#''Services:'' varied in nature, can include mentoring/business advice, connections to other resources within community, and options to lease space month-to-month
#''Environment:'' collaboration in a physical space, focus on co-working environment
==Definition of an Incubator from EDA Paper "Incubating Success"==
The research paper [http://edaincubatortool.org/pdf/Master%20Report_FINALDownloadPDF.pdf ''Incubating Success. Incubation best practices that lead to successful new ventures''], with support from the U.S. Deparment of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration, categorizes an incubator using the following qualities:
#''Business Model:'' incubators can be classified as one of the following categories (pg. 15) - physical building with on-site management, virtual, international, accelerator
#''Industry Focus:'' incubators can be classified according to industry focus (pg. 17) as - manufacturing, mixed-use, technology, or service
#''By Lead Organization:'' can classify incubators according to their affiliation with other organizations (pg. 21) - university/higher education, for-profit, state, nation
#''Key Services:'' successful incubators provide certain key services (pg. 27) including:
::* Assistance with Business Basics - accounting, presentation skills, business etiquette, marketing
::* Legal assistance
::* Access to Resources - capital, internet
::* Networking - within the community, with other entrepreneurs
#''Investment:'' Generally, does not take equity and does not invest directly in the company
[[File:VennDiagram.png| frameless|Venn Diagram of incubators and accelerators]] Venn Diagram from pg.14 shows overlap and distinct qualities of incubators and accelerators
==Definition of an Incubator from EDA Paper "Incubating Success"==
''This paper is from 2011 and may be outdated in classifying accelerators as a subcategory of incubators''.
The research paper [http://edaincubatortool.org/pdf/Master%20Report_FINALDownloadPDF.pdf ''Incubating Success. Incubation best practices that lead to successful new ventures''], with support from the U.S. Deparment of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration, categorizes an incubator using the following qualities:
#''Business Model:'' incubators can be classified as one of the following categories (pg. 15) - physical building with on-site management, virtual, international, accelerator
#''Industry Focus:'' incubators can be classified according to industry focus (pg. 17) as - manufacturing, mixed-use, technology, or service
#''By Lead Organization:'' can classify incubators according to their affiliation with other organizations (pg. 21) - university/higher education, for-profit, state, nation
#''Key Services:'' successful incubators provide certain key services (pg. 27) including:
::* Assistance with Business Basics - accounting, presentation skills, business etiquette, marketing
::* Legal assistance
::* Access to Resources - capital, internet
::* Networking - within the community, with other entrepreneurs