Incubating Entrepreneurs Stinting at big companies gives startup founders real business skills.(MANAGING FOR SUCCESS)

Byline: LISA SCHMEISER

Size matters.

Some would-be entrepreneurs are getting their smarts working at big companies before chasing their real dream of starting a business.

They could be young business types running with a hot idea or newly minted MBAs.

These large corporate proving grounds let them try out new ideas. They also help them learn the hard knocks of real-world business.

Established firms offer more resources and learning situations than tiny startups.

But the relationship between young entrepreneurs and the companies they're using for pre-startup stints can create problems for both sides.

Some fledgling entrepreneurs will be gone as soon as they feel they've gathered enough experience to strike out on their own.

The companies that trained them will lose their expertise and may feel used.

Some large players may not have terribly innovative corporate cultures.

This is something that more creatively …