MakerLab but with far greater scale and brand.
• Deloitte Digital (Monitor Deloitte): Strategy and design arm of Deloitte that provides innovation strategy, product design, and digital transformation services to large enterprises. Overlaps with MakerLab's enterprise innovation work as part of a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/makerlabnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makerlab-nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 MakerLab