Hudson Lab Ventures empowers the next generation of bold, globally minded leaders who are ready to navigate complexity, drive impact, and shape the future of our interconnected world.
Students + Big Problems = Opportunity
At Hudson Lab Ventures, we believe that students are capable of far more than traditional education allows. Too often, students are taught to seek one “right” answer instead of exploring multiple paths to a solution. Creativity is confined to the arts, while real-world problem-solving is rarely part of the curriculum. At Hudson Lab Ventures, we aim to change that.
As the world faces a growing shortage of creative, collaborative problem-solvers, we see summer as an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of visionary thinkers and leaders. Through hands-on challenges, interdisciplinary projects, and guided decision-making, students learn how to think critically, test ideas, and build confidence in their choices. Given the right structure, support, and freedom to explore, students can rise to meet complex problems—and begin to shape the world around them.
Practical Skills for Every Field.
Hudson Lab Ventures programs are grounded in three core pillars: Design Thinking, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Teamwork. In a world defined by rapid change, complexity, and global interconnection, these three pillars are more than just skills—they're survival tools.
Design Thinking
Students follow the path of the world's leading universities and brands by using the Design Thinking approach to apply process, and creativity to complex real-world problems.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Students learn how to innovate and adapt through iteration—an essential skill in a world where globalization and rapidly evolving technologies demand constant innovation just to stay competitive and relevant. .
Teamwork
Students collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, gaining insight into their unique strengths and how they contribute to a team. While personal achievement reveals potential, it’s collaboration that shapes their future.
Vision + Leadership
”I envisioned Hudson Lab Ventures as an innovation ecosystem where government, nonprofits, corporations, and educational institutions collaborate to provide students with real-world opportunities to create, collaborate, and lead. By engaging in interdisciplinary challenges, our partners design experiences where students grow into skilled problem-solvers prepared to tackle the world’s most pressing issues—and continue as forward-thinking leaders in tomorrow’s workforce.”
Cate Han is an entrepreneur dedicated to bridging innovation between education and the workplace. She is the founder of NY-based Hudson Lab School and Hudson Lab Ventures. Cate has supported startups in raising over $100M in early-stage capital and has worked with founders to build company value through mentoring, strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and fundraising. She began her career as a Quantitative Analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein and later helped establish the financial operations at Managed by Q. She also co-founded Learning Pods. Cate is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Barnard College.
Our History
Hudson Lab Ventures’ curriculum was originally developed by Co-Created as a cutting-edge innovation framework used by executives at multinational corporations to solve real-world business challenges. This rigorous, action-oriented approach was then thoughtfully adapted for high school students through the lens of Hudson Lab School’s project-based learning model to empower students to think like entrepreneurs—collaborating in teams, tackling complex problems, and developing creative solutions with real-world impact.
