We help founders get back into the driver’s seat.

Who’s behind this

Lug Nut Labs is led by Monique Claiborne.

Her work focuses on helping founders move from early traction into sustainable growth — with a strong emphasis on clarity, ethical decision-making, and systems that reduce chaos rather than amplify it.

Why The Name

A lug nut is small, overlooked, and essential. It’s the piece that keeps the system stable — and the one you notice only when it’s missing.

That’s how we work: focusing on the critical points that keep your company moving forward without unnecessary strain.

You’ll see this idea show up throughout our language — torque, traction, leverage — because building well is about applying force in the right places.

Welcome!

Lug Nut Labs was born from firsthand experience inside startups that were expected to scale fast but rarely given the structure to succeed. 

Why we exist

Startup culture normalizes chaos. We don’t.

We believe companies grow better when founders:

  • Make fewer, higher-quality decisions

  • Replace urgency with intention

  • Build systems instead of carrying everything themselves

Lug Nut Labs was created to support founders who want to scale without burning out or losing their agency.

What we do

We are a public think tank and a founder systems lab.

That means we:

  • Publish ideas and frameworks founders can apply immediately

  • Build practical tools that replace hustle with leverage

Our work connects research, ethics, and execution — so the systems you build actually hold up in the real world.

Meet the Team

  • Monique Claiborne

    FOUNDER

    Monique is a Princeton alumna and former Henry Luce Scholar with a career spanning startups, social impact, and global markets. She has held senior roles in strategy, brand, and operations, guiding organizations through key phases of growth. Through Lug Nut Labs, she helps underestimated founders build category-defining businesses with precision, clarity, and community-driven growth.

  • Eva Califano

    CHIEF OF STAFF INTERN

    Eva Califano is a second-year student at Columbia University studying Financial Economics with a minor in Sustainable Development. At Lug Nut Labs, she supports strategy and operations and works with early-stage founders. She has experience in impact-driven work, including conducting a carbon footprint assessment and serving as Director of External Initiatives for the Columbia University Impact Investing Network.