Bentley Social Innovation Incubator
Nyla and Sophie BoT photo

Bentley Social Innovation Incubator

Get in Touch
Social Innovation Incubator logo

The Bentley Social Innovation Incubator is a transformative initiative designed to help social entrepreneurs turn their impactful ideas into successful enterprises. 

Small Business Administration logo Launched in 2024 with the support of a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and championed by Senator Markey, Senator Warren, and the City of Waltham, the Social Innovation Incubator provides both a physical space and a network of resources to support local innovators. Located in the historic 92 Felton Street building, the Social Innovation Incubator is part of Bentley University’s commitment to business acting as a force for good for civic engagement and social change.

The Bentley Social Innovation Incubator...

Supports Social Entrepreneurs

  • We focus on translating world-changing business ideas into viable social enterprise businesses by providing training, resources, and expert guidance for social entrepreneurs.
  • We provide an inclusive space for a diverse body of social entrepreneurs to come together to share ideas, address business challenges, and consider ways of deepening their social impact.
  • We offer hands-on experts through every phase of the business planning process.

Engages with the Community

  • We foster community-building through workshops, events, and networking opportunities aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship throughout Waltham. 
  • We provide avenues for existing and new local businesses to develop and deepen their social impact.
  • We engage our community through speakers, book clubs, and conversation sessions, and by creating a welcoming space for organizations, businesses, and individuals working together to strengthen our community.

Redefines Social Enterprise

  • We aim to model how social entrepreneurs can utilize business as a vehicle for addressing local, national, and global social issues. 
  • We strive to mainstream the idea that successful businesses can have a positive impact on people, planet, and profit. We aim to create a model incubator that can be replicated by other universities and cities. 
  • We believe that it is the responsibility of businesses to create integrative, holistic, and innovative models that ensure that business is a force for good.

The Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center

The Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center (BSLCE) is the driving force behind the Bentley Social Innovation Incubator and engages over 1,000 students annually in academically connected service opportunities, working with more than 80 community partner sites in the Greater Waltham area. Each year, more than 125 faculty members, across disciplines, offer service-learning in more than 250 course sections. Operating through our “Students as Colleagues” leadership model, the BSLCE’s mission is to enhance student learning and to promote ethical leadership that addresses important public issues and fosters sustainable solutions locally, nationally, and globally.

Service-Learning and Civic Engagement meeting
92 Felton Street, a two-story historic brick building

Joining Our Incubator

The Bentley Social Innovation Incubator offers a cohort-style program that supports Waltham-based social entrepreneurs in launching or scaling social enterprises. It provides social entrepreneurs with a physical workspace, resources, and expert guidance on key business areas such as defining a core business value proposition, creating a social impact strategy, branding and marketing, financial modeling, sales, and social impact measurement. Entrepreneurs are guided to develop a business plan and investor pitch by the end of the program. Participants also benefit from access to a network of Bentley faculty, students, alumni, and industry experts, along with infrastructure and investment leads. Most importantly, the incubator offers entrepreneurs a community to help navigate early-stage growth and challenges.

Apply 

This application will be available from December 9, 2024 through January 10, 2025 for the first cohort of social entrepreneurs to work with the Bentley Social Innovation Incubator between February 3, 2025 and October 31, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact socialimpact@bentley.edu

Get in Touch

Questions, inspiration, feedback on the Bentley Social Innovation Incubator? 

Please reach out, we would love to hear from you.

The Bentley Social Innovation Incubator
Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center
Bentley University
Morison Hall 101
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452

781-891-2797 or 781-216-7913
EMAIL: Socialimpact@bentley.edu