Incubation Process Research Articles

A Reflection Approach on Business Incubation Services: Accelerating Startup Businesses in Kenya

The focus of this study was to determine how business incubation services accelerate the growth of start-ups in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to examine the effect of networking services, physical incubation infrastructure, management advice, financial resources, and business planning on the growth of startups. The theories of the firm, stochastic theory, social network theory, real option theory and trait theory of entrepreneurship anchored the study variables. A descriptive research design was used, and a sample of 227 respondents was selected using proportionate stratified and simple random sampling techniques from a target population of 567 startups that had been in an incubation process. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data, and the data was analyzed using descriptive and regression statistical techniques. The findings indicated that there was a significant and positive relationship between networking services, physical infrastructure, management advice, financial resources, and business planning and the growth of startups. In order to have access to physical infrastructure, startups are encouraged to join startup associations like the Association of Startups and SME Enablers of Kenya, the Association of Countrywide Innovation Hubs, and other independent incubation facilities. A clear act governing startups can offer tax incentives to startups, reducing costs in the form of financing and providing tax breaks to startup investors, improving their financial standing. Incubator owners are encouraged to take startups through business planning courses that are critical to ensuring they scale up their businesses. Finally, through the triple helix model, business incubators can partner with universities and government agencies to create synergy instead of competing among themselves.

In situ observations of size effects in GaAs nanowire growth.

Lateral dimensions of III-V nanowires are known to affect the growth dynamics and crystal structure. Investigations into size effects have in the past relied on theoretical models and post growth observations, which only give a limited insight into the growth dynamics. Here we show the first experimental investigation into how nanowire diameter affects the growth dynamics by growing Au-seeded GaAs nanowires in an environmental transmission electron microscope. This was done by recording videos of nanowires during growth and analysing the Ga-limited incubation time and As-limited step-flow time. Our data show that the incubation time is stable across the investigated diameter range aside from a sharp increase for the smallest diameter, whereas the step-flow time is observed to steadily increase across the diameter range. We show using a simple model that this can be explained by the increasing vapour pressure in the droplet. In addition to the existing understanding of nanowire growth at small dimensions being limited by nucleation this work provides experimental evidence that growth is also limited by the inability to finish the step-flow process.

The impact of Penta-Helix Collaborative Business Incubation Process on the creative business strategic orientation and innovation capability

The impact of Penta-Helix Collaborative Business Incubation Process on the creative business strategic orientation and innovation capability

Fault Tolerance Smart Egg Incubation System with Computer Vision

Reliability of incubators is one of their most important specifications. Development of wireless, cloud and computer vision based technologies gives new possibilities for work process control and increasing fault tolerance. Regardless of whether the hatching is in the field of mass production or in the breeding of rare species of birds, detecting a critical situation and sending timely notifications can prevent serious losses. Experience shows that network isolated solutions are not reliable enough and good management requires complex algorithms that are beyond the capabilities of a local, single controller. Even with the duplication of some sensors and actuators, incubators without external connection are high risk due to the fact that their controller is a central point in the architecture and can fail, leaving the farmer with no alert about the accident. The report presents a solution that uses periodic checks from cloud structures on the condition and operability of the incubator. In parallel, a video surveillance system analyzes the internal environment and the condition of hatching chicks. When potential and real risks occur, the system sends notifications to the responsible persons even to his or her wrist. Additionally, the proposed smart egg incubation methodology has been found to reduce the amount of time required for farmers to oversee the incubation process by up to 50%, allowing them to focus on other important tasks while still ensuring optimal hatching conditions for their eggs. Overall, the proposed methodology offers a significant improvement in egg incubation efficiency and reliability, with potential applications in both commercial and personal settings.

Smart incubator for empowering poultry farmers by maximizing egg hatching success

The poultry industry plays a vital role in ensuring the global food supply, and efficient egg incubation is crucial for successful poultry farming. Traditional egg incubation methods have relied on manual monitoring and control, resulting in suboptimal hatch rates and increased labor requirements. However, the emergence of smart technologies has revolutionized the field of egg incubation, leading to the development of the Smart Egg Incubation System. The Smart Egg Incubation System integrates advanced technology, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), to optimize the incubation process and enhance hatch rates. The system employs a network of sensors to monitor and collect real-time data on temperature, humidity, egg turning, and ventilation within the incubation environment. This paper also proposes a commercial incubators website that will help to market incubators available for companies and hold their company profiles, where customers will tend to explore what they need pertaining to incubators and egg incubator accessories, helping to meet the needs of local farmers. This will help small enterprises to grow and get affordable incubators and accessories to eliminate the distance in business affairs for both local farms and big farms. An AI chatbot will also be available specifically designed to assist farmers in monitoring and managing chicken incubators effectively. The chatbot aims to provide real-time information and support to farmers, addressing their needs related to purchasing incubators, understanding incubator capacities, hatching periods, and addressing miscellaneous questions. The AI chatbot acts as a reliable virtual assistant, offering farmers guidance on where to purchase suitable incubators tailored to their specific requirements. By analyzing a comprehensive database of reputable suppliers and their offerings, the chatbot offers recommendations based on factors such as incubator size, cost, features, and customer reviews.

PENGARUH KOMPOS DAUN KEMIRI SUNAN (Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw) TERHADAP KESUBURAN ENTISOL

Leaves of Reutealis trisperma (locally known as kemiri Sunan) are potential sources of organic matter and improve soil fertility, especially by increasing soil nutrient availability. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the application of compost using kemiri Sunan leaves as raw material on soil fertility, such as pH, total N and soil organic C. This study used a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were without compost (control), compost 4 t ha-1, compost 8 t ha-1, compost 12 t ha-1, compost 16 t ha-1 and compost 20 t ha-1. This study used a PVC pipe with a diameter of 14 cm and a height of 60 cm for the composting process and using polybags for the soil incubation process. The leaves were mixed with EM4, molasses, and water in a ratio of 1:1:50; after mixing, all the ingredients were put into a tube, and observations were made. The soil was then mixed with compost according to the treatment dose of compost 0; 4; 8; 12; 16; 20 t ha-1, then added water until it reached field capacity and then put into a polybag and incubated for 30 days. Observations were made at 0, 15, and 30 days after incubation. The results of this study showed that the application of waste compost of kemiri Sunan leaves had a significantly increased soil pH, total N, and organic C. The best application of kemiri Sunan leaf compost was found at a dose of 20 t ha-1 .

Surface effects on the crystallization kinetics of amorphous antimony.

Elemental antimony (Sb) is regarded as a promising candidate to improve the programming consistency and cycling endurance of phase-change memory and neuro-inspired computing devices. Although bulk amorphous Sb crystallizes spontaneously, the stability of the amorphous form can be greatly increased by reducing the thickness of thin films down to several nanometers, either with or without capping layers. Computational and experimental studies have explained the depressed crystallization kinetics caused by capping and interfacial confinement; however, it is unclear why amorphous Sb thin films remain stable even in the absence of capping layers. In this work, we carry out thorough ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to investigate the effects of free surfaces on the crystallization kinetics of amorphous Sb. We reveal a stark contrast in the crystallization behavior between bulk and surface models at 450 K, which stems from deviations from the bulk structural features in the regions approaching the surfaces. The presence of free surfaces intrinsically tends to create a sub-nanometer region where crystallization is suppressed, which impedes the incubation process and thus constrains the nucleation in two dimensions, stabilizing the amorphous phase in thin-film Sb-based memory devices.

Transportation of fertilized northern pike eggs in a small mobile egg transportation system: Effect of time and comparison to a traditional method

Fish eggs must commonly be transported from their place of origin to another location, such as hatcheries or experimental laboratories. In the present study, two transportation methods (plastic bags and an incubation mini-system) and three transportation scenarios (5, 9, and 12 h after fertilization) were tested for northern pike eggs that were fertilized one hour before transportation. The size of the presented incubation mini-system, combining incubation jars, water circulation pumps, and space for dry ice for cooling, enabled egg transportation, even in the trunk of a car. When the number of dead eggs, which were monitored during the incubation process, and the larval hatching rate (mean = 64%) were compared, no statistically significant differences were found between the two transportation methods or among the three transportation durations. In conclusion, although the presented incubation mini-system was found to be appropriate for transporting eggs over a long distance for up to 11 h (12 h after fertilization), the simpler method of transportation in bags is recommended for such transportation time. It is, however, recommended that the incubation mini-system be tested over a longer distance and time in the future, including longer no-movement periods.

Contribution of Psychological Entrepreneurial Support to the Strengthening of Female Entrepreneurial Intention in a Women-Only Incubator

This article explores the contribution of psychological entrepreneurial support, based on same-gender group mentoring, to the strengthening of female entrepreneurial intention in the specific context of a women-only incubator. In other words, it examines the combined effect of gender-based differentiation and group dynamics on the process of incubating women entrepreneurs. Indeed, according to the literature on female entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs are faced with specific challenges that influence their entrepreneurial intention such as a lack of self-confidence, caused by gender stereotypes, and conflict between family life and entrepreneurial career. More precisely, our research aims to determine how psychological entrepreneurial support is implemented in the incubation process to overcome these specific challenges, and the mechanisms for strengthening female entrepreneurial intention analyzed at both intrapersonal and interpersonal levels. Thanks to a qualitative methodology, our findings suggest that psychological entrepreneurial support delivered via same-gender group mentoring, at the beginning of the incubation process, reinforces female entrepreneurial intention, thanks to a mechanism of external approval and a process of deconstruction of gender stereotypes about female entrepreneurship. Role modeling provided by same-gender group mentoring facilitates the identity work of women entrepreneurs in search of entrepreneurial legitimacy and enables them to overcome various psychological barriers related to a lack of self-confidence or pressure stemming from the family environment. We discuss the implications of our findings on related research into business incubators and the design of mentoring programs adapted to the needs of women entrepreneurs.

Methods for noninvasive assessment of sexual dimorphism of embryos in the poultry egg

The necessity of determining the sex in the bird's egg by non-invasive methods before incubation and during the incubation period is shown. The use of non-destructive methods for assessing sexual dimorphism in practice will significantly reduce the cost of producing eggs and poultry meat. The introduction of such methods will reduce the moral problems associated with the physical destruction of hatched chickens, depending on the egg or broiler direction of the poultry farm profile. The main methods and technical means for determining sexual dimorphism, used in world practice, are considered, the main disadvantage of which is the complexity of implementation and the associated high cost of acquiring such tools. Analysis of current world trends in the determination of sexual dimorphism of embryos in the poultry egg was carried out. Less costly methods of estimating their sex before and during incubation were identified. The main noninvasive methods for assessing the sexual dimorphism of the egg embryo are analyzed and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods are shown. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time it was proposed to use all shape parameters, including egg asymmetries in three spatial coordinates, determined by computer vision methods, when assessing sexual dimorphism. An experimental colorimetric apparatus for assessing the sexual dimorphism of egg embryos before and during the incubation process based on computer vision was proposed. The use of an experimental setup in research will allow evaluating the effectiveness of at least 3 methods for determining the sexual dimorphism of chicken eggs in terms of parameters: spatial asymmetry of the egg, structural changes in the development of the embryo and its heart rate.

Directional growth of quasi-2D Cu2O monocrystals on rGO membranes in aqueous environments.

The preparation technology of unconventional low-dimensional Cu2O monocrystals, which exhibit specific crystal planes and present significantly unique interfacial and physicochemical properties, is attracting increasing attention and interest. Herein, by integrating a high-temperature oxidation process under vacuum and a pure-water incubation process under ambient conditions, we propose the self-assembled growth and synthesis of quasi-two-dimensional Cu2O monocrystals on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes. The prepared Cu2O crystals have a single (110) crystal plane, regular rectangular morphology, and potentially well conductivity. Experimental and theoretical results suggest that this assembly is attributed to the pre-nucleation clusters aggregation and directional attachment of Cu and O on the rGO membranes in aqueous environment and cation-π interactions between the (110) crystal plane of Cu2O and rGO surface. Our findings offer a potential avenue for the discovery and design of advanced low-dimensional single-crystal materials with specific interfacial properties in a pure aqueous environment.

Rancang Bangun Mesin Penetas Telur Otomatis Dengan Perata Suhu Kipas Casing CPU

Egg Incubator is a tool that helps the process of hatching eggs. With the egg incubator then the eggs can be hatched without going through the incubation process by the help of the parent. Hatching eggs in principle is to provide a suitable environment so that poultry eggs can hatch. This Egg Incubator aims to increase hatching power with an automatic egg screening system and digital temperature control. With the incubator is able to increase the percentage of success ranges from 80-85% in the process of hatching eggs. In the research of automatic Egg Incubator design with temperature grader CPU casing fan with a capacity of 25 this method used is the method of R&D(research and development). This study authors use a type of digital thermostat that aims to set the temperature stability in accordance with the provisions. Testing tools using descriptive method by asking some questions or questionnaires to the validator. The results of this study obtained the test results of several components and the time required to hatch eggs. The average required component testing shows good performance. While the average testing percentage of hatching eggs showed 82.5%. In the feasibility test and functional tools will be validated by Mr / Ms lecturer (validator). The average amount of percentage tested by validator 1 and validator 2 is 93.5% for feasibility testing. While functional testing the average amount of presntase tested by validator 1 and validator 2 is 93%. So the results of the feasibility and functional testing of the tool validated by 2 validators on the tool are categorized as very good.

Beauveria bassiana Growth and Development in Various Liquid Media

Beauveria bassiana is entomopathogenic fungi that can be cultivated on solid or liquid media. The cultivation of B. bassiana on cracked corn medium leaves unwanted waste. Therefore, cultivating B. bassiana on liquid media is expected to shorten the cultivation time and leave no waste. The purpose of the research was to analyze the physical characteristics of the B. bassiana colony, nutritional changes of the liquid media, and the pH level changes of the liquid media. This research used an experimental complete randomized design with six treatments and 4 times repetitions. The main phases of this research were the subculture of B. bassiana isolate; the preparation of liquid media consisting of distilled water, Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB), Potato Sugar extract (PSE), PSE+NPK 1%, PSE+coconut water, PSE+NPK 1%+coconut water each for 150 ml; B. bassisana inoculation into the liquid media; incubation process for 30 days; and measurement of fungal blastospore density, medium pH, and carbohydrate, protein, and lipid content. The results obtained from the morphological observation of B.bassiana on liquid media showed that the colonies are white, growing on the surface of the media with a powdery texture. There are some differences in the nutrient content of the media after 30 days of B. Bassiana incubation. After the incubation, there is an increase in carbohydrates and a decrease in protein and lipid content, as well as an increase in the pH level of the media.

Understanding Entrepreneurship Training in Incubation Hubs

Many scholars regard the incubation process as a mystery because little is known about what unfolds inside incubation hubs. The business incubation process is a critical initiative that can aid in the growth of new firms. However, little research has been conducted to corroborate what occurs within an incubation hub. The study was aimed at understanding what happens to start-ups in incubation hubs. The research was conducted among Harare start-up founding entrepreneurs. The case study approach was used in this qualitative study. Data was gathered using an interview guide. The sample comprised 21 start-up founders divided into three focus groups. Incubation hubs have a good impact on start-up development, according to the research. The findings offer a rare glimpse into the activities of incubation hubs. It was concluded that incubation hubs make a significant contribution that was critical to the development and survival of start-ups. The study contributed to the theoretical gap by adding more literature on start-up development.

SHIFT IN PARADIGM: STARTUP BUSINESS-INCUBATION AT UNIVERSITIES DURING THE EDUCATIONAL DISCIPLINE INSIDE OF CURRICULUM RATHER THAN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF STUDENTS

Diploma or Dropout - it is argued, whether graduation is more important than a successful startup. Students drop either college or their ideas. A presented exploratory study about the incubation of technological startups among students tries to solve this contradiction. The curricula business incubation as the educational discipline inside of the curriculum was offered in opposition to the extracurricular activities of students. There is not a lot of data about this model of student incubation outside of the university's entrepreneurship center and every contribution is valuable. The used research method is Qualitative studies, so the surveys among students are conducted during and after the incubation process on the educational discipline "Startup & Technological Entrepreneurship". At the end of this research, the framework was proposed, a set of actions, for helping students to go all the way from Idea to Product and Techno-Business. The framework is tested on a limited number of students in several universities in developing countries. The experiment is about embedding the syllabus into the Curriculum and measuring of achievements of students. The course is supposed to be elective and only students wishing to develop something are accepted. Later, interviews are conducted with two groups of students: those who passed the offered course and those who tried to develop startups independently. The final aim is to prove whether the inter-curricular framework works and how it overperforms other similar extra-curricular solutions.

Increasing Business Survival Rate with Data Integration Business Strategy and Technology Commercialization

Increasing Business Survival Rate with Data Integration 
 Business Strategy and Technology Commercialization
 
 Abstract
 Technology commercialization is a series of processes from the development and marketing of a technology that is designed to reach a point that can be applied to a production or consumption activity so that it can generate profits. The success or failure of the commercialization of technology-based businesses is influenced by several factors, including the capacity of startups as technology-based entrepreneurs, mentors who accompany, incubation centers that carry out the incubation process, and value of the Technology Readiness Level (TKT) of commercialized technology products. This study aims to explain the increase in startups business survival rates with data integration of business strategies and technology commercialization. This research was conducted with the stages of exploring the problems and conducting a SWOT analysis of East Java startups, analyzing survival rate, making information system prototypes, and analyzing data integration and business strategies. The results showed that Usability Testing received an assessment of 87% consisting of 86% Easy of Use aspect, 88% Easy of Learning aspect, 86% Satisfaction aspect, and 89% on the Usefulness aspect. So information system designed is included very worthy category. The largest percentage of business problems by the HRM (24%) and Operations (24%) therefore need to get attention for solutions.
 
 Keywords: survival rate, startup, macroeconomics, Technology Readiness Level, prototype

Determinant factors of lean start-up-based incubation metrics on post-incubation start-up viability: case-based study

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of business incubation metrics based on an adaptation of the lean start-up (LS) framework on start-up survival after incubation. This study also analyzes the obstacles in implementing the LS framework as incubation metrics.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses mixed methods. Quantitative research using multiple linear regression was applied to the data of 30 start-ups incubated at Bandung Techno Park for the 2014–2017 period and survival tracking data after the incubation. A qualitative approach to complete the explanatory work was conducted through in-depth interviews with 12 respondents, including start-up graduates from the incubation program, program managers and mentors.FindingsThis study confirms that several LS incubation metrics significantly affect start-up sustainability after incubation. In addition, this study also explains several problems in applying the LS discipline that needs attention to increase incubation success.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was conducted only at one technology business incubator (TBI) model that focuses on digital start-ups in the emerging ecosystem. Research results can be biased in different situations and ecosystems.Practical implicationsThe explanation of the relationship of LS-based incubation metrics to the survival of start-ups, as well as the challenges of their implementation, can be a reference for TBI management to consider and prioritize intervention strategies, thereby improving TBI’s business processes and increasing the success rate of incubated start-ups.Social implicationsThe creation of university start-ups and spin-offs has become a key performance indicator mandatory for technology universities in Indonesia. The existence of TBI institutions in universities as channels of technology commercialization is essential. The incubator’s success in creating a new technology-based company will have a significant social impact on the surrounding environment.Originality/valueAlthough the LS method is popular in start-up communities and among practitioners, it is rarely used in the incubation process at universities. These results can be considered for university TBIs to explore LS as an incubation management tool to increase the success rate of incubated start-ups.

How incubation creates value for early-stage entrepreneurs: the People-Place nexus

ABSTRACT Entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs), such as university business incubators, offer tangible and intangible resources to start-ups. Prior research has theorized how these resources create value for entrepreneurs. However, resources are generally studied objectively and as independent dimensions of the incubation process. This qualitative study seeks deeper understanding of how incubation creates value by exploring the subjective lived experience of incubated entrepreneurs. Taking a grounded theorizing approach, we interviewed 44 entrepreneurs involved in ten university incubation programmes in Toronto, Canada. The emergent conceptual model suggests that value is created by the interconnection between tangible and intangible resources. The physical environment (Place) serves as a space for engaging in meaningful interactions among peers, coaches, volunteers and interns (People). Together, they provide an organizational context that fosters embeddedness. The People-Place nexus creates value in three ways: it supports venture development through entrepreneurial learning, which helps the entrepreneur refine the opportunity and start-up the business; it creates community, which fosters collaboration and mutual support for entrepreneurs as they address start-up challenges; and it signals legitimacy to external stakeholders, which facilitates access to resources. Opportunities for future research examining the interrelationship between incubating and embeddedness are suggested. Policy and managerial implications for ESOs are discussed.

A new candling procedure for thick and opaque eggs and its application to avian conservation management.

The ability to monitor developing avian embryos and their associated vascular system via candling enables the application of important reproductive management techniques. Egg candling facilitates the confirmation of egg viability throughout the incubation process and identification of a precise position on a vein for the safe extraction of blood. Blood samples may then be analysed to retrieve vital health and genetic information to assist in conservation management. However, the thick or opaque egg shell characteristics of some avian species prevents the observation of egg contents using traditional candling methods, thus limiting management options. This paper tests a novel method of preparing thick-shelled or opaque eggs so that traditional egg candling and blood extraction methods may be applied. Eggs from captive emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae, Latham 1790) and southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii, Linnaeus 1758) were obtained, and partial fenestration was performed on two areas of shell either before incubation or at ⅓ of incubation. Hatchability and weight loss were examined as a measure of effect of the fenestration process on the developing embryo. Clear observation of vascular development was successful in 97% of viable fenestrated eggs, without affecting hatchability or weight loss. Blood samples were taken from developing embryos and DNA was successfully extracted for proof of concept of this new technique. The ability to observe vascular development and monitor the developing embryo in thick and opaque eggs will significantly improve both in situ and ex situ population management options such as in ovo sexing in species of concern.

Surface-Active Plasma-Polymerized Nanoparticles for Multifunctional Diagnostic, Targeting, and Therapeutic Probes

Surface-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles have advanced the field of nanomedicine as promising constructs for targeted delivery of molecular cargo as well as diagnostics and therapeutics. Conventionally, the functionalization of polymeric nanoparticles incorporates tedious wet chemical methods that require complex, multistep protocols. Surface-active plasma-polymerized nanoparticles (PPNs) produced by a dry, low-pressure plasma process can be easily functionalized with multiple ligands in a simple step. However, plasma polymerization remains limited by the challenge of efficient collection of PPNs from low-pressure plasma reactors. Here, we demonstrate a simple method to overcome this limitation by delaying the inflow of the polymer-forming precursor gas, acetylene, into a nitrogen and argon plasma discharge. We provide evidence that this cutting-edge development in the plasma polymerization method drastically enhances the collection yield of nanoparticles by 2.5-fold, compared to the simultaneous inflow of the gases. COMSOL Multiphysics simulations support our experimental data and provide insights into the role of pressure gradients in regulating the forces controlling the collection of the particles. Surface characterization data revealed that changing the sequence of the precursor gas inflow had no significant effect on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles, as critically important for theranostic applications. A model, green fluorescent protein, was successfully conjugated to the surface of the PPNs via a reagent-free, one-step incubation process that immobilized the biomolecule while retaining its biological activity. Cytotoxicity of the particles was assessed by a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay at concentrations of up to 5 × 105 nanoparticles per cell. Despite their high concentrations, the nanoparticles were remarkably well tolerated by the cells, demonstrating their superb potential for in vivo cellular uptake. This study advances previous research on plasma-polymerized nanoparticles, introducing a low-waste synthesis method that achieves higher yields. This sustainable technology has important implications for the production of multifunctional nanoparticles for drug delivery, tumor targeting, and medical imaging.