PhD defence C.J.J. (Cornelis) Eldering

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

This dissertation reframes business incubation research by shifting the lens from startup-centric outcomes to the strategic goals of sponsoring organizations. The study explores how incubators can serve sponsors’ broader objectives through three central questions: (1) What performance outcomes should be considered in incubator design? (2) How does entrepreneur sourcing —internal vs. external— impact incubator performance? (3) How does governance in multi-sponsor incubators influence these outcomes? 
Four key sponsor-driven outcomes are identified: learning, earning, returning, and branding. The research results suggest that internal entrepreneurs drive exploratory learning and financial returns for sponsors, while external entrepreneurs are better suited to generate exploitative learning effects, societal value, and branding opportunities. Effective governance, particularly in the formation of multi-sponsor setups, is crucial, with a high level of coordination between sponsors and a balanced control-trust relationship between sponsors and incubator, boosting incubator performance. 
By adding a sponsorship perspective, this research provides a comprehensive framework and actionable insights for aligning incubator design with strategic sponsor goals.