Incubators typically provide operating facility, at times provide part capital and help as a networking platform for very early stage ventures. The success of incubators has been at best hazy with valid arguments for and against their effectiveness.
According to a news snippet, Marc Benioff, the highly visible CEO of Salesforce.com has given incubation a new dimension.
Instead of providing funds or space, Salesforce incubator provides access to technology and know-how to startups who plan to develop complementary applications. A more powerful dimension is access to market. Complementary applications that supported companies plan to develop will find ready market in SalesForce customers.
Access to market is a far greater force when compared to subsidized space or funds that can sometime become crutches rather than helping hands. This is an interesting new success factor that other incubators can use to empower their mission.
