InBIA History

InBIA was founded in 1985 as the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA), a membership association designed to serve the staff and boards of business incubators. Over the last four decades, the organization has grown from 12 initial members to the more than 1000 it has today. 

In 2015, the association changed its name in response to shifts in the field of entrepreneur support. Business incubators were no longer the only model for providing entrepreneurs with the space and programming they need to get off the ground. In recent years, business accelerators, coworking spaces, innovation programs, and other types of entrepreneur support have emerged, and many organizations host multiple types of programming. Replacing the word incubation with innovation allowed InBIA to widen its scope for serving members. 

The name change also formalized the association’s international reach, which had been a reality almost since its beginning in 1985. With its growth of membership in the U.S., NBIA had also become a global thought leader in the field of incubation. 

In the last decade, InBIA has also played a key role in formalizing the field of entrepreneurship ecosystem building. The first Ecosystem Builders (e.Builders) Forum happened in 2017, creating space for entrepreneur support and ecosystem building practitioners to explore successful strategies in fostering communities and regions with thriving and equitable startup opportunities. From 2022 to 2024, InBIA hosted the Ecosystem Building Leadership Project, bringing together leaders from all over the country to identify gaps and opportunities in serving ecosystem builders. This effort led to the launch of the Ecosystem Building Leadership Network in 2024. 

InBIA continues to be a national and international leader in providing training, resources, and connections for entrepreneur support professionals, particularly through its annual events - the e.Builders Forum and the International Conference on Business Incubation - its professional development in the Entrepreneurship Center Management certification program, and its credentialing through opportunities like the Soft Landings Program.