The roles of incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, mentors, and events in the startup development process

Abstract This chapter aims to explore supporting factors, such as incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, mentors, and events in the startup ecosystem. To understand these five aspects and to explore their roles in startups, we investigated an Oulu startup ecosystem. In this case study, we conducted research interviews with practitioners working with startups, accelerators, incubators, venture capital firms, and co-working space organizations. By using real case examples, the results discussed in this chapter can help entrepreneurs understand the commonalities and differences between incubators and accelerators, their types (university-based or profit/nonprofit), the kinds of business ideas, and the entrepreneurs they focus on. Furthermore, the roles of co-working spaces, mentors, and events and their effects on entrepreneurs and startups are discussed. At the end of the chapter, we also show the interrelationships between these five aspects in the Oulu startup ecosystem and their influence on different startup development stages