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. 

Tool Category
Resource Type

Search

Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs

The course was designed around the fundamental elements of the SDG Impact Standards, the only management standards that embed sustainability at the core of an organization in the holistic way intended by the creators of the SDGs. The course demonstrates how the SDG Impact Standards help organizations align with responsible business principles, other standards, and best practices in impact management.

Organization: DUKE

Accubate

Accubate is a cloud-native enterprise-grade innovation management platform which offers an advanced suite of features every step of the way from ideation through to implementation.

Organization: Cunomial

Babele

Babele is the online platform to manage your mission-driven innovation ecosystems & effectively engage stakeholders

Organization: Babele

Angel Networks in Emerging Markets: A Guide for Development Institutions

Even as these ecosystem-building efforts generate progress, accessing sufficient
financial capital remains a critical challenge for entrepreneurs at this early, high-
risk stage. Increasing the flow of private capital into early stage enterprises to help
them bridge the pioneer gap is a key pillar of PACE’s work to drive broader economic
development in emerging markets. This guide was commissioned by PACE to identify
specific leverage points for USAID and other development institutions to support an
instrumental source of early-stage capital – local angel investor networks.

Organization: SEAD @ DUKE & CASE

Decoding the ABCs of Effective Enterprise Acceleration: 10 Lessons from SEAD

Like learning a new language, scaling an enterprise is full of unknowns, imperfect attempts and lessons for the future. Enterprise accelerators often serve as translators between their participants and the outside world. In doing so, accelerators must decipher between what they assume will be effective and what the enterprises they serve want and need. How can enterprise accelerators crack the code?

Organization: SEAD @ DUKE & CASE

ESO Mapping Fatigue In Kenya

Are we experiencing ‘Mapping Fatigue’ with the BIG question being what is the mapping end game?. Is it just a question of counting heads or is there a bigger play in terms of informing policy or identifying gaps?

Organization: Victor Otieno Agolla

Social Investment Toolkit

In 8 modules, the toolkit guides entrepreneurs on each step of the way, from how to define your social mission to creating a compelling investor pitch. It also shows entrepreneurs how social investors think and what they are looking for. There is also a social investment readiness test to help entrepreneurs work out which areas to focus on.

Organization: Social Investment Toolkit

Financial Sustainability of Startup Incubators

The primary objective of this report is to
outline various revenue streams (not to be conflated with funding sources) accessible to
startup incubators and recommend a revenue mix which ensures that the incubator remains
focused on its core activities related to provision of entrepreneurial support to its incubatee
startups.

Organization: Atal Innovation Mission & Niti Aayog

Best Practices for Designing Inclusive Programs & Support

This resource is a collection of both the key challenges and the best practices that have been effective in addressing the common challenges faced by ESOs globally in designing inclusive programs to support the diverse entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.

Organization: Pollinate Impact

Tool Category

Resource Type

Search

Screening Selection & Due Diligence

A collection of templates that are utilized by incubators to screen and select the right entrepreneurs to their program.

Organization: Miller Center / Villgro / Villgro Africa / Villgro Philippines / Impact Hub Abidjan

New Leaders: Here’s how to hire a top talent

A great hiring strategy can have a positive impact on a manager’s career. While you may not always have the power to choose your team, learning how to spot and appeal to high-performing candidates can fundamentally impact your trajectory.

Organization: HBR - Ryan Renteria

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries: What Works

This paper summarizes the evidence base on women’s entrepreneurship
and serves as an update to the 2022 version, Supporting Women
Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries: What Works?

Organization: We-Fi

Developing a Data Collection Plan

This guide provides accelerators with an overview of how to approach designing a data collection plan to generate actionable insights.

Organization: GALI

Conducting Layoffs with Purpose

A guide providing a structure to conducting layoffs responsibly

Organization: Rippleworks

Defining Success for your Accelerator Program

This presentation provides an introduction to using a Theory of Change to clearly articulate what your program hopes to achieve, and an example of what an accelerator Theory of Change could look like.

Organization: GALI

Innovators Academy for Impact

The academy aims to empower individuals and organizations to build and scale social business models that not only generate value but also contribute to social and environmental change. This platform provides learning opportunities for growth and resources tailored to the needs of social entrepreneurs and changemakers around the world. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge, tools and networks you need to increase your social impact and turn your vision into action. Whether you’re starting out or looking to expand your skills, our Academy has everything you need. Watch the video to find out more.

Organization: Seimens Stiftung Foundation

Incubator Budget and Cash Flow Template

This is an example of an incubator’s budget and cash flow tracker.

Organization: SHE Investments

Recruitment, Hiring, Onboarding Processes

This is an example of an incubator’s documented recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes.

Organization: SHE Investments

Submit a tool

[tool_custom_submit]

Get in Touch!

Our Network is a community of stakeholders in the impact incubation ecosystem within the Global South.  We work together to scale change, so get in touch and don’t be a stranger.

Media Inquiries

We can't wait to chat!