New incubator opens, with focus on startup leaders

FORT MYERS — SecondMuse, a global collaboration agency, has launched a community-sourced incubator in Fort Myers alongside the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and in partnership with the City of Fort Myers. Based in the new Collaboratory next to the Dunbar community, SecondMuse’s incubator will focus on developing businesses leaders, according to a statement. 

With offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Portland, Battle Creek, Mich., Albuquerque and Indonesia, SecondMuse specializes in building connected 21st century economies.

“The Southwest Florida Community Foundation is dedicated to bringing people together to solve issues and seize opportunities for the region,” says Southwest Florida Community Foundation CEO Sarah Owen in the statement. “Our partnership with SecondMuse reinforces this commitment as their unique approach to economic development is centered on community building.” 

Unlike incubators and accelerator programs that focus on building unicorn companies, SecondMuse’s work strengthens emergent economies. Its programs help startups grow by assisting in the development of local capital, markets, policy and regulation, infrastructure, support services, culture and history and human resources.

“We’ve been quietly working with Sarah and the Fort Myers community over the past year to develop the framework for our new program,” says SecondMuse Managing Partner Carrie Freeman in the statement. “What excites us most is that Southwest Florida is filled with unique, driven entrepreneurs. Our job is to help them connect and to provide them with proven resources and coaching that drives business growth.”

More information about SecondMuse is available at secondmuse.com.