Objectives

• Offer support services (training and mentoring) to incubated companies in specific areas of management/strategy. The major challenge, in developing and carrying out an incubation support program, is to analyze what are the real needs of each entrepreneur.
• The strategic support program must be tailored to the needs of the business community as actually assessed – not just assumed. A proper assessment allows the incubator to establish valuable partnerships when needed.

Key Issues

1. Assistance/Consulting in Specific Areas – List of Services
   • Access to databases and networks
   • Joint purchase of materials
   • Courses and training
   • Business diagnostics
   • Publicity and marketing
   • Information on lines of incentives and financing
   • Market information/research
   • Business guidance and consulting
   • Legal and accounting guidance
   • Registration of trademarks and patents
   • Support for the preparation of business plans
2. Training Develop and present to new business people a program containing courses, consultations and specialized assistance sessions that are available during the incubation period.
   • Preparation of a training schedule (courses, consultations and assistance sessions)
   • Presentation of it to each new business person
   • Responsible team to check that scheduled tasks are completed
   • An assessment is made of the quality of training
   • Team responsible: Professionals trained in incubator management with current knowledge of strategic management of incubators, including their financial position. These professionals should also be capable of managing the tasks derived from the training schedule. Outside professionals may be invited to implement the programs.
3. Mentoring
   • Action: Identify and present to new business people a group of professionals, either in-house or from outside the incubator, that have the experience and the capacity to mentor the incubated companies in technical and management/business areas.
   • This requires identification of the areas of activity of the incubated companies, followed by identification of mentors who will be able to work with these companies in their respective areas of need.
   • Team responsible: In-house and outside professionals and/or businesspeople, who are highly experienced and qualified in the technical and management/business areas.

Responsible Parties

• Professionals from the various areas

Indicators

• Increase in the demand for management / strategic assistance
• Increase in the demand for training and mentoring
• Increase in the number of companies qualified in management / strategic planning

Results

• Companies that are equipped to seek out and utilize management and strategic solutions in order to compete in the market with other companies.

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