To date, much of the research focusing on what makes a successful business incubator has taken a descriptive approach, concentrating mainly on the documenting the tangible services provided. Unfortunately, this creates an incomplete picture of how successful business incubators truly support the process of nurturing and accelerating startups.
Leveraging our 10 years of research and nearly 25 years of combined practical experience, we investigate not only the tangible measures of success but the intangible measures as well. We take into consideration social-environmental influences in and around the incubator facility, its network utilization, and the levels of implementation of social capital principles within the incubator system.
Investigating the incubator ecosystem through the lenses of both the tangible and intangible allows us to determine what areas of the business incubator process can and should be improved to provide better service to their clients, positioning them for greater success.
Our methodology has proven successful in not only overall incubator success but in individual startup success as well. Through the implementation of our methods, we have created more than 350 successful startups, which in turn generated more than 1500 direct jobs. We have also helped raise to date more than $20 million dollars in funding for these ventures, which in turn has generated more than $50 million in local economic impact.
By working with us, you will gain insight, feedback and customized recommendations to empower you to focus your energies on the specific elements of social capital that will create the greatest impact for your incubator and its clients.
To see if your startup or incubator is a good fit, connect with us for a free 30-minute consultation.
Art of Startup was created to achieve synergy between founder Arthur Barbut’s academic research investigating how business incubators can leverage social capital to build successful entrepreneurial ecosystems and his practical experience managing and growing a successful business incubator. Partner Christopher Pressey brings more than 8 years of experience in entrepreneurship, coupled with more than 20 years of experience in corporate communication, branding and marketing.
This combined experience, coupled with our extensive network resources, allows us to provide a broad range of vital services that directly impact the success of startup and incubator models.
Social capital, based on the premise that a network provides value to its members by allowing them to access the social resources directly embedded within the network1, plays a prominent role in modern economic and business literature. To date, however, limited research has focused on social capital within a business incubation environment. If incubator-incubation research is to advance in a theoretically meaningful manner, it must go beyond simply looking at critical success factors and begin to investigate factors that look at “how”, “why”, and “in what context”.2
Our research is one of the first studies in Canada to examine business incubators through the lens of social capital. It investigates different business incubation models and how those models create social capital for the start-ups residing within them, focusing on social capital’s three unique dimensions3:
To date there has been little to no prior research comparing how different types of business incubators create social capital and the impact that may have on the performance of the firms located in the incubators. From an academic standpoint, our research has wide implications for both academics and practitioners by adding new insights to the existing body of incubator model research.
From a practical perspective, our research provides a better understanding of the activities and environment that best support business incubator clients. Information and insights that can be applied on larger scale by policy makers that are focusing on business incubation as a method to drive innovation and job creation.
To see if your startup or incubator is a good fit, connect with us for a free 30-minute consultation.
Dr. Arthur Barbut is a leader in innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and economic development. As CEO of the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator, he has transformed the organization from a small 6,500 sq. ft. space into a thriving 55,000 sq. ft. hub, fostering over 300 startups, creating 1,500+ jobs, and generating $50M+ in regional economic impact. With over 15 years of experience researching and building innovation ecosystems, Arthur specializes in connecting academic insights with real-world applications to drive entrepreneurial success.
His doctoral research focused on social capital in business incubators, demonstrating how strong networks accelerate startup growth and access to critical resources. In addition to his leadership at The Accelerator, Arthur is a board member of the Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC), where he has mentored startups that have collectively raised over $600M in equity funding. He also advises select startups and social enterprises, leveraging his extensive network and expertise to drive impact.
For over 25 years, Christopher’s been passionate about helping businesses discover and communicate their unique value. With a deep background in branding design and 13 years of experience leading a Canadian business incubator, he’s worked with companies at pivotal moments—whether they’re established startups looking for clarity in their messaging or growing businesses refining their brand to reach the next level.
Christopher specializes in elevating brands so they can clearly communicate their value and uniqueness—whether that’s to attract ideal customers, secure investment opportunities, or build meaningful partnerships. His work spans startups, mid-sized businesses, luxury hospitality, high-end professional services, and more—helping clients refine their messaging, strengthen their visual identity, and create branding that truly resonates.
Having worked with countless founders, executives, and business leaders, I understand the pressure to succeed when so much is on the line. I also know how transformative it can be to discover the right message and strategy that unlocks a company’s full potential. My approach combines creative expertise with strategic insight, ensuring that every client walks away with not just a more compelling brand but the tools to sustain and scale their growth.
1 Bourdieu, 1985; Seibert, Kraimer, & Liden, 2001
2 Hacket and Dilts (2004)
3 Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998)
To see if your startup or incubator is a good fit, connect with us for a free 30-minute consultation.
A CHRISTOPHER PRESSEY Website