Abstract:
This is a one-of-a-kind research paper that investigates the current impact Business Accelerators and Incubators in the Kingdom of Bahrain have on Startups. Understanding the impact of accelerators and incubators on Startups is important as it will give insight for both
parties. Accelerators and incubators can use that insight to improve and build on, while Startups
can use it to evaluate the benefits they can get from being accelerated and incubated which in
turn can have a significant impact on the Bahraini Startups Ecosystem. The research follows a
descriptive design as it aims to evaluate the current relationship using three main variables for
testing. A sample of 30 accelerated and incubated Startups were randomly chosen to fill out a
questionnaire that was structured based on the literature reviewed and the research questions.
The questionnaire was distributed with the help of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s
SMEs development directorate and other Business Accelerators and Incubators in Bahrain. The
data was then quantified and analyzed using quantitative descriptive statistics. It is found that the impact of Business Accelerators and Incubators on Startups in Bahrain is quite positive in terms of innovation, easy access, and overall benefit which support the existing literature about
accelerators and incubators. Such findings strengthen the previous studies conducted and will
help many Business Accelerators and Incubators and Startups to further investigate the existing
relationship between the two and study new ways to improve and advance the relationship ahead. The variables of this research can be reused in other testing forms such as T-testing and
ANOVA.

Keywords: Startups, SMEs, Accelerators and Incubators, ecosystem.