Thobekani Lose and Lloyd Kapondoro
The current business environment is characterised by technological disruptions associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and also the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, there is an even greater need to strengthen the activities of business incubators to capacitate them to inspire the success of entrepreneurship in South Africa. This paper performed a literature review of the existing technological and Covid-19 disruptions with reference to business incubators. It then inquired on the essential competencies that business incubators should possess in order to withstand the disruptions. The study found that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has resulted in general economic recessions, uncertainty, shifts in entrepreneurial opportunities and technology-based productivity, among other impacts. On the other hand, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected viability of many incubators, changed operational models and increased the cost of doing business. Competencies such as technology-based innovativeness, adaptability and networking have been found to be essential for incubators in the face of disruptions. Business incubators are encouraged to adopt technology and e-business models effectively to withstand the disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.