Incubator

A program that helps very early startups take shape, often over a longer, looser timeline than an accelerator, sometimes providing space, services, and hands-on support in exchange for equity or a fee.

Why it matters

Incubators suit ideas that are still forming, where the need is time and structure more than a demo day. The line with accelerators is blurry, so what matters is what a specific program actually gives you.

For example

A university incubator gives a student team desk space, mentors, and a small stipend over a year while they shape a raw idea into a company.

Go deeper

Startup India, Find an Incubator (DPIIT registry) Startup India / Government of India · article The official government registry that lets you filter incubators by sector, stage and location, the fastest way to find a legitimate, DPIIT-recognised incubator near you instead of guessing or trusting a random listicle. Indispensable for student founders and anyone building outside the big hubs who don't have an existing network. Open startupindia.gov.in →

Related terms

Accelerator Pre-Seed Co-Founder

Also in Starting Up

See how founders actually handle this on Raising your first round, part of the Starting Up hub.

eChai Partner Brands The partnership →