The Good Lab

What The Good Lab does

The Good Lab (好單位), registered as Good Lab Foundation Limited, is a Hong Kong-based social innovation consultancy founded in 2012 that operates at the intersection of the civic, private, and public sectors. The firm's core methodology is process design and Design Thinking applied to social innovation, used to develop community engagement processes, facilitate co-creation, and build capacity within NGOs, youth programs, and public sector projects. Its portfolio of offerings spans five core service lines (Community Engagement & Co-creation, Innovation Training & Capacity Building, Youth as Changemakers, Cross-sector Co-learning, and Impact-driven Strategy & Solutions) plus three platform assets: The Future Workshop venue (a 720–1,170 sq ft pay-as-you-go event space in Lai Chi Kok with NGO/social-enterprise discount pricing), the How Come Communities cross-Asia practitioner learning platform, and the Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok district platform formed with 14 partner organizations.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional-services fees — consulting and advisory engagements with government departments and NGOs, project-based training fees, and venue rental income from The Future Workshop. Pricing is quote-based for consulting and training, while venue rental is transparently unit-priced (Training Space at $900–$1,200 per session for NGOs and $1,000 for standard clients; combined Training Space + Cafe at $1,500–$1,800). The firm reports 4,976+ impact initiatives delivered since inception and operates an active hiring programme, indicating ongoing scale-up. Key institutional relationships include the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (primary programme funder), HKCSS, Yan Oi Tong, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and multiple Hong Kong government departments including DSD, LCSD, FEHD, EPD, and the Education Bureau. Geographic reach remains primarily Hong Kong, with cross-border co-learning activity extending to Shanghai, Chengdu, and Tokyo.

Name

The Good Lab

Legal name

Good Lab Foundation Limited

Website

https://goodlab.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Good Lab is a Hong Kong-based social innovation consultancy founded in 2012 that delivers Design Thinking-based community engagement, innovation training, youth incubation, and cross-sector collaboration services to government departments, NGOs, and social enterprises, anchored by The Future Workshop venue in Lai Chi Kok.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving (EDABAMAG)

Keywords

• Social innovation consulting
• Design thinking facilitation
• Community engagement services
• Youth entrepreneurship programs
• Cross-sector collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Kowloon City

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

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. Consulting and Advisory Services: Good Lab provides strategy consulting for social innovation and cross-sector collaboration, working with government agencies, NGOs, and social enterprises on community engagement and innovation projects.
2. Venue Rental - The Future Workshop: Good Lab operates The Future Workshop venue in Lai Chi Kok, renting out flexible multifunctional spaces for workshops, seminars, and conferences. Revenue is generated through hourly/daily rental fees with different pricing for NGOs/social enterprises versus standard rates.
3. Innovation Training and Capacity Building Programs: Good Lab delivers Design Thinking and strategic foresight training programs to organizations, enhancing service innovation and resilience. Revenue comes from training fees and workshop facilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Good Lab is a strategy consultant for social innovation and cross-sector collaboration, founded in 2012. It uses process design and Design Thinking methodology to help government agencies, NGOs, social enterprises, and corporations design innovative participation processes, build capacity, nurture youth changemakers, and facilitate cross-sector co-learning. It also operates The Future Workshop venue in Lai Chi Kok for workshops, seminars, and conferences.

Product overview

Good Lab is a social innovation consultancy founded in 2012 that operates at the intersection of civic, private, and public sectors. The organisation offers a portfolio of services including community engagement and co-creation, innovation training and capacity building, youth development programmes, and cross-sector collaboration initiatives. Key offerings include: The Future Workshop venue rental service at Lai Chi Kok; How Come Communities platform for cross-Asia practitioner learning; and Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok district platform. The organisation delivers multiple youth entrepreneurship and innovation incubation programmes including Market For Good, Jockey Club YouthCreate Series, MetroChallenge, and Small Shops Cre-Action Lab. Good Lab's approach is grounded in Design Thinking methodology and focuses on process design, empowerment in innovation training, and co-learning among business, non-profits and philanthropies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Future Workshop (好單位創變空間) Multifunctional event and training venue in Lai Chi Kok offering flexible spaces for workshops, seminars, and conferences. Two main spaces: Training Space (~720 sq ft, max 50 persons) and Training Space with Cafe Area (~1,170 sq ft, max 80 persons), with discounted rates for NGOs and social enterprises. Includes AV system, tables, whiteboards, and flipchart boards.
• Community Engagement & Co-creation Services Design of innovative participation processes for people-centred public services and spaces, translating community needs into solutions that enhance public life. Services include stakeholder engagement, community co-creation, and participatory design. Targets government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Innovation Training & Capacity Building Empowering organisations through Design Thinking and strategic foresight methodologies to enhance service innovation and organizational resilience. Delivered through training programmes and workshop facilitation for government, NGO, and corporate clients.
• Youth as Changemakers Programme Nurturing future-ready innovators and building opportunities for youth to apply innovative thinking in diverse changemaking activities, including incubation and entrepreneurship support. Targets young people, university students, and recent graduates.
• Cross-sector Co-learning Connecting diverse innovation communities and facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborations across sectors and cities. Includes cross-city visits, knowledge exchange programmes, and practitioner empowerment initiatives.
• Impact-driven Strategy & Solutions Mobilising knowledge from research and practice to develop replicable innovation strategies and frameworks for organisations. Delivered as consulting engagements for government, NGO, and corporate clients.
• How Come Communities (社群共創平台) A co-learning platform for community practitioners across Asia that facilitates cross-city visits, knowledge exchange, and practitioner empowerment. The platform connects community building practitioners to document and organise practice experiences into a systematic body of knowledge.
• Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok (社創荔枝角) A platform formed by 14 organisations dedicated to connecting social innovation organisations, social enterprises, purpose-driven businesses, and creative organisations in the Lai Chi Kok district. Aims to showcase social innovation stories, build exchange platforms, and cultivate an innovation community.
• Market For Good (共好市集) A youth community entrepreneurship and innovation initiative that transforms vacant market spaces into platforms for youth entrepreneurship and community empowerment. Operates as a non-profit coordinated model for FEHD markets; engaged 8 youth startup teams and 10 partner organizations.
• Jockey Club YouthCreate Series A three-year youth service innovation programme working with 16 Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres, focusing on Design Thinking methodology and four skill tracks: Arts for Change, Social Technology, New Media, and Maker Education.
• MetroChallenge (薈創點) A startup incubation programme for Hong Kong Metropolitan University students and alumni, providing practical guidance on Design Thinking, business model development, and entrepreneurial mindset building. 20+ startup teams groomed through the programme.
• Small Shops Cre-Action Lab (小店創意實驗室) A community co-creation programme that connects community members with local small shops to prototype creative solutions for neighbourhoods, focusing on multicultural shops, old artisan shops, and next-generation stores. Operates in the Yau Tsim Mong district.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4976+ Impact Initiatives delivered since founding in 2012
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Drainage Services Department (DSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSD is a key government partner for community engagement projects related to infrastructure. Good Lab served as Design Thinking and public engagement partner for projects including the Shek Wu Hui Effluent Polishing Plant community space design, Ta Kwu Ling drainage improvement works, and Yuen Long Town Nullah improvement works.
• Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCSD partnered with Good Lab for the service design of the new leisure services booking system and leisure venues, applying Design Thinking methodology to improve public service delivery.
• Hong Kong Council of Social Services (HKCSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKCSS partnered with Good Lab as co-creation and editorial partner for the ethnic minority professional traineeship program, resulting in the publication of a Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development.
• Hong Kong Metropolitan University Student Affairs OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHKMU partnered with Good Lab to run the MetroChallenge startup incubation program for university students and alumni, focusing on social innovation ventures.
• Yan Oi Tong - Youth Dream Workshop (仁愛堂青少年夢工場)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYan Oi Tong partnered with Good Lab for the Dreamcrafter community innovation incubation program supporting youth in Tuen Mun to develop social innovation projects.
• Big Fish Community Design Centre (大魚社區營造發展中心)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood Lab participated in the 2024 Xinhua Community Design Conference in Shanghai organized by Big Fish, facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange on community building between Hong Kong and mainland China practitioners.
• CarbonCare InnoLabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbonCare InnoLab is a co-founding partner of the Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok platform and collaborates with Good Lab on climate resilience initiatives.
• Ednovators (教育燃新)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdnovators is a co-founding partner of Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok and collaborates on education innovation initiatives. Ednovators celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.
• Make A Difference Institute (MaD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaD is a key collaborator on youth entrepreneurship programs including the Market For Good initiative and co-host of Social Innovation Lai Chi Kok events.
• Food and Environmental Hygiene DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEHD collaborated on the Market For Good project, providing access to vacant market stalls in Yue Man Market for the youth entrepreneurship experiment.
• Caritas Computer WorkshopmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaritas Computer Workshop participated as a community partner organization in the Market For Good youth entrepreneurship program, providing support and resources for young entrepreneurs.
• Hong Kong PHAB AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong PHAB Association (伤健青年协会) was a community partner in the Market For Good program, supporting youth with diverse abilities to participate in entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Hong Kong Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association Kwun Tong District Youth Outreach Social Work TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth outreach social work team partnered on the Market For Good program to engage young people in entrepreneurship activities in the Kwun Tong community.
• Social Enterprise SummitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Good Lab on the Small Shops Cre-Action Lab project in Yau Tsim Mong district.
• Life Workshop (生命工場)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Small Shops Cre-Action Lab project focusing on community co-creation with local small businesses.
• Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner visible in Good Lab's collaborator network, engaging in knowledge exchange on social innovation topics.
• Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner visible in Good Lab's collaborator network for social innovation and design thinking initiatives.
• The Education University of Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Good Lab's collaborator network for education and youth development programs.
• Hong Kong Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization partner in Good Lab's social innovation network.
• Christian Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services organization partner in Good Lab's community engagement network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy pioneering Design Thinking. Comparable to Good Lab in methodology (Design Thinking, co-creation) and government/civic engagement work, but at vastly larger scale and global reach.
• FSG: Social impact strategy consultancy advising foundations, corporations, and governments. Highly comparable to Good Lab's 'impact-driven strategy & solutions' and cross-sector collaboration offerings, though with broader geographies and deeper research depth.
• Ashoka: Global organization supporting social entrepreneurs and changemakers. Highly comparable in mission (nurturing changemakers, social innovation ecosystem-building) but operates at a global network scale with country chapters.
• Bridgespan Group: Global social-sector consulting firm advising nonprofits, philanthropies, and social enterprises on strategy and capacity. Overlaps with Good Lab's advisory work for NGOs, foundations, and social enterprises in Hong Kong.
• frog design: Global design and innovation consultancy (part of Capgemini Invent) operating in the same Design Thinking and human-centred design space as Good Lab, with a much larger commercial client base and geographic spread.

Regional players

• Social Innovation Park: Singapore-based non-profit driving social innovation and entrepreneurship across Asia. Comparable mission and ecosystem-building approach, with a regional rather than single-city footprint.
• Forum for the Future: UK-based sustainability and social innovation charity advising organizations on systems change. Comparable in applying Design Thinking and futures methodologies to social and environmental challenges, though based in Europe with a global remit.
• Centre for Social Impact: Australia-based social innovation research and capability-building organization. Comparable in building social innovation capacity through research, training, and ecosystem partnerships, though focused on the Australian market.
• Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Singapore-based social innovation research and platform hub hosted at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Comparable as a regional social innovation convening platform with research, training, and ecosystem-building functions.

Direct peers

• Community Business: Hong Kong-based non-profit focused on corporate social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration. Closest local peer to Good Lab in mission, geography, and target segments (corporates, NGOs, government).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheGoodLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/good-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodlab
• Xx.com/GoodLabHK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Good Lab