TECHNOLOGICAL INCUBATION SERVICES AND THE GROWTHTRAJECTORIES OF START-UPS IN MINNA METROPOLIS

Abstract

In an ideal entrepreneurial ecosystem, start-ups thrive on structured mentorship, modern
infrastructure and tailored business support services, leading to sustained growth and
competitiveness. However, in Minna metropolis, the start-up landscape is constrained by weak
institutional support, infrastructural deficits and inadequate incubation services, resulting in
high mortality rates and stunted growth trajectories. This study, therefore, examined the effect
of technological incubation services on the growth of start-ups in Minna metropolis. Anchored
on the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study employed a quantitative survey design. The
population comprised 210 registered start-ups within incubation centres in Minna, with a
sample size of 138 determined using Yamane’s formula. Stratified random sampling was
adopted to ensure representation across sectors. Data were collected using a validated and
reliable structured questionnaire, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.78 value exceeding
the acceptable threshold of 0.7. Descriptive statistics profiled responses, while Pearson
correlation and multiple regression analyses tested hypothesised relationships at 0.05
significance level. Results revealed that technological incubation services significantly
influence growth trajectories of start-ups, with business support services emerging as the most
impactful predictor, followed by mentorship and networking, while infrastructural facilities
contributed positively but modestly. The findings affirmed the RBV theory, highlighting
incubation services as strategic resources that mitigate start-up vulnerabilities and enhance
survival, revenue growth, job creation, access to finance and market expansion. The study
concludes that incubation services are indispensable to accelerating entrepreneurial success in
resource-constrained environments like Minna. It recommends that incubation managers
institutionalize structured mentorship, policymakers intensify capacity-building initiatives,
industry associations strengthen networking platforms, governments improve incubation
infrastructure and financial institutions scale tailored business support to collectively drive
sustainable start-up growth.