Season 2, Episode 7 - Supercharging innovation with labs-as-a-service

*I’m taking a short break next week, but normal service resumes in April 😊

This week I speak with Samuel Wines, co-founder of Co-Labs. With Andrew Gray, Samuel founded Co-Labs to be a laboratory-as-a-service for innovators outside of the traditional academic ecosystem.

Co-Labs counts some exciting startups amongst its current and past members, including Vow, Great Wrap, and recent guest Tina Funder from ALT.Leather.

We speak about systems thinking, the pitfalls of traditional science pathways, creating new ones at Co-Labs, expanding the innovation ecosystem, and keeping a keen focus on giving more than they take.

You can get in touch with Samuel via LinkedIn above or Instagram, and do the same with Co-Labs as well.

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Links

• Bioquisitive, Andrew’s earlier venture

• The Phoenix School Program that Samuel and Andrew lead as well

• A podcast covering Tyson Yunkaporta’s Sand Talk that Samuel references. Highly recommended listen (Podcast | 70 mins)

• …especially if you don’t have time to read the book itself (Book | 288 pages)

• Fritjof Capra and Daniel Wahl, the inspirations behind Co-Labs

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Show notes

[00:02:10] - [First question] – What Co-Labs is trying to be

[00:04:30] - Issues with current scientific and innovation pathways

[00:06:46] - The primary objectives of Co-Labs, and trying to change how society works

[00:10:13] - Samuel’s early career in DJ-ing, modeling and running a creative agency

[00:11:59] - The moment of clarity at a music festival for his life’s purpose

[00:12:56] - Why trans-disciplinary thinking matters

[00:13:30] - From Bioquisitive to Co-Labs with Andrew

[00:15:02] - How remote music festivals stimulate thinking

[00:16:15] - Recognizing the need for a place like Co-Labs

[00:19:06] - Enabling more innovation through connection, and being an inspiration for the next generation of innovators

[00:21:04] - Who Co-Labs is for

[00:22:09] - The broad values alignment Samuel and Andrew aim for

[00:23:37] - Co-Labs alumni and current members, and all the interesting things getting developed

[00:27:25] - How Samuel and Andrew facilitate “innovation-as-a-service” as well

[00:31:16] - What equipment Co-Labs can provide, plus how and why

[00:32:27] - Flexible membership models and why they matter

[00:35:22] - The vetting process for joining Co-Labs

[00:38:34] - Expanding Co-Labs and supporting a broader range of people

[00:40:03] - Existing and blossoming partnerships

[00:41:40] - The potential to expand the model overseas as well

[00:43:04] - Getting much-needed help as Co-Labs expands

[00:44:38] - A democratized dream of the future

[00:46:27] - Being role models for this change

[00:48:01] - Socials and contact info