Unraveling the Selection Phase of Business Incubators: Proposal for a Conceptual Model and Future Research Agenda

Diogo Costa Almeida, Ana Maria Soares, Paulo Afonso and Luis Pinto Ferreira ()
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Diogo Costa Almeida: School of Economics, Management and Political Science, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Ana Maria Soares: School of Economics, Management and Political Science, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Paulo Afonso: School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Luis Pinto Ferreira: ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: The selection of start-ups by business incubators (BIs) is one of the main processes of these organizations that aim to promote entrepreneurship and economic development. Through a systematic literature review of the BI selection phase, following the PRISMA guidelines, a new conceptual model is proposed, delineating findings across three dimensions: the incubatee–incubator alignment and BI strategy, the selection criteria considered, and the decision-making methods used. The conceptual model proposed here represents the first conceptual model focused exclusively on the selection of start-ups by BIs, mapping practices in terms of start-up selection that hold important practical implications for BI managers. Considering the growing need to align economic performance with environmental and social objectives, the start-up selection process by BIs also plays a key role in fostering sustainability-oriented ventures. This fact increases the relevance of this selection phase, not only in terms of operational efficiency, but also as a potential lever for sustainable regional development. Findings emphasize the need for future research that integrates all three dimensions simultaneously, explains the selection process at an operational level, and assesses the importance of this phase for BI performance.

Keywords: business incubators; entrepreneurship; selection phase; systematic literature review; start-ups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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