Abstract: A method of developing an incubator program includes establishing an accelerator organization having tier 1 members and tier 2 members. A suite of EDA tools is licensed or purchased by the organization. The tier 1 members are charged a first fee. The tier 2 members are charged a second smaller fee. The tier 2 members obtain full access to the EDA tools. Tier 2 intellectual property rights are developed through the use of the EDA tools by the tier 2 members. The tier 1 members are provided a first right to offer to acquire or license the tier 2 intellectual property rights from the tier 2 members for a predetermined period of time. The tier 2 members are required not offer to assign or license tier 2 intellectual property to anyone other than a tier 1 member prior to a tier 1 member's exercise of its first right to offer.