Thicket Labs

Founded in 2014, Thicket Labs was hired by corporate, government, and nonprofit clients to spread innovation to tens of millions of people around the world. The company’s work was featured in Fast Company, Stanford Social Innovation Review, USA Today, and at numerous conferences including SXSW Interactive in 2016 and 2017 and the American Evaluation Association’s annual conference. 

The concept for Thicket Labs was born in the streets of Port-Au-Prince in the aftermatch of the 2010 earthquake, where the poignant stories of loss and rebuilding amidst a chaotic environment of stakeholders including residents, aid workers, volunteers, and funders sparked my interest in using technology to add depth and rigor to the processes of needs assessment and evaluation, enabling the amplification of voices and stories often left unheard. Using my background in creative storytelling, social sciences, technology, and movement building, I founded Thicket Labs to develop new tools for collaborative problem-solving.

At Thicket Labs, we specialized in developing tools and platforms that enable organizations and communities to navigate the complexities of social change. Through a blend of innovative data analysis, user-centered design, and cutting-edge machine learning and AI technologies, we created participatory solutions that were not only highly effective but also equitable and inclusive.

As the Founder and CEO of Thicket Labs, I dedicated my work to the intersection of technology, data science, and social innovation. With a passion for crafting solutions that address complex social challenges, our work at Thicket Labs centered on leveraging the power of collaborative technologies to foster sustainable, community-driven change.

After several missteps that could have been avoided, we ran out of operating funds in 2019. For the next two years, we attempted a strategic pivot in a bid to rejuvenate the company and attract new buyers. Our resources included committed team members and the support of interested investors, but the reality is at that time, I lacked certain skills in sales and negotiating needed at that stage to effectively pivot (gaps in my skillset I have since worked diligently to fill).

In 2021, I made the difficult decision to close Thicket Labs. This closure, while heart-wrenching, was a profound learning experience. For me, it underscores the volatile nature of business and the vital import of flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. As I reflect on this chapter, I am reminded of the invaluable lessons learned and the relationships forged, all of which continue to shape my journey and fuel my passion for creating, innovating, and exploring new opportunities.

My work has taught me that at the heart of every technological innovation lies the potential to build bridges, connect communities, and ignite transformative change. As a leader, I aimed to steer Thicket Labs towards these horizons, guided by the principles of empathy, creativity, and relentless curiosity. Today, I continue to believe that technology can help create a more connected, just, and sustainable world.

I also know that, whether through public, private, or not-for-profit funding, companies only survive by creating repeatable impact, achieving operating sustainability, and mastering sales. We achieved the first. We even achieved the second. But while in some ways we held great promise when we shut down, there was also a strong build-up of evidence that suggested we might never be a viable company. Most importantly, we never demonstrably achieved the all-important product-market fit that would have assured us a strong sales pipeline and predictable growth trajectory.

If you’re interested in learning more about Thicket Labs, the lessons I learned while running it, or how I’m applying what I learned in my work today, feel free to book a chat with me below.