Business Education in Incubators and Its Impact on Start-Ups

Abstract

Entrepreneurship education programs have gained popularity in the last 20 years as they have the potential to encourage entrepreneurial abilities and mindsets. Despite the increasing number of these programs offered worldwide, their effectiveness remains to be determined. Research has produced mixed outcomes, and there needs to be a consensus on the definition of entrepreneurship education in incubators or the outcomes of such courses. The perception of business incubators has evolved to become supportive settings for new business ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs. They are considered the future training grounds for entrepreneurship and experimental hubs for learning. Nevertheless, the degree to which they enhance business performance is debatable, and research into their outcomes needs to be more varied and largely inconclusive. The research methodology employed in this study is quantitative and involves a questionnaire. The sample consists of 112 start-ups and visionary entrepreneurs that have participated in entrepreneurship education programs offered by the incubators in Greece, and 21 business incubators. The results of the study show that entrepreneurship education programs have the potential to enhance specific skills and attitudes in participants that could be advantageous in the long run. While the research does not provide conclusive evidence, it does demonstrate promising correlations. Therefore, although business incubator-based entrepreneurship education programs in Greece may not immediately impact start-ups, they could be advantageous in the future.