Influencing factors of incubators and accelerators’ success in entrepreneurship development: an integrative review

This study identifies key factors influencing entrepreneurial success within incubators and accelerators by synthesizing existing empirical and conceptual research. Although literature on startup support mechanisms is extensive, limited attention has been paid to how critical elements—such as mentoring, performance evaluation, and technology adoption—simultaneously affect various dimensions of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. To address this gap, the study maps success factors onto Spigel’s tripartite model (cultural, social, and material) and explores their interrelationships to support a more integrated, ecosystem-aligned approach. A Qualitative Integrative Review was conducted, synthesizing interdisciplinary literature from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Following a systematic keyword search and multi-stage screening process, 34 relevant documents were selected. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to identify 12 basic themes, which were organized into three overarching categories based on the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Approach, allowing for conceptual overlap to reflect systemic complexity. The review revealed a set of interconnected success factors, including open innovation models, service specialization, regional and international network integration, performance evaluation, and use of up-to-date technologies. Additional factors include knowledge management, resilience-based startup evaluation, trust-building, attention to entrepreneurs’ individual characteristics, social capital development, stakeholder network strengthening, and effective use of mentors and coaches. The findings emphasize the need for a holistic support strategy that aligns with ecosystem interdependencies. This structured framework can guide the design of more resilient and impactful incubation and acceleration programs, ultimately enhancing startup scalability and long-term innovation-driven growth.