From Chaos to Clarity: The Platform Revolutionizing Startup Incubation Programs

Building a startup is a complex process—and for business incubators, supporting that journey comes with its own challenges. With so many moving parts to manage, it’s all too easy for operations to become fragmented and lack a sense of community. ICUBE, the Institute for Management & Innovation’s (IMI) entrepreneurship hub, has created the Ecosystem Management System (EMS) to address this issue. EMS is an all-in-one platform that empowers business accelerators to support their ventures more effectively.  

Previously, the ICUBE team relied on multiple platforms alongside a system of spreadsheets, each serving a different purpose. This approach was time-consuming, prone to errors, and difficult to scale. In addition, existing incubator support systems like AcceleratorApp and F6S were either too costly and overloaded with unnecessary features or too limited for ICUBE’s needs.  

Supporting Startups More Effectively 

Built by an incubator for incubators, EMS addresses several pain points raised by the startups and internal team at ICUBE. These include the need to stay informed about their program status and feel more connected to the entrepreneurial community. With EMS, the application process is now fully trackable from draft to acceptance, minimizing the risk of lost data. Studio hours and feedback are accessible as well, providing a clear overview of areas for improvement. Startups can easily connect with mentors, program coordinators, and fellow entrepreneurs, fostering a stronger sense of community and collaboration. The platform also offers curated, exclusive resources and workshops to support startups as they grow.  

From Research to Execution

Unlike existing market offerings, EMS was designed entirely in-house by ICUBE Studio, a creative and strategic agency that provides services in digital marketing, software development, and more. The Studio tailored each feature to ICUBE’s unique workflows and operational structure. This process involved months of research on existing tools as well as open-source solutions. “The goal was to create a platform that is not only powerful and feature-rich but also intuitive and easy to maintain, even with a small team. Scalability and adaptability were crucial, ensuring that EMS could be tailored for other incubators and accelerators with minimal friction,” says Mohammad Tahvili, Creative Studio Lead. The result is a modular design that is easy to use and customize, with features like discussion boards that promote a more connected and supportive community. 

Looking to the Future 

Since its launch, the platform has received highly positive feedback from the team at ICUBE for improving organization and fostering connection. The long-term vision for EMS is to become the go-to operating system for incubators and accelerators worldwide—a subscription-based offering that connects users through a shared ecosystem. “EMS was created through a participative process and is already in use by ICUBE. We will be demo-ing its capabilities to the University of Toronto Entrepreneurship community, our African partners, and more broadly,” shares Ann Armstrong, Academic Director. As more organizations adopt EMS, the platform’s impact will continue to grow, connecting people and resources like never before.

Learn more about ICUBE at icubeutm.ca