Virtual Startup Incubator Platform

Abstract

The first generation of incubators, emerging in the 1980s, primarily offered physical office space, shared administrative services, and basic business support. These incubators were often sponsored by governments or universities to stimulate local economic development. While they provided infrastructure, they lacked structured programs or systematic mentorship. The second generation, popularized in the 2000s by accelerators such as Y Combinator and Techstars, introduced structured, time-bound programs that combined seed funding, intensive mentorship, and investor demo days. These accelerators significantly improved startup visibility and access to capital but were geographically concentrated in innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, London, and Bangalore, thereby excluding entrepreneurs in less.