Revived historic building powers change at Bentley Social Innovation Incubator

Bentley University’s Social Innovation Incubator officially opened its new home at 92 Felton St. on Sept. 25, drawing city, state and university dignitaries for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the recently renovated historic building.

Launched in 2024 with support from a Congressionally Directed Spending grant through the U.S. Small Business Administration — and championed by Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and the City of Waltham — the program now offers area innovators both a physical headquarters and a network of resources. The incubator aims to advance Bentley’s mission of using business for social change and community engagement, according to the university.

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy, speaking at the event, said the incubator connects Waltham’s legacy as a cradle of the U.S. industrial revolution with its aspirations for the future.

Bentley Provost Paul Tesluk praised the Service Learning Center home of the incubator, calling it “one of the jewels of our institution” and noting its unique model, which combines rigorous academics and hands-on service with local nonprofits. “Our students frequently cite the service learning program as the highlight of their Bentley experience,” Tesluk said.

Jonathan White, executive director of the Bentley Service Learning Center and associate professor of sociology, highlighted both the building’s heritage and its renewed purpose. “The fact that it’s historic, it was part of the Industrial Revolution … and now we want to take it to the next level,” White said. “The building is more than we could have ever asked for.”

President Brent Chrite called the opening a “powerful start,” adding, “Let’s raise our glasses to bold ideas, inclusive impact and the future leaders who will emerge from this space.”

A historic building gets a new life

The 92 Felton St. site, constructed in 1894 for the Waltham Water Works, once housed offices, carriage stalls and hay storage for workhorses. In the 1980s it was repurposed as a dog pound and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. 

After its renovation, the structure retains historic character while meeting modern needs — a feat White attributed to the city’s building department under Mayor McCarthy. “It’s exactly what we want … a building we could walk into and feel inspired to create businesses for social change,” he said.

The incubator’s first cohort, selected in late 2024 through a competitive process, includes social entrepreneurs Juliet Najjumba (Africano Waltham), Keith Manning (Boom Impact Apparel), Ann Callahan (Fruit Yourself), Jen Williams (House of Glow), Luke Andris and Anthony Mariello (Bridge the Gap Consulting), Ingkar Serikpayeva (Step X) and June Kinoshita (The Waltham Times). The participants meet regularly for coaching, networking and support on business funding, law and growth.

Jen Williams, founder of House of Glow, said she wanted to create a space for women of all backgrounds to “come together, dance, feel joy and make genuine human connections.” The kernel for the idea sprung to life in the dance classes she teaches and her work as a DJ, but she wasn’t sure how to turn her vision into a business.

“When I was selected by the Bentley Social Incubator, I was excited to have the opportunity to share more about this magical place. And I was so grateful to be seen,” Williams said. “I felt supported. I was challenged and I was encouraged. I did things that I didn’t even know the names of. I’ve written a business plan. I created a pitch deck. I learned to track my income and most importantly, I found the courage to speak about House of Glow studios and give it the respect it deserves.”

Keith Manning of Boom Impact Apparel said he and his co-founder were both designers and marketers. They came up with a wealth of apparel designs and marketing campaigns but “we actually never made the blueprint of the house. We just keep decorating the house,” he said. “What I have come to learn in the last half year in this program was that it’s great to have a vision, but you need a plan to reach that vision.”

Manning added that through the incubator program, “We have become a family. You come in with a personal idea, that what I’m here for is my thing. And you leave feeling I want to see Jen succeed. I want to see everyone else hit their goals and how can we help each other along their way? That’s what this has become for me. I hope we all succeed.”

Disclosure: The Waltham Times is a member of the inaugural cohort of the Social Innovation Incubator.