A structured, energising program that takes you from an early idea to a decision-ready concept—through real testing, clear criteria, and a practical next step.
This is a proven playbook that works across organisations and classrooms alike. It focuses on people, real problems, and rapid learning—so teams and students can move from ideas to clear next steps.
For Organisations startups // corporates // public services // NGOs
When to book an Idea Lab
- You want innovation without launching a big program
- Stakeholders need evidence before committing budget
- Teams are stuck in opinions and need user reality
- You want clarity fast—go, pivot, or stop
What you get
- A clarified problem statement and target group
- A tested concept direction (or a confident “not now”)
- Decision points and success criteria
- A practical roadmap with ownership
How it works
- Before we start — Students choose a real problem they want to tackle and identify who is affected (their target group).
- Day 1 — Form teams & define the challenge — Students form groups, clarify the problem, and agree what "better" would look like. (Checkpoint #1)
- Between sessions — Short interviews and simple testing with classmates, teachers, families, or the community (depending on the topic).
- Day 2 — Create and improve ideas — Build simple prototypes, test them, and refine based on feedback. (Checkpoint #2)
- Day 3 — Present and plan — Present solutions, get feedback, and decide next steps: what to try, who does what, and by when.
Typically run as 3 mornings (with small tasks in between). We can adapt it to your class schedule.
What makes it different
- A practical, decision-focused format built around your actual challenge—not a simulation.
- Lightweight governance built in (so outcomes don’t evaporate).
- Participants build skills they can apply again and again.
- Testing is part of the method—not an afterthought.
For Schools PRIMARY SCHOOL // SECONDARY SCHOOLS I & II // VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
When to book an Idea Lab
- Project weeks / special modules
- Interdisciplinary learning
- Student-led improvement projects
- Building collaboration skills in a new group
What students learn
- Identify real problems worth solving
- Work in teams with clear roles
- Interview, test, and improve ideas
- Present solutions with confidence
- Build practical entrepreneurship skills: initiative, customer/user thinking, and learning through iteration
Teachers get: a clear structure and motivating classroom energy
How it works
- Before we start — Participants submit the problem they want to tackle and the target group affected
- Day 1 — Define the challenge — problem framing + checkpoint #1
- Between sessions — interviews/light testing
- Day 2 — prototype + test + refine + checkpoint #2
- Day 3 — pitch to decision group + next steps + ownership
Typically run as 3 full days across 2–3 weeks. We can adapt the timing to your constraints.
Bring Idea Labs to your school
We’ll adapt the format to your class level and schedule.
Book a 20-minute fit callFAQ
What is the Idea Lab?
A structured, time-boxed format to turn early ideas into validated, decision-ready concepts. Teams test assumptions with real users/stakeholders and leave with a clear next step.
Why do this before starting a project?
To avoid investing time and resources into something that later becomes “too big to fail.” The Idea Lab helps you make a go / pivot / no-go decision early—based on evidence, not opinions.
Who is it for?
Any team—across startups, corporates, public services, and NGOs—and it also works in schools (Primarstufe, Sek I, Sek II, Berufsschule/Berufsfachschule, Übergangslösungen). No special role or hierarchy required.
What do participants need to bring?
A real challenge or idea, plus a target group you can reach (users, stakeholders, students, colleagues). A solution idea is optional—the lab can start from a problem statement.
What outcomes can we expect?
Typically:
- a clarified problem and target group
- tested assumptions and early solution directions
- decision criteria and a recommended next step
- a simple plan: what to build/test next, by whom, and when
Who decides what happens next?
Usually a small jury/decision group reviews interim and final outputs and recommends whether to proceed. The organisation then decides on resourcing and ownership.
What happens after the Idea Lab?
If it’s a “go,” the work moves into normal delivery/project management (or a pilot). If it’s a “no-go,” you’ve saved resources—and you still keep the learning and artifacts for future use.
Your Facilitators
Emilie Etesi
Philipp
Emilie and Philipp’s workshop is refreshing, funny, and motivating—a breath of fresh air. Students don’t just learn for the moment, but for life: they develop creative ideas, work as a team, stand up for their own project, and present it confidently.
Sabrina Müller
Lehrerin, Kantonale Schule für Berufsbildung
Curious if an Idea Lab could work for you?
Let’s explore your goals and shape a session for your organisation or your classroom.
Book a 20-minute fit call