The Role of Incubators in the Development of Startup in Algeria

This study, conducted on a sample of 16 startups incubated within various private and university-based incubators in Algeria, seeks to assess the extent to which incubators can serve as effective levers for the development of innovative entrepreneurship. The findings reveal that the primary motivations for entrepreneurs to engage with incubators are the need for dedicated workspaces and access to support services such as coaching and mentoring. Overall, entrepreneurs who benefited from both physical accommodation and professional guidance reported a high level of satisfaction with the support provided. However, access to financing was identified as the least satisfactory aspect of the incubation experience, whereas the availability and affordability of office spaces were highly appreciated. Although the services offered by incubators vary according to the nature of the projects and the specific needs of startups, the results suggest that Algerian incubators are particularly effective in supporting matchmaking-oriented startups — those that facilitate connections between users and services and typically require minimal financial investment. Conversely, startups involved in the development of physical products that require prototyping or machining often face structural challenges, as most incubators lack the necessary technical infrastructure and resources to adequately support such ventures.