Incubators and their influence on start-ups as well as their performance are widely discussed, especially in Germany where Berlin and Munich are developing a very supportive environment for start-ups. There is a variety of different types of incubators and offered services. Some work for-profit others work non-profit and receive governmental support. For a start-up, the decision, which incubator to chose (or apply for a development program) depends on its business model and the parts of it that need further adjustment. Does a start-up for example need capital? Does it require a lab to conduct experiments? Does it need entrepreneurial education? All those questions influence the decision for the right incubator type.
There has been some research done compiling the services offered by incubators in general (Aerts, Matthyssens, & Vandenbempt, 2007; Al-Mubaraki & Busler, 2010; European Commission Enterprise Directorate-General, 2002; Rice, 2002; Sang Suk & Osteryoung, 2004). In a first step I want to map the different services offered by incubators to the parts of a start-up’s business model to generate an overview of what parts of a business model are influenced in general. There has also been some research about the services offered by different types of incubators (Mian, 1994, 1996) and there has been research comparing different types of incubators (Gassmann & Becker, 2006; Grimaldi & Grandi, 2005; von Zedtwitz & Grimaldi, 2006), but there is almost no literature comparing the influence on a start-up’s business model of different types of incubators. In this work I want to reveal differences in influence on a start-up’s business model in Germany between university-sponsored incubators and independent incubators, as they are the most distinguishable types of incubators. University-sponsored incubators mostly belong to governmental institution and are non-profit oriented, whereas independent (private) incubators do not belong to any institution and aim to make a profit. This work should help distinguish university-sponsored and independent incubators regarding their influence on a business model. First I want to compile the results of existing literature and in a second step challenge those results with qualitative interviews. Therefore I conducted interviews with one university-sponsored and one independent incubator. Providing a clear view on the differences in influence can help start-ups decide which incubator type to chose.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2. Incubator Theory
2.1 Incubator typology
2.2 Methodology
2.3 Incubator influence on a business model
2.4 Existing literature University vs. independent incubators
3 Influence on a start-ups business model: University-sponsored vs. independent incubators
4 Conclusions and further research
Objectives and Research Focus
This seminar paper investigates which components of a start-up's business model are primarily influenced by business incubators, with a specific focus on the comparative differences in influence between university-sponsored and independent, for-profit incubators in Germany.
- Mapping of incubator services to the Business Model Canvas.
- Comparative analysis of university-sponsored versus independent incubators.
- Examination of specific key resource and key activity influences.
- Qualitative assessment through expert interviews with incubator representatives.
- Identification of structural reasons for differing service portfolios.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 Incubator influence on a business model
In the literature the services provided by incubators have often been subject of research (Aerts et al., 2007; Al-Mubaraki & Busler, 2010; Rice, 2002). In this chapter incubator’s services identified in existing literature should be allocated to the different parts of a business model. The goal is to find out, what parts of a start-up’s business model are influenced by incubators in general. In order to divide a business model comprehensively, Osterwalder’s business model canvas is used (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). The interview with “UnternehmerTUM” revealed, that in general incubators influence all parts of a start-up’s business model, as adjusting the business model is a very important incubator task. But still there are core services that can be identified in the literature.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the research context of incubators in Germany and defines the objective of comparing university-sponsored and independent incubator influences on start-up business models.
2. Incubator Theory: This section provides a foundation by defining incubator typologies, detailing the methodology, and reviewing existing literature regarding the allocation of incubator services to the business model canvas.
3 Influence on a start-ups business model: University-sponsored vs. independent incubators: This main chapter analyzes the differences in influence between the two incubator types by synthesizing literature and findings from qualitative interviews with “UnternehmerTUM” and “Wayra”.
4 Conclusions and further research: This final chapter synthesizes the main findings, highlighting that while university-sponsored incubators excel in providing R&D-related resources, independent incubators prioritize capital and professional entrepreneurial training.
Keywords
Business Incubators, Start-ups, Business Model Canvas, University-sponsored Incubators, Independent Incubators, Germany, Entrepreneurship, Incubator Typology, Innovation, Venture Capital, Technology Transfer, Mentoring, Business Model Influence, Key Resources, Key Activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental objective of this seminar paper?
The paper aims to identify which parts of a start-up's business model are influenced by incubators and to determine the differences in these influences between university-sponsored and independent, for-profit incubators in Germany.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in the study?
The study centers on incubator theory, the Business Model Canvas as a framework for analysis, and a comparative study of the services provided by non-profit university-sponsored organizations versus private independent profit-driven entities.
What is the core research question being investigated?
The research seeks to uncover how university-sponsored incubators differ from independent incubators in the way they shape the business models of the start-ups they host.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this research?
The methodology consists of a two-step approach: first, a comprehensive review of existing academic literature, and second, qualitative empirical data collection via interviews with two distinct incubator representatives.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body focuses on mapping general incubator services to the Business Model Canvas, analyzing existing literature, and presenting empirical findings from interviews that highlight differences in human, financial, intellectual, and physical resources.
What are the characterizing keywords of this work?
Key terms include Business Incubators, Business Model Canvas, University-sponsored Incubators, Independent Incubators, Entrepreneurship, and Key Resources.
How do university-sponsored incubators specifically influence "Key Resources"?
They provide access to student employees, libraries, laboratories, and databases, while assisting start-ups in applying for non-repayable state funding rather than providing direct equity-based capital.
In what way do independent incubators differ regarding mentorship?
Independent incubators tend to employ professional mentors focused specifically on entrepreneurial skills and business maturity, reflecting their goal of accelerating growth for profit through equity-based models.
Why are university-sponsored incubators considered more beneficial for technology-heavy start-ups?
Because they provide access to critical research infrastructure, pilot customers within university networks, and 3D-printing or testing facilities that are essential for technology start-ups to develop their products.
What is the main limitation of the study mentioned by the author?
The author notes that the research is limited to two specific interviews and recommends further quantitative research to validate these findings across the broader German incubator landscape.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Moritz Krönig (Autor:in), 2014, What parts of a start-up’s business model are influenced by incubators?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/284289
