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 โ€œtoolโ€, we mean anything that helps incubators thriveโ€”software, templates, handbooks, or any resource that lets you level up your game. Weโ€™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.ย 

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

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ENVOY – Making Incubation Management Simple

Envoy is a purpose built incubation and programme management software designed for entrepreneurial support organisations and development finance institutions. It enables ESO’s funders and DFI’s to govern complex incubation portfolios with clarity, confidence and measurable control. It reduces the administrative burden, improves funding oversight, preserves institutional knowledge and delivers credible, real time portfolio management. The result is measurable entrepreneur progression, transparent governance, audit ready reporting and the ability to scale programmes sustainably without sacrifice. Beyond programme management, Envoy also gives entrepreneurs their own free business operating system. This supports them in defveloping their business strategy and managing the execution of both strategy and day to day operations.

Organization: Raizcorp

Lend For Good

LendForGood is a global platform that harnesses the crowd to efficiently provide affordable, connected and engaged capital to meet the funding demands of impact enterprises. Think of LendForGood as a marketplace or as an exchange, where people who want to lend money to impact enterprises can find them, and can find other people to team up with to lend money to impact enterprises. LendForGood provides the information, connections and technology that enables people to do this easily, and at scale.

Organization: LendForGood

Vula Together

Vula connects tens of thousands of African SMEs and Startups to the funding they deserveโ€”fast and easy. Now you can spend less time searching and more time growing.

Organization: Vula.vc

DayTwo

Most entrepreneurs are resourceful, but not always visible, and visibility is the doorway to fundability and investability. ย ONOW’s fintech platform “DayTwo” turns everyday SME behavior, in the form of photos, chat, and voice notes, into clean, dated financial records and lender-ready signals. ESOs use it to see real cash health, coach smarter, and bridge entrepreneurs to capital with less friction.

Organization: ONOW

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostic Toolkit

This resource is a practical methodology to understand how entrepreneurship ecosystems work, identify their structural conditions, and guide evidence-based decision-making.

The model provides a clear way to analyze entrepreneurship ecosystems based on their core elements: the eight structural domains, the participation of key actors, the stages of the entrepreneurial journey, and digital maturity as a cross-cutting component. It enables the identification of strengths, gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for coordinated action in each territory.

Organization: ANDE

Reimagining the Future of Entrepreneurship Support Organisations in East Africa

The report identifies the interconnected challenges facing entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), including incubators and accelerators. This WDI report takes a solutions-oriented approach for better serving entrepreneurs, maximizing the impact of limited donor resources, and strengthening the pipeline of investable companies.

Organization: William Davidson Institute

Supporting Waste Management & Circular Economy Innovation

The toolkit brings together lessons from Kenyaโ€™s waste and circular economy ecosystem and global best practices. It is designed to be practical, adaptable, and action-oriented.

  • Clear explanations of waste management and circular economy principles
  • Guidance on designing and running effective support programmes for waste-focused SGBs
  • Real-world case studies from Kenya and beyond
  • Best practices across the full enterprise support journey โ€” from recruitment and programme design to post-programme support and ecosystem engagement
  • Tools and frameworks for measuring environmental, social, and business impact

Organization: ANDE

Application Form Template & Program Information Kit

This is a sample of a program application form for a University based incubator. It also includes clear description of the program, what is included in the program, and the expectations from applicant entrepreneurs.

Organization: Oxford University Innovation

Building Strong Funder Relationships & Navigating Funding Rejections

Every nonprofit leader knows the thrill of submitting a compelling grant proposalโ€”and the sting of receiving a โ€œno.โ€ But what if rejection could be a catalyst for deeper alignment, stronger relationships, and future funding success?

That was the heart of our recent Masterclass hosted on the Catalyst NOW platform, โ€œBuilding Stronger Funder Relationships and Navigating Funding Rejections,โ€ featuring wisdom from sector leaders Tia Hodges, President & CEO, MetLife Foundation, Tanya Jaramilla, Director of Impact & Operations, Julian Grace Foundation, and Natalie Rekstad, Founder & CEO of Black Fox Global.

Organization: Black Fox Global

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Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries: What Works

This paper summarizes the evidence base on womenโ€™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

How to Build Organizational Development

Investing in organisational development (OD) to improve impact and sustainability is critical. However, a lot remains to be done for funders and NGOs to more intentionally invest in OD to build a stronger, more resilient NGO sector. This is a long-term journey that requires a commitment from NGOs and funders to engage in honest reflection and continuous action. This toolkit provides some initial guidance and resources to stakeholders in the sector to advance impact through OD.

Organization: The BridgeSpan Group

Scenario Planning for Non-Profits

The scenario planning process helps organization leaders navigate uncertainty while providing structure
around making key strategic decisions. It is critical for organization leaders to engage in an iterative
scenario planning process that accounts for factors outside of your control (e.g., shelter-in-place
restrictions and the pace of economic recovery) and actions and options within your control (e.g.,
operational shifts and cost reductions).

Organization: The BridgeSpan Group

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