Incubator Tool Library

A collection of vetted tools and resources to help impact incubators run smarter, scale bigger, and better support their entrepreneurs.

Pollinate Impact Tool Library

Welcome to your shortcut to the good stuff.

When we say “tool”, we mean anything that helps incubators thrive—software, templates, handbooks, or any resource that lets you level up your game. We’ve curated the best for impact incubators across the Global South, so skip the search, grab what you need, and get back to making magic happen. 

Share your tool! If you have a tool, template, or resource that others could benefit from, submit it for review. 

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The Incubation Toolkit for Africa

The Incubation Programme Toolkit for Africa is a free, practical guide designed specifically for hubs, incubators, and ecosystem builders across Africa. It helps them design, implement, and improve incubation initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes and stronger support for early-stage startups.

Organization: FATE Foundation

How to Measure the Gender Impact of Investments: Using the 2X Challenge Indicators in Alignment with IRIS+

A guidance resource for incubators, accelerators, and investors to measure and report gender impact using the 2X Challenge criteria, aligned with IRIS+ indicators.

Organization: GIIN

Gender Toolkit

Gender Toolkit is a free, practical online resource designed to help investors, companies and other stakeholders integrate gender-smart approaches into their processes and decisions. It offers guidance, tools, templates and sector-specific insights to support gender-inclusive strategies and investments — with the ultimate aim of advancing women’s economic empowerment and gender equality

Organization: British International Investment

A framework to Drive Impact

This explains how your Theory of Change can be an effective framework to drive impact. The video also highlights three points to keep in mind when creating your theory of change.

Organization: DUKE

Igniting Innovation: A comprehensive handbook for incubators and accelerators

Standardized templates and guidelines can greatly assist these entities in establishing a
governance structure, defining eligibility criteria, developing application
processes, and creating agreements with startups in a consistent and
efficient manner. By adopting these resources, incubators can improve
operational efficiency, reduce the risk of non-compliance, and align their
operations with industry standards and best practices. Pg. 377 onwards

Organization: Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC)

Lab to Market Commercialization Playbook

This resource covers the entire commercialization process in one place with highly practical tools, tips, and resources Include general and stage-specific guidance, and pertains to any university or research institution and any technology/sector, with a focus on energy & mobility

Organization: William Davidson Institute at University of Michigan

A Practitioner’s Guide to Effective Blended Finance Solutions for Social Enterprises

Organization: Villgro

INCUBATION FUND MANAGEMENT: Investment Playbook for Startup Incubators

This playbook offers suggestive guidelines for early-stage incubators that have recently begun receiving seed grants from governments and other sources. While broadly relevant to all incubators managing an Incubation Fund, this guide would be most useful for incubators and incubation managers with limited prior experience in fund deployment and management.

Organization: MeitY Startup Hub

The Circular Venture Blueprint: A Guide for ESOs

Supporting circular economy ventures calls for approaches that differ from traditional entrepreneurship support. These ventures often follow distinct growth paths, need specialised market connections, and create value in ways that mainstream metrics don’t capture.

Organization: Circular Economy Innovation Cluster

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Building a Fundraising Board: Recruiting and On-Boarding New Board Members

How do you then save your nonprofit and board from this quagmire? By creating a culture of success by recruiting members who can be effective, then giving them the tools to be successful.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Building Authentic Funder Relationships and Maximizing Opportunities for Funding

Explores ways to build authentic funder relationships through professional persistence.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Crafting Convincing Funder Centric Communications

Black Fox Philanthropy’s proven message development process, offering best practices and actionable insights to boost organisations fundraising success.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Fundraising Self-Identification and Engaging Your Networks

By leveraging this framework, you will identify your unique strengths—whether as an Asker, Connector, or Nurturer—to optimize your effectiveness. Further, the session provides practical guidance and tools to support your board members in mobilizing their networks to bring in new funding.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Fostering Authentic & Lasting Funder Relationships

Whether you’re just starting out or seeking to strengthen existing relationships, this guide will help you build authentic connections with funders and create a path toward long-term success.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Turning a Funder Denial into Future Success

List of questions to seek feedback and guidance that can increase your chances in the next round

Organization: Black Fox Global

Fundraising Handbook

Fundraising is both an art and a science, and Black Fox Global has mastered both. Drawing on decades of experience mobilizing resources for mission-driven organizations, the Fundraising Handbook distills proven strategies, field-tested practices, and expert insights into one trusted guide.

Organization: Black Fox Global

Mentor Onboarding Form

This is a sample mentor onboarding form that can be used to learn about new mentor interests, expertise, and availability to serve as a mentor.

Organization: Purdue Innovates

Indicator Tool

We’ve compiled this tool to help make that process a little easier. While by no means exhaustive, the indicators in this database are drawn from a wide range of sources and have relevance across a variety of intervention models and the full spectrum of SDG sectors.

Organization: Segal Family Foundation

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