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The Role of Incubators in the Entrepreneurial Process

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Abstract

We outline a model that improves our understanding of the role of incubators in the entrepreneurial process. Specifically, we focus on the impact of the services offered, namely infrastructure, coaching and networks, on the graduation rates of the respective incubators' tenants. The model is tested among three different types of incubators, for-profit, non-profit, university-based incubators. Based on our qualitative findings, we conclude that our initial model is ineffective, in the sense that it cannot fully explain the role of the incubators in facilitating entrepreneurship. Interviews with directors of incubator centers were also carried out simultaneously. Further analysis of the results along with interview responses from incubator directors, led us to propose a more comprehensive model to explain how incubators affect the entrepreneurial process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lally School of Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 3214 Pittsburgh Building, 110 Street, Troy, New York, 12180

    Lois Peters & Malavika Sundararajan

  2. Murata Dean, F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, Babson College, Olin Hall 242 A, Babson College, Babson Park, MA, 02457

    Mark Rice

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  1. Lois Peters
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  2. Mark Rice
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  3. Malavika Sundararajan
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Peters, L., Rice, M. & Sundararajan, M. The Role of Incubators in the Entrepreneurial Process. The Journal of Technology Transfer 29, 83–91 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOTT.0000011182.82350.df

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