Incubator Classifier - Formulate baseline attributes

Project

Incubator Classifier - Formulate baseline attributes
Project Information
Has title	Incubator Classifier - Formulate baseline attributes
Has owner	Anne Freeman
Has start date	2019/03/11
Has deadline date	2019/03/22
Has project status	Active
Has sponsor	Kauffman Incubator Project
Has project output	Content
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Background

These baseline attributes are defined so that incubators can be separated from non-incubators, and high-growth tech incubators can be separated from other types of incubators. In order for that classification to work, the first question we had to answer was, what is an incubator (Defining Incubators). Using this definition, we were able to curate a list of variables to capture key features of an incubator (listed below). We wanted to be able to collect the data using web-scraping methods. The attributes are numeric, yes/no, or categorical.

Characteristics Generally Used to Differentiate an Incubator from an Accelerator

1. Duration: Startups at an incubator generally do not all stay for the same fixed duration; Incubator does not have a fixed graduation date for its startups or has a program that lasts longer than one year
2. Investment: Incubator does not invest directly in the company or take equity in its startups
3. Cohorts: Incubator does not have limited-duration programs that ventures enter and exit in groups, known as cohorts or batches.1
4. Application Process: Generally has a less selective, competitive admissions process than an accelerator

Sources:

Incubator Definition Based on a Review of Definitions in the Literature

Accelerator Definition Based on a Review of Definitions in the Literature

Hub Definition Based on a Review of Definitions in the Literature

Working List of Attributes

Timeline

• Is there a set timeline?
• Is there a cap on duration?
• If so, how long? (value in weeks, 0 indicates no set timeline)

Affiliation

• What is their affiliation? (options: academic, government, corporate)
• Are they a non-profit organization?

Services

• Do they receive equity from companies?
• If so, how much equity? (0-100, 0 indicating no equity received)
• Do companies pay membership fees to participate?
• What services do they provide? (eg. bank loans, legal counsel, office space, management training)

Type of Company Incubated

• What stage do they interact with a company?
• What industry are the companies that they interact with in?
• Are companies that they've interacted with mainly for-profit?
• Have companies that they've interacted with received VC-backing at some point?

Key Demographics

• Do they have child hubs?
• How many employees do they have?
• When was the company founded?
• What city are they located in?
• What state are they located in?