incubator
IN-kyoo-bay-ter
/ˈɪnkyəˌbeɪtər/
An organization or place that aids the development of new business ventures by providing office space, training, and network connections.
An incubator helps very early-stage startups 'hatch' their ideas, while an 'accelerator' helps existing startups grow faster.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'incubare', meaning 'to lie upon'. Just as a bird sits on an egg to provide the warmth needed for it to hatch, a business incubator provides the environment for a company to grow.
Word relationships
- nursery: A nursery is for plants or children; an incubator is for ideas or businesses (or biological samples).
- accelerator: An accelerator is for established startups; an incubator is for brand-new ones.
Commonly confused with
- accelerator: Accelerators are usually short-term (3-6 months) and intense; incubators are longer-term and more nurturing.
Word family
- incubate (verb): To develop or grow slowly.
- incubation (noun): The process of incubating.
Collocations
- business incubator
- tech incubator
- startup incubator
- university incubator
Example sentences
- "The tech incubator helped the young entrepreneurs find their first round of funding." Startup Culture
- "The premature baby was placed in an incubator to keep him warm and safe." Medical Context
Memory hook
Think of an egg in a warm box. The business is the egg. A warm place for ideas to hatch.
When not to use
Don't use it for a standard office rental; it must include support services to be an incubator.
Fun facts
- The first business incubator, the Batavia Industrial Center, opened in a former farm equipment factory in New York in 1959.
Related words
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