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Where business incubators started, and what's next

Where business incubators started, and what's next

Technical.ly30-03-2025

In the 1870s, we invented invention.
Many books and graduate papers have argued why the Industrial Revolution happened when and where it did. But more than anything else, over the 'long twentieth century,' as economics historian Bradford deLong calls it, science, policy and the market codeveloped the corporation and the research lab. Thomas Edison was as much an entrepreneur as a scientist.
Then, during the Second World War, more military spending went into research and development than ever before. A working paper revised in 2023 demonstrated that where R&D spending went in the 1940s influenced where patents, tech talent and high-growth entrepreneurship flourished over the next half-century.
As researchers in lab coats professionalized processes for identifying ideas, business people in suits developed systems for commercializing those ideas.
In upstate New York in the 1950s, the Batavia Industrial Center became the first business incubator — yes, the word 'incubator' was a reference to chickens from the beginning. Others followed, commonly in response to emptying manufacturing corridors and hope in squeezing the most out of homegrown inventors and entrepreneurs. By the 1960s, what became Philadelphia's University City Science Center was the first urban version, mixed in with messy urban renewal politics. The model mixing physical space with mentorship and basic business services began showing up across the country.
Enough examples were active by the 1980s that leaders wanted a place to convene. And so launched what is today the International Business Innovation Association (inBIA), which boasts 1200 members across 30 countries. Next week, inBIA hosts its 39th annual conference in Philadelphia.
'Entrepreneurship unlocks tremendous economic potential,' said Charles Ross, the group's President and CEO. 'Incubators help communities harness that power.'
Incubating tiny chickling businesses has always been different than chasing the already-fattened chickens of the corporate world. But the discipline was long seen as a fool's errand for policymakers and civic leaders: Why focus on ideas that might not go anywhere when you can hunt for those that have already become established businesses?
Well, for one, it's getting harder to move big business. Second, entrepreneurship is booming, so economic development is undergoing a renaissance in what is lovingly called ecosystem building. Around the world, when economic development leaders seek examples of where to find hometown startups, they often look to a member of Ross's association. Entrepreneur needs are different in their early days.
'Entrepreneurs consistently tell us community is the most valuable part of incubation programs,' Ross said. So those entrepreneurs go, and stay, where they can find community, which typically looks like programming, resources and identity — all of which is aided by storytelling, a topic that features at the inBIA conference.
'Entrepreneurship is a team sport,' Ross said, 'but it's also a lonely endeavor. Physical spaces foster community, trust, and sharing, essential for entrepreneurial success.'
His members range in size from big institutions to entrepreneurship centers that pop up at colleges and universities, like ones at Boie State and Coppin State. On average, members receive as much as 15% of their funding from federal sources, including the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation. That means current DOGE-powered budget battles aren't existential but threatening.
Business incubation started in the Eisenhower years, was formalized in the Reagan 80s and grew under Clinton and Obama. Entrepreneurship is bipartisan and incubators show up in places that tilt both Republican and Democratic, so Ross is confident their work will continue.
'Place-based entrepreneurial support enables community, trust, and sharing — all crucial for startup success,' Ross said. 'We need entrepreneurs now, as much as ever.'

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Ecosystem builders are choosing community over capital
Ecosystem builders are choosing community over capital

Technical.ly

time15-05-2025

  • Technical.ly

Ecosystem builders are choosing community over capital

For organizations looking to support entrepreneurs, leaders in the space say it's time to stop obsessing over scale and the venture capital financing route. Instead, focus on deep impact through trusted referral networks, sharing leadership and being creative about getting capital to those who need it, panelists at the 39th International Conference on Business Incubation (InBIA) said last month in Philadelphia. Growth — sustainable and manageable — will follow. 'I don't know that what [entrepreneurs] need is a single place they can go to get all the help they need,' Heidi Knoblauch, a professor at the University at Albany, SUNY, said at the event hosted by the International Business Innovation Association. 'What they need is key people in their lives who will help propel them.' As federal funding for innovation becomes increasingly uncertain and living costs steadily rise, economic developers and entrepreneur support programs represented on the panel say they are pushed to reconsider how they work with their respective communities. Build referral networks, not (just) one-stop shops Many ecosystems are designed to have a single point of entry or a hub that can support every founder at every step of the way. But panelists, including Knoblauch, pushed back against this 'one-stop shop' model – and instead advocated for a distributed network of place-based support, where relationships matter more than standardized forms. A well-tended and trusted referral network, she said, is foundational to long-term partnership with, and within, communities of entrepreneurs. She also shared that entrepreneurs are likely to stop asking for help, and even quit, if they are referred to the wrong resource three times. Other ecosystem participants will be the connective tissue, bringing it all together, David Ponraj, CEO and founder of Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) said. 'Once the entrepreneur raises their hand, it's the ecosystem's job to get them to the right place,' he said. In practice, that looks like using tools like EIC's network navigator to more effectively and efficiently provide referrals for entrepreneurs, Naila Jackson, program director at Network Navigator, said. But referrals are often seen as encroaching on the role of ESOs, so unsurprisingly, many local organizations found this new tool to be threatening. 'We are starting to see the difference and changes in making good referrals,' she said, 'and in good referrals, you build trust, and you are able to actually realize… the gaps that we have.' When funding tensions arise, share the leadership. Those who work in economic development or entrepreneurship support are familiar with the presence of 'silos' in our ecosystems. Baltimore readers will recognize the term 'Smalltimore' — the notion that any two strangers in the city are likely separated by a single degree of connection or two. And yet, for all its intimacy, Baltimore remains a city of siloes. Major breakthroughs, bold experiments and generational work unfold quietly in different corners and labs of the city, often unheard by those who might benefit the most from knowing. The instinctual response to this fragmentation is to 'break down these siloes' — gathering builders, funders, creatives and caretakers across communities and sectors, and seek for consensus on strategy and direction, according to Tarsha Hearns, formerly the vice president of entrepreneurship at Small Business Majority. This coalition-building is helpful and can bring about real change, but when one organization gets the funding to distribute to other organizations, tensions inevitably arise. The increased funding and services are great for the community, but they bring a new power dynamic into the fold, which can undermine trust and the relational capital. Informal leaders may be excluded and grassroots relationships can become transactional, while ecosystem players may feel pressure to take sides and join funder-driven agendas rather than community-rooted priorities. 'The two currencies at the table are funding and egos,' Rhonda Ladig, formerly the vice president at Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, said. So how do we overcome this dynamic? Hearns recommends shared leadership. 'Even though one organization might be getting all the money and … recognition, if you find that there is distrust or hesitation, or that money and leadership are the big elephants in the room,' Ladig said, 'then be willing to step back a bit, elevate the other organizations and share that leadership.' Help businesses get customers, not just raise VC Instead of looking for the next big check, panelists encouraged the audience to think creatively, and, as the community-generated wealth increases, to consider locally managed capital pools that reflect the communities they serve. Ladig and Knoblauch both pointed to the need for more creative innovation capital structures, rather than relying on the venture capital and investment firms, which are known to not always be accessible or inclusive. 'The system of capital is not built for the people who really need them,' Ladig said, highlighting how financial models too often exclude the very entrepreneurs that ecosystems claim to support. Knoblauch emphasized that the most effective way for an entrepreneur to secure money for their business isn't through chasing funding—it's by gaining customers. She challenged ecosystem support organizations (ESOs) to rethink their role: instead of focusing solely on fundraising, how can they directly help entrepreneurs find and retain customers? In her view, that's where ESOs can have the greatest impact, functioning more like community organizers than gatekeepers of capital. 'It's not [about] how we get funders to fund one on one,' Knoblauch said. 'That thinking about this wrong. [The better question is] how do we not need the funders? If you get businesses to have customers, to create jobs, to create wealth in your community, to do things like creating capital structures…to further generate wealth for people by aggregating small amounts of capital.' Knoblauch proposed smaller, community-driven funding mechanisms, not just dilutive investments that require giving up ownership of the company. This makes for friendlier deal terms that do not prey on first-time entrepreneurs or those who are unaware of financing options. Knoblauch briefly mentioned loan-loss reserves and seller equity as other creative financing levers to reach audiences that otherwise might not receive funding. If economic developers, ecosystem builders and civic leaders are serious about community transformation, they must consider how support is structured, shared and sustained, panelists said. The future of entrepreneurship support and ESOs, they said, will be rooted in relational currency. And the emerging leaders will be those willing to redesign the system, one relationship at a time.

The tech scene is blooming with these 26 community events in April
The tech scene is blooming with these 26 community events in April

Technical.ly

time03-04-2025

  • Technical.ly

The tech scene is blooming with these 26 community events in April

The phrase 'April showers bring May flowers' isn't just about precipitation and plants — it's about how activity in the present can yield results in the future. If you want your garden to grow, you have to water it, and if you want your skills, knowledge and network to grow, you have to get out there and make it happen. Luckily, there's a downpour of opportunities this month, including info sessions on the latest industry trends, conferences with experts and leaders, casual gatherings for networking and more. Explore this roundup to see what's available, then make your plan and get ready to meet your community. Who knows — the seeds you plant this month might grow into something beautiful. Check out the links below and browse the company directory for more info on the host orgs, and for more local tech community events (or to promote your own), visit Events board. Thursday, Apr. 3 FDA Modernization: Opportunities for patient impact and economic development — 'Each new drug requires over 15 years and $2 billion to evolve from the earliest stages of research to ultimate approval for use in patients. New tools — including AI models for drug discovery, bioprinting of organoids, and organs-on-a-chip promise to reduce the cost and timeline, although they have not yet been integrated into the regulatory pathway for medical products. The FDA Modernization Act of 2022 opened the door to the use of cutting-edge platforms in clinical and nonclinical development, providing a generational opportunity for innovators and ecosystem builders alike. Join panelists as they discuss the patient impact and the economic development opportunities made possible thanks to FDA Modernization.' Hosted by University of Maryland BioPark. Friday, Apr. 4 Biotechnology Sprint Student Showcase — 'Come see the final projects of our FirstHand™ Biotechnology Sprint high school students! With guidance from ThermoFisher mentors, students will prepare and deliver a sales pitch for a biotechnology instrument, supply, or reagent that they used during the semester. All are welcome!' Hosted by University City Science Center. Monday, Apr. 7 39th International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI39) — 'Get ready for InBIA's 39th International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI39), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Join entrepreneur support professionals from all over the globe to connect, explore new strategies, share best practices, learn about current trends and gather tools and resources. Peer-led sessions will focus on relevant topics, expert keynotes will share inspiring insights, and local ecosystem leaders will showcase their programs.' Hosted by International Business Innovation Association with support from University City Science Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Tuesday, Apr. 8 TEDCO's DefTech Monthly Office Hours — 'Come to the office hours to discuss how DefTech can support your business by leveraging cutting-edge technology, facilities, equipment, and expertise found in the Maryland Department of Defense Labs.' Hosted by TEDCO. Artificial Intelligence in the Context of M&A Transactions — 'Join Doneld Shelkey and Ben Klaber as they provide a summary of significant market trends in M&A in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.' Hosted by Morgan Lewis. Wednesday, Apr. 9 PitchMasters — 'At this virtual, workshop-style event, companies seeking to become 'pitch-perfect' will present their investor decks to the group and receive feedback to help refine their pitch before they go in front of investors. This is a great opportunity for companies to get ready for that 'ask.' 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Startups that are 'investor ready' and raising a current round of Seed to Series A funding may apply to be selected for 1:1 speed dating investor meetings (in person only) from 1 to 4pm on Tuesday April 22d at Shulman Rogers Offices in Park Potomac MD. Also during this time, several workshops will be hosted by My NEXT Raise Trusted Partners on a variety of topics critical to startup success.' Hosted by NEXT powered by Shulman Rogers. Wednesday, Apr. 23 2025 Tech & Sourcing Philadelphia Summit Business – Transformation and the Digital Leap Forward — 'Join Morgan Lewis and your colleagues in the region for our 2025 Tech & Sourcing Philadelphia Summit. This year we are expanding the agenda to allow more time for exploring issues that are top-of-mind for technology and sourcing lawyers. The summit will kick off with an hour of AI and ethics, followed by three hours of interactive presentations and workshops by market leaders in the technology and privacy fields. 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Where business incubators started, and what's next
Where business incubators started, and what's next

Technical.ly

time30-03-2025

  • Technical.ly

Where business incubators started, and what's next

In the 1870s, we invented invention. Many books and graduate papers have argued why the Industrial Revolution happened when and where it did. But more than anything else, over the 'long twentieth century,' as economics historian Bradford deLong calls it, science, policy and the market codeveloped the corporation and the research lab. Thomas Edison was as much an entrepreneur as a scientist. Then, during the Second World War, more military spending went into research and development than ever before. A working paper revised in 2023 demonstrated that where R&D spending went in the 1940s influenced where patents, tech talent and high-growth entrepreneurship flourished over the next half-century. As researchers in lab coats professionalized processes for identifying ideas, business people in suits developed systems for commercializing those ideas. In upstate New York in the 1950s, the Batavia Industrial Center became the first business incubator — yes, the word 'incubator' was a reference to chickens from the beginning. Others followed, commonly in response to emptying manufacturing corridors and hope in squeezing the most out of homegrown inventors and entrepreneurs. By the 1960s, what became Philadelphia's University City Science Center was the first urban version, mixed in with messy urban renewal politics. The model mixing physical space with mentorship and basic business services began showing up across the country. Enough examples were active by the 1980s that leaders wanted a place to convene. And so launched what is today the International Business Innovation Association (inBIA), which boasts 1200 members across 30 countries. Next week, inBIA hosts its 39th annual conference in Philadelphia. 'Entrepreneurship unlocks tremendous economic potential,' said Charles Ross, the group's President and CEO. 'Incubators help communities harness that power.' Incubating tiny chickling businesses has always been different than chasing the already-fattened chickens of the corporate world. But the discipline was long seen as a fool's errand for policymakers and civic leaders: Why focus on ideas that might not go anywhere when you can hunt for those that have already become established businesses? Well, for one, it's getting harder to move big business. Second, entrepreneurship is booming, so economic development is undergoing a renaissance in what is lovingly called ecosystem building. Around the world, when economic development leaders seek examples of where to find hometown startups, they often look to a member of Ross's association. Entrepreneur needs are different in their early days. 'Entrepreneurs consistently tell us community is the most valuable part of incubation programs,' Ross said. So those entrepreneurs go, and stay, where they can find community, which typically looks like programming, resources and identity — all of which is aided by storytelling, a topic that features at the inBIA conference. 'Entrepreneurship is a team sport,' Ross said, 'but it's also a lonely endeavor. Physical spaces foster community, trust, and sharing, essential for entrepreneurial success.' His members range in size from big institutions to entrepreneurship centers that pop up at colleges and universities, like ones at Boie State and Coppin State. On average, members receive as much as 15% of their funding from federal sources, including the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation. That means current DOGE-powered budget battles aren't existential but threatening. Business incubation started in the Eisenhower years, was formalized in the Reagan 80s and grew under Clinton and Obama. Entrepreneurship is bipartisan and incubators show up in places that tilt both Republican and Democratic, so Ross is confident their work will continue. 'Place-based entrepreneurial support enables community, trust, and sharing — all crucial for startup success,' Ross said. 'We need entrepreneurs now, as much as ever.'

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