Youth Co:Lab
Youth Co:Lab is a grant-funded UNDP and Citi Foundation initiative that empowers 15–24-year-old social entrepreneurs across 30+ Asia-Pacific countries through its Springboard portfolio, having engaged roughly 400,000 participants since 2017.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Youth Co:Lab does
Youth Co:Lab is a grant-funded regional youth empowerment initiative co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Asia-Pacific through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. It serves young people aged 15–24 seeking to launch or scale social enterprises, with a secondary audience of 100+ Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) and 28+ Asia-Pacific governments working on the enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship. The stated footprint covers 30+ countries and territories, ~400,000 participants reached since 2017, 48,000+ youth entrepreneurs supported, and 4,000+ youth-led social enterprises launched or strengthened, delivered through 700+ ecosystem partnerships.
Youth Co:Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Co:Lab
- Legal name
- Youth Co:Lab
- Website
- https://youthcolab.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Youth Co:Lab is a grant-funded UNDP and Citi Foundation initiative that empowers 15–24-year-old social entrepreneurs across 30+ Asia-Pacific countries through its Springboard portfolio, having engaged roughly 400,000 participants since 2017.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Co:Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programs
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects) (EDANAKAI), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Youth Co:Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bangkok
- HQ country
- Thailand
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Youth Co:Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Not Applicable - UNDP/Citi Foundation Initiative: Youth Co:Lab is a co-created initiative between UNDP and Citi Foundation launched in 2017. It operates as a grant-funded development program rather than a commercial entity. The initiative does not generate revenue from services; it is funded through co-leadership and financial support from founding partners and additional donors (Microsoft, Sweden, etc.).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Youth Co:Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Youth Co:Lab is a joint UNDP and Citi Foundation initiative that delivers the Springboard Programme — a portfolio of capacity-building tracks (PLUS for investment readiness, ELEVATE peer-to-peer fellowship, AMPLIFIER ecosystem knowledge collaboration, and HUB online resource platform) for young social entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific. It also runs the Climate Catalysts Programme, annual Summits, and National Dialogues to accelerate SDG implementation through youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Product overview
Youth Co:Lab is a regional youth empowerment and entrepreneurship platform co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation. The platform positions young people front and center to solve Asia-Pacific's most pressing challenges through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. The core offering is the Springboard Programme, which consists of four integrated tracks: Springboard PLUS for investment readiness, Springboard ELEVATE for peer-to-peer fellowship, Springboard AMPLIFIER for ecosystem knowledge sharing, and Springboard HUB as an online resource hub. Additional offerings include the Climate Catalysts Programme, annual Summits, National Dialogues, the Movers Programme, and the Strategic Intelligence Hub, all serving the goal of accelerating SDG implementation across 30+ countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Springboard Programme: Core startup support framework focusing on enhancing readiness of young entrepreneurs and bridging opportunities through curriculums and an ongoing support hub
- Springboard PLUS
- Springboard ELEVATE
- Springboard AMPLIFIER
- Springboard HUB
- Climate Catalysts Programme
Products and services
- Springboard Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- ~400,000 participants engaged across Asia-Pacific since 2017
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Youth Co:Lab
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Youth Co:Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Youth Co:Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- MicrosoftsupportingSupporting partner for the 2026 Climate Catalysts Programme. Provides technology expertise and resources for youth climate innovators in Asia-Pacific.
- ICIMODsupportingInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development partnering on Climate Catalysts Programme for Asia-Pacific climate innovation.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreCo-creator and co-lead of Youth Co:Lab initiative. UNDP provides global reach, policy expertise, and development credibility. The partnership establishes a common agenda for youth empowerment across Asia-Pacific.
- Citi FoundationcoreCo-creator and co-lead of Youth Co:Lab initiative. Citi Foundation provides funding, financial inclusion expertise, and corporate social responsibility alignment with youth entrepreneurship development.
- Governments (28+ countries)coreGovernment partnerships across Asia-Pacific enable national youth social innovation activities, policy development, and enabling environment creation for youth entrepreneurship.
- Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (100+)coreESOs strengthened to deliver inclusive services. Includes incubators, accelerators, NGOs, and local entrepreneurship organizations that deliver Youth Co:Lab programs.
- Ecosystem Partners (700+)coreBroad ecosystem partnership network mobilized to support youth entrepreneurship across the region.
- Technology FirmssupportingSpringboard PLUS partners with technology firms to provide essential knowledge and resources for youth social enterprises.
- Youth Co:Lab Alumni NetworksupportingAlumni such as Soowgood establish partnerships among themselves, e.g., to provide primary health services for Indigenous communities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Co:Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs through fellowship and capacity-building programs. Closest analog to Youth Co:Lab's model of identifying, funding, and convening changemakers, with comparable focus on youth-led social innovation and ecosystem building.
- Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs offering incubation, accelerator programs, and community for social entrepreneurs. Comparable to Youth Co:Lab's downstream/midstream support via a distributed partner network across multiple geographies.
- Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: World Economic Forum-affiliated network of social entrepreneurs that connects founders to policymakers, investors, and corporate partners. Comparable to Youth Co:Lab's upstream policy engagement and ecosystem convening role.
- Enactus: Global nonprofit operating in 30+ countries that engages student and youth leaders in social entrepreneurship projects. Comparable to Youth Co:Lab in regional footprint, youth focus, and partnership-driven delivery model.
- Echoing Green: Global fellowship for emerging social entrepreneurs providing seed funding, leadership development, and a lifelong peer community. Mirrors Youth Co:Lab's Springboard PLUS investment-readiness and ELEVATE peer-network components.
- Hult Prize: Global student-led social entrepreneurship competition and accelerator program partnered with the United Nations. Directly comparable to Youth Co:Lab in targeting youth founders and aligning with UN/SDG frameworks.
- MIT Solve: Global initiative from MIT that drives cross-sector collaboration to solve world challenges through social entrepreneurship funding and fellowships. Functionally similar to Youth Co:Lab's curated fellowship model for high-impact ventures.
Broad incumbents
- Acumen: Global impact investor and entrepreneur-support organization that combines patient capital with leadership development for entrepreneurs serving the poor. Broader in scope than Youth Co:Lab but operationally similar in building entrepreneur ecosystems in emerging markets.
Regional players
- Social Alpha: India-based innovation platform supporting social enterprises through incubation, acceleration, and access to capital. Comparable to Youth Co:Lab's investment-readiness and ecosystem-building mission but focused on India and structured as a venture philanthropy platform.
- Villgro: India-based social enterprise incubator providing seed funding, mentorship, and incubation support to early-stage social enterprises. Comparable to Youth Co:Lab's role in Indian ecosystem but operates as a commercial incubator rather than a UN-affiliated program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Youth Co:Lab social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Co:Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Co:Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Youth Co:Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Youth Co:Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments12 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Co:Lab
What does Youth Co:Lab do?
Youth Co:Lab is a joint UNDP and Citi Foundation initiative that delivers the Springboard Programme — a portfolio of capacity-building tracks (PLUS for investment readiness, ELEVATE peer-to-peer fellowship, AMPLIFIER ecosystem knowledge collaboration, and HUB online resource platform) for young social entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific. It also runs the Climate Catalysts Programme, annual Summits, and National Dialogues to accelerate SDG implementation through youth-led social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Is Youth Co:Lab a public or private company?
Youth Co:Lab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Youth Co:Lab founded?
Youth Co:Lab was founded in 2017. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Youth Co:Lab based?
Youth Co:Lab is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, in the Asia region.
How does Youth Co:Lab make money?
One revenue line is on record: not Applicable - UNDP/Citi Foundation Initiative.
Who are Youth Co:Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ashoka, Impact Hub, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Enactus, Echoing Green, Hult Prize and MIT Solve. Acumen is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Social Alpha and Villgro.
Does Youth Co:Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Co:Lab.
What industry is Youth Co:Lab in?
Youth Co:Lab's product category is Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAC, Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators, with a secondary code of EDANAKAI, Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects). Its NAICS code is 611710.