Practice reveals the questions research has not yet asked.
THIRDLAB is an emerging practice-based research initiative hosted by 13Leaders and CON ENT. It explores leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational transformation where existing frameworks reach their limits. We begin with real questions from practice, clarify what is truly at stake, and translate lived complexity into researchable inquiry.
THIRDLAB connects leaders, entrepreneurs, students, researchers and organizations in a third space between academia and practice. We are currently building a network of Research Associates and Practice Partners who want to turn unresolved real-world challenges into grounded insight, learning and new possibilities.
About THIRDLAB
THIRDLAB operates as a structured collaboration platform that links academic research with ongoing leadership and entrepreneurial practice. It provides a setting where organizations, students and researchers can work on concrete challenges while contributing to broader knowledge development. Rather than offering predefined solutions, THIRDLAB focuses on generating insight that can inform decision-making, strategy and organizational learning over time.
We identify and articulate the underlying questions within complex situations, making implicit challenges visible and actionable.
Translate
We convert these questions into formats that align with academic standards, enabling meaningful collaboration with research partners.
Explore
We investigate selected topics through structured inquiry, combining theoretical perspectives with practical experimentation.
Connect
We facilitate collaboration between organizations, students and researchers, ensuring that insights are shared, tested and further developed across contexts.
Papers
June 2026
The Invisible Cap Table - Investor Influence, Interpretation, and Leadership in Early-Stage Ventures
Peter Rost