Ideation and Realization
Incubation happens first in the mind, then in the physical world.

photo credit: Tristan in Ottawa via photopin cc
We’re all incubating thoughts right now — about what we’ll eat for dinner tonight, which TV show to watch, or what book to buy.
Some ideas simmer longer than others, but the subsequent and corresponding actions arising from these thoughts (if we get around to acting on them at all), are just the tip of the iceberg. What lies below is the all-important, yet often-neglected ideation process.
Startup communities need places for BOTH ideation and realization.
Ideation Spaces:
Here’s a great example of a facility meant for ideation, brainstorming, and creative problem-solving (for existing companies too): http://thinkubators.com/
To some, places like this might seem silly. But that’s exactly the point.
Facilities such as the Thinkubator allow people to escape the real-world and retreat into (or out of — depending on perspective) their imaginations.
And in a new, knowledge-based economy, that’s not silly at all.
Realization Spaces:
In the same way that certain environments foster ideation, some are also better at helping bring ideas to fruition.
And that’s where incubators and accelerators come into play.
More than a physical place, these programs serve as protective, supportive, resource-rich environments for ideas to take root before and/or during their launch into the marketplace.
Note: Many incubators now incorporate spaces meant for both ideation and realization. That’s a powerful combo.
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