Call for Session Proposals

InBIA's 39th International Conference on Business Incubation Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 6-9, 2025

Call for Session Proposals Due December 4, 2025

InBIA’s annual conference - the International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI) - gathers entrepreneur support and ecosystem building practitioners from across the globe to learn from, share with, and connect to peers doing similar work. Tracks of concurrent sessions cover a breadth of topics related to running an entrepreneur support organization, building an ecosystem, and helping entrepreneurs succeed.

To ensure the content reflects topics of relevance and the most current trends in the field, InBIA builds the bulk of the program based on practitioner submissions of ideas for panels, lectures and discussions. People suggest ideas through the form and in most cases the InBIA staff and a content selection committee match up similar ideas to build panels and discussions that showcase diverse perspectives. If a submission already includes panelists, they will be evaluated for diverse perspectives and potentially accepted as is.

Before you submit your ideas, please read through this document for more information about session tracks, anticipated audience, selection criteria and more.

Please note: we will be paying special attention to having international and diverse perspectives included in as many sessions as possible. This may mean that you will be asked to work with others on the topic you propose. If you have concerns about this approach, please communicate your concerns to Lindsay Schuenke at lschuenke@inbia.org.

The instructions in this document include the following important details:

•  Submission Options - whether you are submitting this proposal as a fully formed session or looking to connect with others

• Session Tracks - descriptions of the four tracks InBIA uses to organize the sessions, along with current topics of interest in each one

• Session Format - an explanation of the different formats sessions can have to help you assess which best fits your session idea

• Audience Profile - an overview of who typically participates in ICBI and how InBIA tries to program for this audience

• Selection Criteria - a list of proposal components the selection committee will consider while reviewing your proposal

• Speaker Information and Guidelines - information about eligibility, expectations, requirements, and deadlines

• Proposal Tips - ideas for submitting an excellent proposal

  If you have any questions about this process or ICBI in general, please contact Lindsay Schuenke at lschuenke@inbia.org. Please also contact Lindsay if you would like to be considered as a panelist or speaker addition but do not have a specific topic idea. All proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

  Submission Options

  Anyone who has expertise, resources, and/or successful strategies to share with an audience of peers can submit to be considered as a panelist/speaker. You do not have to have a fully formed panel. At the beginning of the submission form, you will select one of the following in response to how you are submitting your idea:

• Fully formed - this session proposal includes diverse perspectives and could be included as is

• I have a specific session topic/idea and am open to being paired with other submitters who have similar topics

• I have expertise in an area (or multiple areas) and would like to work with InBIA on a session idea and co-presenters

• Other (please explain in the box)

  Session Tracks

  Most session content is organized into four tracks. We are looking for topic ideas in all tracks featuring diverse perspectives and providing valuable resources, strategies, and lessons for attendees. If you would like help identifying additional perspectives, you will have the opportunity to let us know.

  Please read through the track descriptions below to determine which is most appropriate for your session ideas/expertise. You will have to select one of these tracks as part of the proposal process, though InBIA reserves the right to put sessions in whatever tracks the committee identifies as most appropriate. Also, there will be some more interactive sessions that do not fall into a specific track.

  Operational Excellence: Tools and Strategies for Running a Successful ESO

  This track will cover the nuts and bolts of running an entrepreneur support organization (ESO), from structuring and running effective programs to working with stakeholders to managing a facility to measuring impact and more. Sessions in this track should be appropriate for people in any staff position at an ESO looking for new ideas and ways to improve. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• Tracking and reporting metrics

• Marketing

• Effective technology solutions

• Policies and procedures

• Board relations

• Scaling an ESO

• Pipeline development/client recruitment

• Understanding government policy and how to advocate for innovation

• Creating a sense of community among entrepreneurs

• Encouraging a diverse and inclusive culture

• Serving traditionally under-resourced communities

• Creating mentor networks

• Effective programs and services for entrepreneurs

• Establishing and leveraging corporate partnerships

• Creating an internal culture to foster innovation and connection

• Serving second-stage companies

• Virtual Programming

• Helping companies pivot/be resilient

• Assisting with soft landings into foreign markets

• Staff development

  Show Me the Money: Funding for ESOs and Client Companies

  Securing funding is a pain point many InBIA members report, both related to achieving financial sustainability for their programs and to helping startups have the resources they need to succeed. This track will cover all the topics related to funding, from identifying grants to diversifying revenue streams, to helping client companies navigate the process of securing investments, to understanding government funding opportunities and more. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• ●  Non-dilutive funding

• ●  Structuring grants for ESO sustainability

• ●  Leveraging philanthropy

• ●  Engaging with corporations

• ●  Structuring equity agreements

• ●  Creative revenue streams

• ●  Pricing space and services/effective business models

• ●  Alternative capital sources for startups, particularly for historically underserved

  communities

• ●  Pitch coaching

• ●  Helping entrepreneurs angel funding

• ●  Market analysis and preparing companies to make sales

• ●  Establishing an affiliate fund

• ●  Government funding opportunities for ESOs and their startups

• ●  Effective strategies in leveraging the State Small Business Credit Initiative

  (SSBCI)

• ●  Public/private partnerships

  Innovations, Trends and Special Focus

  Entrepreneur support professionals from all over the globe come together for the InBIA conference to explore and discuss the latest ideas and trends in the field. The sessions in this track will highlight these current trends and also look at programs that focus specifically on one area or demographic. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• ●  Logistics and supply chain needs

• ●  Working with manufacturers to support product-based companies

• ●  Running a manufacturing facility

• ●  How to differentiate in a crowded ecosystem

• ●  Cluster analysis

• ●  Storytelling, both for ESOs and their startups

• ●  Developing programming to increase diversity and inclusion

• ●  Venture studios

• ●  Leveraging entrepreneurship to achieve economic justice

• ●  Food/kitchen programs

• ●  Working in rural regions

• ●  Biotech programs

• ●  Clean tech programs

• ●  Arts and fashion programs

• ●  University and student programs

• ●  Women and minority programs

• ●  Having a makerspace

• ●  Engaging corporations beyond funding

• ●  Partnering with workforce development programs

• ●  Working with community development programs and organizations to improve

  program outcomes

• ●  Emerging entrepreneur support service delivery models

• ●  Potential impacts of AI on entrepreneur support and ecosystem building

• ●  Understanding trends and policies impacting new venture creation

• ●  Policy and advocacy opportunities

Building a Thriving Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Establishing and growing a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem is widely recognized as an important aspect of creating regional prosperity through new job growth. These sessions will explore the elements and strategies for building successful entrepreneurship ecosystems in any community. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• ●  Creating partnerships between organizations

• ●  Establishing regional networks

• ●  Entrepreneurship ecosystem mapping

• ●  Strategies for engaging community stakeholders

• ●  Fostering a local culture that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation,

  starting with youth

• ●  The role of events in ecosystems

• ●  Innovation districts

• ●  Communicating program value to local governments to engage support

• ●  Organizing for collective action

• ●  Cultivating a culture of trust and collaboration

• ●  Creating connected networks between ecosystem builders

• ●  Encouraging diversity and inclusion within the ecosystem

• ●  Building an entrepreneurship ecosystem from scratch

• ●  Community building/placemaking in a world of remote work

• ●  Industry Spotlight on a specific sector, to include an ESO rep, an investor,

  corporate representative and an entrepreneur

  Session Format

  Most session blocks are 75 minutes long. Within that time, we encourage facilitators and moderators to make the content as interactive and engaging as possible. At a minimum, facilitators and moderators should save at least 15 minutes for discussion and engaging the audience through polls, questions, etc.

  Different topics often lend themselves to different styles, so we have some options from which potential speakers/facilitators can choose. Be sure to select the format that best fits your content and personal style. In this proposal form, you will select one of the following options:

● Panel (moderator and two or three panelists)
Panel-style sessions should have a strong moderator and no more than three panelists, preferably from three different programs/perspectives. The moderator should be prepared to shape the content through specific questions to the panelists, and there should be plenty of opportunity for interaction from the

audience.

• ●  Presentation Series (two, sometimes three presenters)
  As in panel sessions, presentation-style sessions should also feature multiple perspectives, but shared one after the other instead of as a conversation. Presenters will have tools, strategies, or resources to share within the same topic area. Each presentation should limit the background information to only what is necessary and include relevant takeaways, useful resources, and proven tools.

• ●  Discussion (one or two facilitators)
  Discussion-style sessions will focus on engaging the audience around a specific topic. One or two facilitators will set the stage for the conversation, then encourage sharing of thoughts, experiences, resources and ideas.

  ● Other

  We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver content - if you have ideas or experience with a different approach you think would work well, please propose it!

  Audience Profile

  This year’s ICBI will bring in between 300 and 500 entrepreneur support and ecosystem building practitioners from all over the globe. Attendees are actively engaged in their local entrepreneurship ecosystems, and many run successful entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) to help entrepreneurs build great businesses. Others are consultants, economic development practitioners, government representatives, people involved in entrepreneurship-centered philanthropy, university faculty, etc. - anyone who is doing work to support entrepreneurs.

  Each year, nearly a quarter of attendees come from outside the U.S., representing up to 30 different countries. Attendees also come from every type of community - from urban centers to rural regions and developing nations. This attendee diversity enables a unique, collaborative learning environment for exploring new approaches and global trends in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

  Attendees are looking for practical tools and techniques they can apply to their programs or regions, so we strongly encourage presenters and panelists to ensure the information they share can be replicated and easily applied to other programs. The content selection committee will judge proposals with this idea in mind.

  Selection Criteria

A selection committee will review the proposals and create a balanced program for the conference with the goal of fulfilling the educational needs of the diverse conference audience. The committee will be considering the following criteria:

• ●  Tangible Tools, Strategies and Resources
  To make conference content as useful as possible, priority will be given to sessions that will include concrete takeaway documents and resources.

• ●  Relevance to Audience Need
  We look for sessions that address topics of interest to a large group of attendees. We also consider the diversity of the companies with which our attendees work and strive to offer a variety of sessions to meet those needs.

• ●  Quality of the Proposal Content
  Because most of our audience members are industry practitioners (rather than academics), we select sessions that will provide actionable ideas and strategies. Successful proposals will provide industry-specific examples and include - but not focus solely on - case studies of multiple programs with proven track records.

• ●  Contribution to the Overall Conference Content
  The success of a proposal will depend on how the topic, format and specific content of a proposed session will fit into the proposed track and the overall scheme of the conference.

• ●  Presenter Qualifications
  We seek presenters who communicate effectively through lively, organized and well-prepared presentations or panels. In reviewing a proposal, we consider the presenter's previous training/speaking experience and experience within the field of entrepreneur support.

• ●  Diverse and International Perspectives
  Because of the international nature of the conference, the committee gives special consideration to proposals that include internationally relevant content. We will also build a diverse program in which each session includes presenters from different perspectives.

  Speaker Information and Guidelines

● Speaker Eligibility
You do not have to be an InBIA member to submit a proposal. However, be sure to read the selection criteria and track information to ensure your proposed

session will be a good fit for this audience. Also, if we receive proposals of similar caliber on the same topics, we will give preference to InBIA members.
Please Note: To ensure diverse, interactive concurrent sessions we include nearly 100 practitioners in sharing their successful tools and strategies. Because of the costs associated with each attendee, we are not able to offer free registrations to session speakers, but we do offer a discounted rate.

• ●  Selling Products or Services
  If you have a product or service to sell, please do not advertise during your session presentation. Conference sessions are meant to provide useful information for attendees, who will be dissatisfied if they sense a presenter is providing promotional material for his or her own benefit. There are many other opportunities at the conference for advertising products and services - if you would like to learn more, contact Lindsay Schuenke at lschuenke@inbia.org.

• ●  Materials Requirements and Deadlines
  If your proposal is accepted, InBIA will require you to provide an electronic copy of your PowerPoint presentation and other handouts in advance of the conference so we can have them loaded in the online platform when the session begins. We will also make these materials available to attendees through our registrants-only app. The first set of speaker deliverables (biographies, session descriptions, speaker photos, etc.) will be due shortly after proposal acceptance. Files for all resources, handout materials and presentation slides are due by March 28, 2025. You will receive more details and instructions if your proposal is selected.

• ●  Speaker Availability
  These concurrent sessions will take place April 7 and 8, so speakers will need to be at the conference in Philadelphia at the times their sessions are scheduled. As soon as the program is confirmed, we will let you know what the time of your session is. Again, Please Note: To ensure diverse, interactive concurrent sessions we include nearly 100 practitioners in sharing their successful tools and strategies. Because of the costs associated with each attendee, we are not able to offer free registrations to session speakers, but we do offer a discounted rate.

  Proposal Tips

  Consider these suggestions for improving the chances your proposal will be selected:

● Try to keep your session title as concise and explanatory as possible, making the topic obvious to the committee. As we pair people with other panelists, titles are likely to change.

• ●  Be sure your description of the proposed topic is both specific and concise. Include the points you would plan to make and what takeaway information the attendees would receive.

• ●  Clearly identify the intended audience, including background knowledge required to help attendees know whether or not it is appropriate for them.

• ●  When describing the proposed session, accurately define the comprehensive focus of your idea in a compelling manner. Make the lessons to be learned from the content abundantly clear.

• ●  Clearly identify any specific tools or techniques audience members will be able to immediately implement.

• ●  Be sure to spell out the first mention of any acronyms you use.

• ●  If you have supporting documents or other information/references you can share

  with attendees to enhance their understanding and application of the topic, please be sure to include them.