Innovation Labs
In 2020 the Toilet Board Coalition introduced the ‘Innovation Lab’ model; a 6-month programme aimed at targetting specific gaps in the sanitation economy from a technological, geographic, business model, or demographic perspective.
Innovation Labs work with businesses that are early stage and not yet ready for the Accelerator programme. Labs are launched with partners to accelerate innovation and market development in a specific context.
Our first Innovation Lab:
women in the Sanitation Economy
Powered by the Toilet Board Coalition, with the strategic support of Kimberly-Clark under the Kotex brand, the Women in the Sanitation Economy Innovation Lab is designed to cultivate and catalyse early stage ideas and businesses within the Sanitation Economy that are either women-led and/or women’s health focused.
There is a clear need for more innovation and business solutions to meet exploding consumer demand and to close the gaps on hygiene, including women’s health. We are excited that this new initiative will address this need, by promoting women’s empowerment and helping fill the existing pipeline gaps in women’s leadership in products and services within the Sanitation Economy.
We are particularly proud to have Kimberly-Clark’s Kotex brand providing strategic support and mentorship to this initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to opening doors for all women. Kotex exists to ensure a period never gets in the way of any woman’s progress.
Our Programme
Who is it for?
Early stage businesses within the Sanitation Economy that are either women-led and/or women’s health focused. You will find below the five businesses that we have selected for this first iteration of the programme.
Our offering
As part of the Innovation Lab, entrepreneurs receive:
- World-class support and mentoring from Kimberly-Clark employees
- Access to Toilet Board Coalition’s secretariat team
- Training and webinars on business topics
- Access to our network of sanitation entrepreneurs
- Guidance and development of a custom workplan to bring their ideas to life
Meet our Innovation Lab entrepreneurs
Want more info about innovation labs?
For more information on this programme or to express interest in joining the next round, get in touch with us.
