Definition of Incubator

An Incubator is an entity that nurtures business concepts to the point where they either become self-sufficient or are attractive to venture capital investors.
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Services offered by business incubators vary considerably. Most offer physical space, but they may also offer entrepreneurial advice, legal services, shared meeting space, administrative support, accounting services, marketing support and many other services.

The goal of an incubator is to encourage entrepreneurship and minimize the obstacles that entrepreneurs might encounter if they did everything on their own. One nice thing about starting a business in an incubator is that you are usually surrounded by many other talented entrepreneurs, which can be both inspiring and also very educational.

Incubator References On This Site

These Gaebler.com articles mention this glossary term:

• Business Incubators - Business incubators offer many of the advantages startups crave, but to...
• Financing the Company - Local technology incubators can help with this and there are several good...
• French Entrepreneurs - Government policies in France concentrate on promotion of venture capital, promotion of state incubators and promotion of innovative startups. However, there is a...
• Due Diligence on Business Incubators - So some incubators would suit the entrepreneur very well while others could...
• Resources for Entrepreneurs - India - It thus provides budding entrepreneurs with innovative ideas an easy access to incubators, angel investors, academia, consulting services and even jobs in...
• Formerly at Lehman Brothers, Now an Entrepreneur - Are you going it alone on this process or are you consulting with others for advice? If you are talking to others, who have you met with? What good advice have you heard? I am doing this with the support of a single partner, a fellow Rensselaer alumni, and with the support of the Rensselaer Incubator Program, which has also fostered a number of other...
• Stirring Public Interest - Good public speakers inside the company should accept every public speaking opportunity that arises at a variety of venues including scientific, technology incubator and investor meetings...
• Business Incubators - Business incubators offer many of the advantages startups crave, but to...
• French Entrepreneurs - Government policies in France concentrate on promotion of venture capital, promotion of state incubators and promotion of innovative startups. However, there is a...
• Due Diligence on Business Incubators - So some incubators would suit the entrepreneur very well while others could...
• Stirring Public Interest - Good public speakers inside the company should accept every public speaking opportunity that arises at a variety of venues including scientific, technology incubator and investor meetings...
• Financing the Company - Local technology incubators can help with this and there are several good...
• Resources for Entrepreneurs - India - It thus provides budding entrepreneurs with innovative ideas an easy access to incubators, angel investors, academia, consulting services and even jobs in...
• Formerly at Lehman Brothers, Now an Entrepreneur - Are you going it alone on this process or are you consulting with others for advice? If you are talking to others, who have you met with? What good advice have you heard? I am doing this with the support of a single partner, a fellow Rensselaer alumni, and with the support of the Rensselaer Incubator Program, which has also fostered a number of other...