Serving innovation to make the future better.
What is our mission at Cookhouse Labs?
At Cookhouse Labs, we create a global innovation community that tackles current and future industry challenges through co-creation, collaboration and open communication. Inspired by a test kitchen, Cookhouse Labs is a collaborative space for innovative chefs, Tastemakers, and taste-testers to create recipes, infuse flavours, and experiment beyond boundaries. Our community of innovators and subject matter experts is the key ingredient in the ideation process, empowering and integrating a global collection of human-centric focused ideas with Design Thinking to serve innovation across all industries.
Our Mission
To share and collaborate. To design and create. To accelerate innovation and prototyping of digital experiences. To create a holistic digital ecosystem and customer experience.
Our Vision
To foster and encourage co-creation and ideation to generate new business models, products, and services. By shifting from a traditional way of thinking to a more human-centered way of thinking, we aim to collectively develop an ecosystem of digital excellence and strive to make the future better.
Our Work With Our Community
In collaboration with our global community of like-minded people who are bothered to look into world challenges across all industries, we co-create solutions to make the future better.
Foster
an ecosystem for international collaboration between cross-industry innovators and subject matter experts
Collaborate
in understanding customer needs to ideate practical solutions within your industry
Co-create
digital prototypes through innovative use of technology and Design Thinking to accelerate human-centric innovation
Engage
startups and young talent, connecting them with our global community through mentorship programs and collaborative projects
What's Cooking
Check-out the latest offerings on the Cookhouse Labs' menu.
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Lean Startup Masterclass
Virtual
Join this workshop to learn a new way to approach launching a new product, service, or even a new venture. -
Lego® Serious Play® methodology
In-person, Toronto
Experience a groundbreaking approach to problem-solving in our innovation session, introducing the revolutionary LEGO® Serious Play® methodology to Cookhouse Labs. -
Introduction to Design Tools
Virtual
Join our free intro to explore the top 7 tips to create a mockup and what to consider when choosing the right Design tool. -
Design Thinking Masterclass
In-person, Toronto
Design Thinking is a mindset and a process that helps you solve real industry problems by developing customer-focused solutions in a short amount of time. -
Co-creation Sprint
In-person, Toronto
This sprint is all about collaboration. Participants are part of an entrepreneurial team that works together to solve an interesting and timely problem. Stay tuned for more info. -
Co-creation Sprint
In-person Netherlands
Join us in The Netherlands to explore the most critical challenges using Design Thinking and develop real solution blueprints with some of the world’s top insurance organizations! -
Design Tools Masterclass
In-person, Toronto
Learn about fundamental Design Tools and which ones suit your business needs, which are the most challenging and the easiest to use. Our UX/UI designer will walk you through the process of choosing the right tools. -
Google Sprint Masterclass
In-person, Toronto
Explore what you can accomplish using Google Sprint and learn how to ensure you keep solving problems in just five days. -
Train the Trainer Masterclass
Virtual
Elevate your coaching style and way of facilitating innovation sprints. Take advantage of the opportunity to allow your innovation coaches, managers, and innovation leaders to expand their knowledge on the topic and learn new skills from our Innovation Coaches.
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What Our Community Says
“This year I had the chance to work with the team at Cookhouse Labs. In a time where we are all grasping on how to enhance collaboration and innovation remotely, it was impressive to see how the team was able to deliver innovation programs and train the trainer teachings online. Not only did we get to be involved in innovation practices, but Cookhouse Labs also modelled how to deliver using collaboration tools that can be applied to working with any group of people. And the bonus? A chance to expand my community of innovation leaders!”
Susan Gilbert
Director, Digital Operations at MIG Insurance and Co-Founder, Haekka
“What the Cookhouse Labs sprint enabled for us was this: let’s just create a 10,000-foot problem statement and then work with a group to see what solution we come up with. If that solution resembles at all what we’re doing at Micruity, that’s a traction point and you’re on the right track. If it doesn’t, that’s a pivot point. Being a part of that session gave us a little bit more confidence as a very, very early stage company and confirmed that we were on the right track. Bringing together folks with different expertise and having them come up with a similar solution was very valuable.”
Trevor Gary
Founder of Micruity
“Many other professionals and I have had the privilege of working with the innovators at Cookhouse labs. The consulting opportunities, sprints, and Design Thinking sessions have brought in exponential learning to a highly robust and innovative program in Applied Technologies for Insurance here at HSB Canada. I wish Cookhouse Labs continued success and look forward to a lot more learning and excitement, which is part of the DNA of this co-creation space.”
Abhishek Gupta
Manager, IoT Business Development, HSB Canada
“After attending a couple of Cookhouse’s free Design Thinking trainings, we said, “This is an organization that really gets it”. Cookhouse promotes Design Thinking as an approach to product development, innovation, and generally meeting customers’ needs, but also promotes collaboration. There are some big, hefty challenges in our industry, and we don’t have to go at it alone. A Cookhouse Labs membership made a lot of sense because we wanted to partner with like-minded people to tackle some of these big challenges in a more collaborative way, and that’s what really inspired us to join.”
David Simmons
Managing Director at Argus Group’s Center of Excellence
“You don't have to be Steve Jobs to be an innovative individual. I have to upsell the support we got from Cookhouse Labs: the templates guided us in the right direction on how to develop and present our solution in the end, so thank you!”
Tommy Kim
Senior Actuarial Analyst Munich Re Company of Canada
“I enjoyed the multitude of ideas and the level of engagement. I also enjoyed seeing how the virtual setup worked and how everyone was able to collaborate, even though they were in different rooms!”
Bernd Scharrer
COO Operations/IT VHV Holding AG
"First and foremost, Cookhouse Labs was an entryway into meeting a lot of parties within the Canadian insurance industry. We were introduced to senior leaders at MGAs and other insurance companies. We also got to participate in some interesting workshops with people that we deal with every day, like a workshop with underwriters to talk about the future of underwriting. It was interesting to get their point of view on how far we could push the envelope, where some of the constraints are, and why those constraints exist. It was very beneficial for us early on to have those sounding boards for some of our ideas to tell us how feasible they would be!"
Laura McKay
Co-Founder of PolicyMe
"Diversity is one of the essential pillars of innovation. The Cookhouse Labs achieves this, among other things, through its international and intercultural approach. Since the founding of the Lab, our students from the Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems at FHWS have repeatedly been able to gain valuable experience through our collaboration with the Lab, demonstrate their competence in international projects, and develop extraordinary concepts, prototypes and business models. Special thanks to the whole team from Cookhouse Labs."
Prof. Dr. Michael Muessig
University of Applied Sciences Wurzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS), Germany; Lecturer and Business Angel
Become a Member
We also offer intro sessions that provide professionals with the opportunity to experience our Cookhouse Labs methodology and a sneak peek at what it’s like to co-create and collaborate with our global community. If you are not a Cookhouse Labs member and are interested in finding out more, check out our membership benefits!