2014.04.08
Is Incubating right for your Startup?
Early-stage startups have no time to waste. Your future could depend on whether you incubate or not.
Here are four key takeaways to help you decide
By Matthijs Keij, FastCompany
What’s the better path to success–to be part of a group or go at it alone? For many entrepreneurs in the tech space, being part of something larger has helped them get their businesses off the ground more quickly and smoothly. Ultimately, an incubator [such as the Innovation Cluster’s “The Cube“] can be the perfect bridge to making the big step from idea to execution. Here are four key reasons an incubator might be the best move for you and your business ideas:
1. Fewer mundane tasks, more product development.
Incubators are taking root across the world, offering startups guidance and resources. In essence, incubators are home to angel investors, venture capitalists, and others who are able to mentor entrepreneurs. Many also offer tangible resources such as accounting assistance, office space, and legal guidance.
Having this business infrastructure in place allows your startup to focus on what matters most–the core business, not the mundane, day-to-day administrative responsibilities.
As a member of a specialized incubator myself, I’ve reaped many benefits. My company is a spinoff of two European online advertising agencies, and we’re both part of the same business accelerator. (A note on accelerators vs. incubators: Although incubators and accelerators both help businesses grow, incubators assist companies in their infancy, whereas accelerators guide organizations through future expansion and development.)
Incubators are taking root across the world, offering startups guidance and resources. In essence, incubators are home to angel investors, venture capitalists, and others who are able to mentor entrepreneurs. Many also offer tangible resources such as accounting assistance, office space, and legal guidance.
Having this business infrastructure in place allows your startup to focus on what matters most–the core business, not the mundane, day-to-day administrative responsibilities.
As a member of a specialized incubator myself, I’ve reaped many benefits. My company is a spinoff of two European online advertising agencies, and we’re both part of the same business accelerator. (A note on accelerators vs. incubators: Although incubators and accelerators both help businesses grow, incubators assist companies in their infancy, whereas accelerators guide organizations through future expansion and development.)
2. ACCESS TO “MOVER AND SHAKER” NETWORKS.
One of the biggest benefits of being part of an incubator is the ability to tap into a strong network of business partners. In my case, I can say with certainty that several of our current media and tech partners wouldn’t have worked with us if we had just been out there on our own. Some required large financial commitments, while others considered it too risky to work with a one-month-old startup. But we were able to overcome those obstacles because we were part of an incubator.
Imagine being part of a support system that allowed you to learn from the mistakes of others before you made them yourself.
A powerhouse network can also be beneficial from a public relations perspective. There is only so much you can do as a startup with a limited marketing and PR budget, but, for us, being part of a group of companies has helped us gain traction and step into the spotlight. This, in turn, has also strengthened our ability to scout leads and opportunities.
One of the biggest benefits of being part of an incubator is the ability to tap into a strong network of business partners. In my case, I can say with certainty that several of our current media and tech partners wouldn’t have worked with us if we had just been out there on our own. Some required large financial commitments, while others considered it too risky to work with a one-month-old startup. But we were able to overcome those obstacles because we were part of an incubator.
Imagine being part of a support system that allowed you to learn from the mistakes of others before you made them yourself.
A powerhouse network can also be beneficial from a public relations perspective. There is only so much you can do as a startup with a limited marketing and PR budget, but, for us, being part of a group of companies has helped us gain traction and step into the spotlight. This, in turn, has also strengthened our ability to scout leads and opportunities.
3. YOU CAN SCRATCH EACH OTHER’S BACK.
As a technology company, it is important for us to frequently release new analytics and optimization capabilities. It’s even more important that we learn from client feedback to make our platform better. Our direct access to two other agencies within our accelerator has proved to be extremely beneficial and enabled us to do more aggressive product development and rigorous testing–something that would have been more difficult and time consuming if not for the incubator.
There are a lot of lessons entrepreneurs have to learn the hard way. Making errors and learning from mistakes is a valuable learning experience, but imagine being part of a support system that allowed you to learn from the mistakes of others before you made them yourself.
As a technology company, it is important for us to frequently release new analytics and optimization capabilities. It’s even more important that we learn from client feedback to make our platform better. Our direct access to two other agencies within our accelerator has proved to be extremely beneficial and enabled us to do more aggressive product development and rigorous testing–something that would have been more difficult and time consuming if not for the incubator.
There are a lot of lessons entrepreneurs have to learn the hard way. Making errors and learning from mistakes is a valuable learning experience, but imagine being part of a support system that allowed you to learn from the mistakes of others before you made them yourself.
4. SUPPORT FROM MENTORS WITH STREET CRED.
Our mentors have been entrepreneurs themselves and, as such, have been able to challenge and help further define our vision, strategy, and road map. They weren’t able to do this because of a business school degree earned at an Ivy League school, but thanks to their personal experiences in the trenches.
Being part of an incubator or accelerator can play a huge role in growing your startup. In our case, it has jump-started our company and brought us where we are today. We are now in the position to fly solo, yet we know we didn’t get here alone. The value that our mentors have brought us has been instrumental to our success, and we look forward to helping other new startups succeed in the future.
Our mentors have been entrepreneurs themselves and, as such, have been able to challenge and help further define our vision, strategy, and road map. They weren’t able to do this because of a business school degree earned at an Ivy League school, but thanks to their personal experiences in the trenches.
Being part of an incubator or accelerator can play a huge role in growing your startup. In our case, it has jump-started our company and brought us where we are today. We are now in the position to fly solo, yet we know we didn’t get here alone. The value that our mentors have brought us has been instrumental to our success, and we look forward to helping other new startups succeed in the future.
Matthijs Keij is the co-founder and CEO of FlxOne, and previously co-founded Fresh Fruit Digital. He seeks to bridge the gap between technology and marketing, build a team with smart people, and enjoy the startup vibe and growth opportunity. Click to read the original article from FastCompany here!
More About Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster
The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to strengthen Peterborough’s regional innovation capacity by bridging the gap between scientific research and business. The Cluster brings Together talent, knowledge, and investment to drive technology-based economic development, innovation-driven economic growth and high-tech job creation across the Peterborough region by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, commercialization and new company formation & growth [see “The Cube” for further information on how we help start-ups]. The Cluster also partners with academia and industry and provides support to start-up technology companies and entrepreneurs to help take innovative ideas and processes to market and to foster an economy fueled by 21st century innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Core funding for the Cluster is generously provided by our partners: Ontario Centres of Excellence, Trent University, Fleming College and the Peterborough Region Angel Network.
Follow us: on Twitter: @InnovationPtbo; on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InnovationCluster; and on our LinkedIn Group: Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster.
See also: “Demystifying the Innovation Cluster: It’s no big mystery – it’s a cluster and it exists to assist“
The Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to strengthen Peterborough’s regional innovation capacity by bridging the gap between scientific research and business. The Cluster brings Together talent, knowledge, and investment to drive technology-based economic development, innovation-driven economic growth and high-tech job creation across the Peterborough region by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, commercialization and new company formation & growth [see “The Cube” for further information on how we help start-ups]. The Cluster also partners with academia and industry and provides support to start-up technology companies and entrepreneurs to help take innovative ideas and processes to market and to foster an economy fueled by 21st century innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Core funding for the Cluster is generously provided by our partners: Ontario Centres of Excellence, Trent University, Fleming College and the Peterborough Region Angel Network.
Follow us: on Twitter: @InnovationPtbo; on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InnovationCluster; and on our LinkedIn Group: Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster.
See also: “Demystifying the Innovation Cluster: It’s no big mystery – it’s a cluster and it exists to assist“