The Writers Lab

Name

The Writers Lab

Legal name

The Writers Lab Inc

Website

https://twlstories.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Screenwriting Workshops (Film/TV/Web) (EDAMAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online & Hybrid Creative Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAL), Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Screenwriting lab programs
• Women screenwriter development
• Script mentorship workshops
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Film industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Application and Submission Fees: Fees charged for script submissions to Lab Intensives. The flagship Int'l Lab charges $50-$85 for submission depending on deadline, plus optional feedback packages ($125-$190). Canada Lab charges $70-$95 USD submission fee plus $1,650 CAD intensive fee for selected participants.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters (including high-profile celebrities like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman) and foundation supporters. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as of October 1, 2024.
3. Foundation and Corporate Sponsorship: Support from organizations like Dirty Films (Cate Blanchett), The Meg & Alex Weidner Family Foundation, The Cornelia T Bailey Foundation, The Lisa Cleff Kurtz & Michael Kurtz Foundation, and Lynch Hall Charitable Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Writers Lab provides selective Lab Intensives that develop feature film and pilot scripts written by women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40, delivered as multi-day in-person and virtual residencies with one-on-one mentorship from 100+ industry professionals. It also offers ongoing free virtual workshops, mentor masterclasses, the Digital Conversation Series, the Write. Produce. Connect. Summit, and the TWL Podcast. Programs are funded primarily through tax-deductible donations plus tiered application and feedback fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Writers Lab International: Flagship U.S.-based lab program for women and nonbinary screenwriters over 40
• The Writers Lab Canada
• TWL UK & Europe

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 scripts received annually in recent years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

API detail

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Firecracker DepartmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Produces The Writers Lab Canada in Toronto in partnership with Female Eye Film Festival. Provides script prep sessions and ongoing alumni support.
• DGC OntariominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with DGC Ontario for hosting the TWL Canada Intensive in Toronto.
• Content LondoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with The Writers Lab UK & Ireland for the Write. Produce. Connect. Summit 2024.
• Lee & ThompsonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with The Writers Lab UK & Ireland for the Write. Produce. Connect. Summit 2024.
• Women in Film & TV (UK & Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with The Writers Lab UK & Ireland for the Write. Produce. Connect. Summit 2024.
• Screen ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supports the UK & Europe Lab program, contributing to the development of Scottish and broader European screenwriters.
• Fís Éireann/Screen IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supports the UK & Europe Lab program, contributing to the development of Irish screenwriters.
• Northern Ireland ScreencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supports the UK & Europe Lab program for Northern Irish screenwriters.
• Birds' Eye ViewcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supports the UK & Europe Lab program, working to achieve gender balance in film.
• Ffilm Cymru Wales & BFI NETWORKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supports the UK & Europe Lab with funding from the National Lottery for Welsh screenwriters.
• Drehbuchforum Wien (Screenwriters Forum Vienna)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partners with The Writers Lab for the UK & Europe program.
• FremantleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Backed The Writers Lab Europe debut edition in 2022 along with HBO Max Nordic.
• Nicholl FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TWL alumnae have earned 8 placements and 3 winners in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship competition.
• Untamed StoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnered since 2021 to bring Lab intensives to the United Kingdom and participating European countries including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Norway.
• Women in Film and TV IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Leads the Irish expansion of the UK & Ireland Lab since its inception in 2021, resulting in 2 paid writing placement opportunities for Irish screenwriters with leading producers.
• Roadmap WritersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Provides in-kind support to The Writers Lab as a screenwriting-focused platform.
• Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-produces the flagship Int'l Lab with co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon. WGAE offers discounted script registration at $17 for TWL applicants who are not members of the Guild.
• The Black ListcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Provides in-kind support to The Writers Lab. The Black List is a renowned platform for discovering outstanding screenplays.
• Film FatalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Provides in-kind support to The Writers Lab. Film Fatales is a nonprofit collective of female filmmakers.
• Falco InkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Provides in-kind support to The Writers Lab as a literary and talent management company.
• Final DraftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Provides in-kind support to The Writers Lab as the leading screenwriting software provider.
• Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Produces The Writers Lab Canada with Firecracker Department. Established in 2001 as a not-for-profit international women directors' film festival. Included in Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee by MovieMaker Magazine for 12 consecutive years.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sundance Institute: Runs the Sundance Screenwriters and Feature Film Labs — the most prominent U.S. screenwriting development programs. Highly comparable in providing immersive, mentor-driven script development intensives for independent film, though broader in scope than TWL's women/nonbinary 40+ focus.
• Film Independent: Operates the FIND Labs for screenwriters and directors, offering project development, mentorship, and industry access. Comparable in its selective cohort-based lab model and mission to develop independent film talent, though not demographic-specific like TWL.
• Script Pipeline: Runs screenwriting competitions, development programs, and industry pitch sessions connecting writers with producers and managers. Comparable as a script development platform, though its model is competition/online-based rather than in-person mentor-driven intensives.
• Roadmap Writers: Online screenwriting development platform with mentorship, competitions, and lab-style programs — partners with TWL for in-kind support. Comparable as a screenwriting development service for emerging and experienced writers, but digital rather than in-person intensive.
• Canadian Film Centre: Operates the CFC's Residents Program and writing labs for Canadian film and TV creators. Highly comparable as a selective, cohort-based screenwriting lab and a relevant peer for TWL Canada given shared Toronto geography and Canadian film industry focus.
• IFP / Gotham Film & Media Institute: Runs the Gotham Labs and project development programs supporting independent screenwriters and filmmakers. Comparable selective cohort-based model with industry mentorship and a focus on underserved voices in U.S. independent film.
• PAGE International Screenwriting Awards: Major screenwriting competition where TWL alumnae have earned 12 placements and 4 winners. Comparable as a script development pathway with industry recognition value, though a competition rather than a mentorship lab.

Others

• The Black List: A script discovery and evaluation platform that partners with TWL for in-kind support. Comparable as a script-development ecosystem player but operates a paid evaluation marketplace model rather than a cohort-driven intensive lab.

Broad incumbents

• Women in Film & Television International: Global umbrella network for women in film organizations, including WIFTI chapters across countries where TWL operates. Comparable mission to advance women in the film industry, but operates more as an advocacy/professional association than a hands-on development lab.

Emerging players

• Film Fatales: A nonprofit collective of women and nonbinary filmmakers — partners with TWL for in-kind support. Comparable mission to amplify underrepresented filmmakers, but focuses on director membership/community rather than script development intensives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/The_Writers_Lab
• Facebookweb.archive.org/web/20250116110053/https://www.facebook.com/thewriterslabnyc
• Instagramweb.archive.org/web/20250116110053/https://www.instagram.com/the_writers_lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Writers Lab