The support of incubators and accelerators in value creation during startups’ internationalization

New ventures are increasingly expanding beyond their national markets, aiming for global reach as a means of survival and competitiveness in today’s dynamic business environment (Mintz and Lilien, 2024; Mondal and Sinha, 2025). This growing trend toward internationalization is driven by startups’ need to access larger markets, diversify risks, and leverage global innovation ecosystems. However, entering international markets presents considerable challenges (Cantù et al., 2025), including navigating unfamiliar regulatory landscapes, managing cultural differences, and establishing business relationships with foreign stakeholders despite limited brand recognition and market presence. These obstacles often require startups to acquire new capabilities and resources that are difficult to secure independently. In this context, entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs), such as incubators and accelerators, have emerged as vital intermediaries that facilitate startups’ access to international markets and networks (Marval, 2025). By offering tailored support programs, mentorship, and critical resources, these organizations play an essential role in helping new ventures overcome barriers to internationalization (Dourado Freire et al., 2023; Runfola and Monteverde, 2023). Their interventions often include providing strategic guidance, technical and financial assistance, and fostering network connections, all aimed at accelerating the global expansion of startups. As highlighted by Bergman and McMullen (2022), ESOs represent an interesting research avenue for advancing studies on entrepreneurial support and support organizing. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate how incubators and accelerators activate knowledge creation in the internationalization process of startups. Specifically, the research explores the types of resources and services these actors provide and how they tailor their support to address the challenges faced by startups in foreign markets. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative research approach was adopted by conducting 13 semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and professionals operating within accelerators, incubators, startups participating in their programs, and other actors. This methodology enables an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences and perspectives of key stakeholders involved in startup internationalization, providing rich insights into the practical mechanisms through which incubators and accelerators facilitate global growth. Through this approach, the study aims to fill a gap in the existing literature by offering an understanding of how accelerators and incubators support startups to create value during internationalization.