Incubator best practice: A framework

Abstract

Incubators have become a ubiquitous phenomenon in many parts of the world and are viewed as a tool for promoting the development of technology-based growth firms. Considering the large faith and the considerable amounts of money invested in incubators, the identification of best practice incubator models is of importance. Previous incubator assessment literature has tended to emphasise the measurement of incubator outcomes. In this paper, we argue that best practise identification requires a holistic approach, where the goals of the incubators are taken into account and the performance of different incubators are put in relation to their incubator models. In this context, the aim of this paper is to develop a framework that can serve as a basis for identifying best practice incubator models and for more rigorous evaluations of incubator performance. The framework suggested includes three distinguishing model components: selection, business support and mediation. We distinguish between ideafocused selection and entrepreneur-focused selection as well as between "picking-thewinners" and "survival-of-the-fittest" selection. Business support is seen as a continuum from "laissez-faire" to "strong intervention". Mediation strategies vary in terms of the type of innovation system in focus: technological, regional or cluster. The framework is applied to 16 Swedish incubators.

The Sustainability and Challenges of Business Incubators in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

“…Notable among these challenges are: lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of venture capital, poor growth rate, productivity falling behind, aging population, downsizing, and the lack of true entrepreneurship [8,9]. Owing to the foregoing challenges, business incubators find it difficult to uphold their mandates as development agents [1,2,10] and in, some cases, their long-term survival becomes threatened. Of course, this may negatively affect SMEs who depend on them for survival [11].…”

“…In fact, business incubators are seen globally as an essential tool for the development of SMEs and considerable amounts of resources are invested in them today. For instance, business incubation has become a growing phenomenon in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa according to Berge and Norman [1].…”

Arquétipos De Aceleradoras De Startups: Proposição De Uma Ferramenta Analítica

“…As aceleradoras firmaram-se como importantes atores por gerarem valor as startups de uma maneira que, até então, não havia sido feito por outras organizações. A aceleração é um processo interativo e dinâmico de criação de valor para empreendimentos iniciantes, com foco em específico em um modelo chamado de startups, como também para outros atores do ecossistema de empreendedorismo -investidores e grandes corporações -por meio da inserção de recursos -mentoria, rede de contatos, investimento semente -em etapas determinadas do estágio de desenvolvimento, visando à redução de riscos e a mitigação de incertezas dos envolvidos diretamente nesse processo (DILTS; HACKETT, 2004aHACKETT, , 2004bBERGEK;NORMAN, 2008;BRUNEEL et al, 2012;BARALDI;HAVENVID, 2015;CLARYSSE et al, 2015). A aceleração é gerida e operacionalizada por uma organização chamada de aceleradora (HOCHEBERG, 2014 (COHEN;HOCHBERG, 2014).…”

Informal Construction Practices as Knowledge Incubators: A Conceptual Framework

“…Networking, provide to new incubatee tenants, special contacts such as of bankers, venture capitalists, technologists, and government officials or universities" (Allen D. R., 1985;Smilor R. , 1987;Udell, 1990;Roseira, Ramos, Maia, & Henneberg, 2014;Winger, 2000). In addition, networking gives legitimacy of new entrants to external partners (such as leading universities) that can be used and leveraged by the start-up incubate tenants to enhance their visibility, credibility and legitimacy (Bergek & Norrman, 2008;Roseira, Ramos, Maia, & Henneberg, 2014;Grimaldi & Grandi, 2005;Salvador, 2011;Smilor & Gill, 1986;Bøllingtoft & Ulhoi, 2005;Salvador, 2011).…”

“…Technologically, incubator covers physical or virtue spaces upon which newly discovered technology is nurtured before being transferred to industries for commercial application and in terms of entrepreneurship, the term business incubator is generally used in relation to nurturing entrepreneurial skills whether in physical or virtue spaces or otherwise. Business incubators therefore, describe a wide range of ubiquitous and heterogeneous institutions that operate in different contexts and with diverse objectives (Scillitoe & Chakrabarti, 2010;Bergek & Norrman, 2008;Schwartz, 2013).…”