Every incubation program, whether it says so explicitly or not, is designed with a certain kind of participant in mind and a certain kind of outcome it hopes to see.
When this remains unstated, confusion creeps in.
When it is articulated clearly, the right people tend to find their way in.
The Living Lab for Urban Green is meant for those who are curious enough to engage with real problems and patient enough to stay with uncertainty.
It is designed for students and early entrepreneurs who are willing to step a little outside classroom and home comfort, and learn by contributing to something that is still taking shape.
Not everyone who joins this program needs to see themselves as a future founder.
Some participants will go on to build startups also. Like 20 out of 1000 kind.
Others will gain something just as valuable - a clear understanding of how ideas move from concept to action, how teams’ function when things are not neatly defined, and how systems evolve through trial, error, and iteration.
Both journeys matter.
The program is particularly well suited to first-time entrepreneurs and early explorers.
Those who arrive without polished pitches, perfect decks, or ready-made answers often do very well here.
The Living Lab values learning, participation, and growth more than confidence, speed, or performance in front of an audience.
It is also a natural space for women participants and for those seeking flexible, grounded pathways into entrepreneurship.
Because the work remains close to communities, institutions, and everyday urban realities, participation does not demand dramatic lifestyle shifts or high-risk commitments. This makes engagement more inclusive and sustainable over time.
At the same time, the Living Lab is intentionally open to experienced professionals and senior, or “silver”, participants. Many bring practical wisdom, mentoring ability, and long-view thinking that cannot be taught in classrooms.
Their role is not to instruct formally, but to contribute, guide, and strengthen learning through shared experience.
The interaction across age groups enriches both learning and execution.
When it comes to outcomes, this program is deliberately modest in its promises.
It does not chase dramatic success stories.
It is not designed to manufacture unicorns or promise rapid exits.
Instead, it focuses on building credible, service-oriented ventures, practical solutions, and repeatable models that respond to real urban needs.
Some outcomes will take the form of startups. Others may emerge as pilots, services, toolkits, or documented methodologies that can be refined, replicated, or scaled later.
What matters is that outcomes are real, observable, and grounded in actual work.
Success, in this context, is not measured only by what is created, but by what is learned. Did participants develop judgment? Did they experience responsibility? Did they understand how decisions play out in real settings?
By being clear about who this program is meant for, and honest about the outcomes it seeks, the Living Lab creates an environment that is both welcoming and realistic.
It invites serious engagement without exaggeration, and learning without pressure to perform.
That balance, we believe, is what makes this program meaningful.
