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Incubatee Firm Study (Survey Questionnaire)

This questionnaire is designed to gather information about the importance attached by new firms
in incubating their business within incubators and role played by incubators in incubating new
businesses and encouraging their growth. This study can be very useful in this direction and will
definitely pave the way for developing a better understanding about the role of incubators and its
relevance in terms of new venture creation and its growth. Thus I would really appreciate if you,
as the person running the incubatee firm would take out some time to read and fill this required
information. The information you are going to provide will be used only for academic research
purpose and be strictly confidential.

Name of Incubatee Firm:
Contact details:

Contact person:
1) Has the firm commenced its operations inside incubator or started its operation outside
and then moved in the incubator?
Yes took birth inside incubator
No started operations outside first
1a) Year of establishment of firm: ____________
2) How long has this firm been in the incubator?
- Less than 1 year
- 1-2 year
- 2-4 year
- 4+ year
3) How many full-time employees this firm employs
- Up to 3 employee
- 4 to 10 employee
2

- 11 to 15 employee
- 15+ employee
4) Which sector does this firm operate in?
- Manufacturing
- Services
- Agriculture
5) What is the major thrust area of this firm?
- IT and software development
- Hardware and electronics
- professional service(banking, auditing, consulting)
- R&D
- Others please specify ____________________________________________

6) Among the reasons listed below which factors motivated you to join this incubator? Rate
it on a scale of 1-5, (1) indicates Not motivating reason and (5) Highly motivating
Not
motivating
Least
motivating
Motivatin
g
Little
motivating
Highly
motivating
Rental space and
infrastructure

Initial Hand-holding
Management support
Networking
Mentoring
Funding Opportunities
R&D Support
Access to contacts with
other firm
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1 2 3 4 5
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Infrastructure Facilities
7a) Which infrastructural facilities provided by the incubator are very important for your
firm? Rate it on a scale of 1-5, (1) means least important (5) extremely important.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Telecom, printer,
internet, computers

Furniture

Office space

Audio-Visual Equipment

Conference room and
presentation facilities
Catering services when
required
Secretarial & Clerical
service
Security & Other
Services

















1
1
1
1
1
1 2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
2
1
1
2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5
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Start Up Assistance
7b) At the time of commencement of firm what assistance provided by the incubator that
helped you to start the firm in a big way. Rate it on a scale of 5 depending on the
importance of assistance (1) means least important & (5) means extremely important.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Legal
counseling/representation


Patent assistance

Availability of Finance
Education and
Knowledge development

Initial Handholding

R&D Support
Management Assistance
7c) The following factors relate to the ability of incubator to provide management assistance
to your firm? Depending on the level of importance of assistance rate the factors on a scale of
5 where (1) means least important and (5) is extremely important
least
important
Somewhat
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Preparation of
business plan

Team Building
Advertising and
Marketing
Developing
Business Model
In formulating
Objectives &
Action Plan
In Tapping New
Opportunity
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
1 2 3 4 5
5


Networking opportunity
7d) How useful was the incubator in providing networking opportunities. Rate the following
criteria on a scale of 1-5 where (1) mean least useful and (5) mean extremely useful

Least useful Little useful Useful Very useful Extremely
useful
Potential
customers

Venture
capitalist
Suppliers
Financial
Institutions
Media &
Marketing
Support
International
business
network
Contacts
with other
start-up
firms













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1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
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Mentoring
7e) What kind of mentoring by incubator was necessary for guiding your firm? Depending on
importance of mentoring support provided, rate these services on a scale of 1-5 based on its
importance towards the firm, where (1) is least important and (5) is extremely important
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Business
planning

Marketing
Research
Financials
and
Accounting
Logistics
and Supply
Chain
Regular
workshops
Interaction
with experts/
Entrepreneur
R&D
7f) What assistance have you gained during in R&D process? Depending on the importance
of contribution, rate it on a scale of 1-5 where (1) is least important and (5) is extremely
important
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Product Design
Prototype
Development
Patent Assistance
and Legal
Formalities
Pilot Testing

1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
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Financial support
7g) The following criteria relate to the ability of incubator to provide financial consulting
assistance. Rate it on a scale of 1-5 which according to you is an important factor where (1)
is least important and (5) is extremely important factor.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important
Business Taxes
Risk and
management
insurance
Government loans
Equity and debt
finance
arrangement
Access to Venture
& Angel Investors

8) Depending on the facilities provided by incubator and its contribution towards the growth
of your firm, which factors do you believe contributed the most. Depending on the
importance of contribution towards growth of firm, rate it on a scale of 1-5, where (1)
mean not at all important and (5) means extremely important.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Extremely
important

Infrastructural
Support

R&D Support
Start-Up
Assistance
Mentoring
Networking
Finance

1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
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9) Which additional facility according to you the incubator should concentrate on
developing further, which would be beneficial to the growth of incubatee firms.
Depending on the importance of these facilities, rate it on a scale of 1-5 stating from 1
least important to 5 highly important factor.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Highly
Important
Infrastructural
support

Financial
support
Mentoring
Networking
Technical
support

10) To what extent the various services/facilities provided by incubator played a key role in
meeting the growth objectives of firm. Rate the factors on scale of 1-5 stating from 1
least important factor to 5 most important factor.
Least
important
Little
important
Important Very
important
Highly
Important
Developing a
suitable business
model



Access to
Funding
Product/service
development
Developing a
customer base
Building revenue
Scaling up the
venture
Managing
operations
Building work
force
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
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3
3
3
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4
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4
4
5
5
5
5
5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
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