OAK’S LAB is an ecosystem designed to support tech startups on their journey from concept-to-scale. Since our inception in 2016, we’ve grown the OAK’S LAB team to 75 and together have worked on 28 startups with a valuation of $700M.
The OAK’S LAB ecosystem is comprised of four separate business divisions:
1) OAK’S DIGITAL
2) OAK’S BOOST
3) OAK’S VENTURES
4) OAK’S ACADEMY
A startup working with OAK’S LAB can leverage one business division independently or all four depending on the stage of the startup. The ecosystem is designed to propel startups through (1) developing digital products, (2) scaling in-house tech teams, (3) providing venture funding, and (4) educating young talent.
Comprehensive product development teams navigating founders from ideation to Series A.
OAK'S DIGITAL was the first business division we created and is at the core of the OAK’S LAB ecosystem. We focus on taking entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas through each phase of product development all the way up to a Series A, at which point we prepare the product for VC due diligence and assist with hiring and onboarding in-house team members to replace our team.
Our teams at DIGITAL act as a founder’s first hire. When a startup is kicking off their technology buildout, DIGITAL forms a fully fledged product development team consisting of a Product & Project Manager, Lead UI & UX Designer, Lead Software Engineer and an engineering team that work full time on the founder’s idea. We navigate the startup through ideation, market research, rapid-prototyping, product launch, and growth.
Scaling in-house product development teams for later-stage companies in offshore locations.
OAK'S BOOST is designed to connect exciting US later-stage tech companies with top level talent in Central and Eastern Europe. When a tech company that matches our values (see Manifesto here) raises a large investment round (Series B or Series C) and is looking to significantly scale their product development team, we get to work. BOOST establishes an offshore entity, sets up an inspiring office space that matches the US company’s brand and culture, and implements and maintains all the finance, legal, and HR processes in line with local legislation. BOOST scouts, screens and hires new product development team members who work directly for the later-stage company.
In addition to our two main divisions, we have experimented with expanding the ecosystem in a few other ways since our inception.
Venture capital fund investing in the top startups built by DIGITAL.
Our vast tech startup building experience combined with the unparalleled visibility that DIGITAL has into the startups we develop, places us in a unique position with exceptional investment opportunities. As DIGITAL stewards the startup from ideation, to launch, and then growth, we develop strong bonds with the startup’s founding team and with our insight are the first to see early indicators of success. VENTURES is established to broaden the OAK’S LAB startup support infrastructure and make investments in the top startups built by DIGITAL.
Elite apprenticeships transforming A-list talent into entry-level professionals.
Great companies only exist due to great people. The vision for ACADEMY is to find and train the future greats in tech. ACADEMY scouts top young talent and offers them the opportunity to learn from the best through elite apprenticeships. Apprentices are paired with experienced industry veterans working on leading-edge projects. They are assigned great responsibilities and fast-track their learnings by shadowing a mentor in a real life product development environment. The best apprentices get an offer to work at DIGITAL or other startups in the OAK’S LAB ecosystem.
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