Nominate Your Organization for an InBIA Award of Excellence

The InBIA ESO of the Year Awards honor Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) that demonstrate best-in-class practices in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation. These programs excel in serving their clients, strengthening their communities, and achieving measurable impact.

Organizations may be recognized in one of the following categories:

• Mixed-Use – Serving a diverse range of industries and entrepreneurs.
• Rural – Operating in communities with populations under 50,000 people.
• Sector-Focused  – Concentrating on a specific industry/sector such as arts, food, retail, social impact or other specialized industries/sectors.
• Sector-Focused-Technology – Concentrating on a specific technology-centric industry/sector such as agritech, clean-tech, fintech, life sciences or other specialized technology-centric industries/sectors.
• Technology/Science – Supporting a diverse range of high-tech, research-driven, and innovation-based ventures.

The InBIA Excellence in Communications Award recognizes ESOs that excel in telling their story and showcasing their impact. This award highlights outstanding communications, marketing, and storytelling initiatives that creatively convey an organization’s mission, achievements, and value to the entrepreneurship community.

Eligible initiatives include annual or economic impact reports, brochures, infographics, website redesigns, blog, podcast series, social media campaigns, media kits, mobile apps, and other innovative projects that elevate the visibility and influence of ESOs.

The InBIA Outstanding Client Award celebrates the remarkable entrepreneurs supported by ESOs. This award provides organizations with the opportunity to showcase their clients’ achievements to the broader entrepreneurship community and the public, highlighting the impact of their support programs.

The InBIA Most Innovative Award recognizes ESOs that demonstrate creativity and forward-thinking in supporting the businesses they serve. Whether through evolving existing services or launching entirely new initiatives, awardees showcase “outside-the-box” thinking and deliver high-impact, measurable results.

In honor of Julius Morgan, co-founder of the National Business Incubation Association (now InBIA), the Julius Morgan Award recognizes ESOs that excel in creating inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems.

This award celebrates programs and initiatives that actively support diverse entrepreneurs, foster equitable opportunities, and cultivate environments where all entrepreneurs can thrive.