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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Business Incubator Managers Incubation Management Training

The Business Incubation Management Training Program was created for business incubator managers and stakeholders in developing countries and emerging markets. Through its network of certified facilitators, infoDev has helped more than one thousand people increase their understanding of business incubator models, how to finance an incubator, monitoring and evaluation, mentoring programs, and more. The training program was designed for face-to-face delivery with each module requiring one day of classroom learning.

Organization: infoDev, World Bank & IFC

Incubator Collaborative Learnings Document

A compilation of the challenges and struggles of incubators and accelerators in the Global South as well as proposed solutions sourced from the dozens of online meetings, and in-person workshops hosted by Pollinate Impact. Spoiler Alert – Irrespective of the geographich location or the type of entrepreneur supported, the challenges and the solutions largely remain consistent across the field.

Organization: Pollinate Impact

Landscape Analysis of the Uganda Innovation Ecosystem

The report provides an overview of the research on the Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) in Uganda, how they are set up, what they offer, to whom, and how. It particularly looks at the state and opportunity of collaboration among stakeholders in the ecosystem, especially among the ESOs, but also with the public sector. It gives a list of 16 recommendations to bring the Ugandan entrepreneurship ecosystem forward and ensure that entrepreneurs get better support faster.

Organization: Response Innovation Lab & Start Up Uganda

Lean Research: Human Centered Approach to Reserach

Lean Research is an approach and an initiative to improve the practice of data collection involving people and communities in development and humanitarian contexts.

Organization: D-Lab

Lean Data Approaches to Measure Social Impact

In this course, learn the Lean Data methodology, a new way to collect insights from customers in order to measure your outcomes and make decisions that maximize impact.

Organization: Acumen

Embedding Circularity in Entrepreneurial Support: Learning from Pilot Programs

The document enlists the best practices and recommendations for incubators and accelerators to support circularity entrepreneurs. Impact Hub launched the “Circularity by Design” program in 2021 with the hypothesis that just like profitability is a design principle for most businesses, circularity can also become a design principle for enterprises. Impact Hub developed the “Embedding Circularity” toolkit for incubators and accelerators, provided capacity building to business support organizations, and validated the tools with entrepreneurs and businesses through pilot incubation and acceleration programs with 12 Impact Hubs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Organization: Impact Hub

Tools for Designing Inclusive Entrepreneurship Support Programmes

The Toolkit is organised in line with the common
steps of designing and running a business support
programme. You can easily navigate these different
steps below and jump directly to where you are at,
or you can read from beginning to end to get a better
grasp of the many facets and perspectives when it
comes to inclusion and accessibility in incubation and
business support. For each step, different tools are
listed and you can pick out what best fits your reality.

Organization: Impact Hub

Collection of Best Practices in Inclusive Entrepreneurship Support Programmes

The document aims to provide actionable insights for incubators & accelerators, NGOs, policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders to be applied in the design and implementation of inclusive incubation and support programs, strategies, and/or policies.

Organization: Impact Hub

Toolkit for Inclusive and Relevant Business Support for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

This guide is for Indigenous support organizations who walk alongside Indigenous entrepreneurs, helping them grow ideas into realities that honor their cultural, social, and economic aspirations. It’s a starting point for aligning business support with the deep-rooted values and needs of Indigenous communities.

Organization: Impact Hub

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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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