The Collaborative Entrepreneurship Incubator Launches in Western New York

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new chapter in entrepreneurship begins in Western New York with the launch of the Collaborative Entrepreneurship Incubator, a first-of-its-kind initiative that rethinks how ventures are built, grown and led.

The incubator officially launched on September 24, 2025 and is designed for entrepreneurs, founders, freelancers and creatives who want to grow not by going it alone, but through aligned partnerships. It was founded by Melissa Davis of Rochester, NY joined by co-founders Kristen Toscano of Buffalo, NY and Tracy Borreson of Calgary Canada.

“We were never meant to do this alone,” Davis said. “Entrepreneurship was never meant to be a solo sport. We’re creating a living ecosystem where collaboration replaces competition, and local entrepreneurs can experiment, connect, and grow together in ways that actually yield more stability, success and impact.”

This is not another accelerator or networking group. The incubator is a movement toward regenerative entrepreneurship. A model in which value is co-created rather than competed over. Through live collaborative events and experiments, partnership-matching tools, and a growing library of resources, members explore what it means to build together.

“Our goal is to make collaboration the new standard in business, to help founders understand themselves, their working style and how to create partnerships rooted in alignment, trust and shared purpose,” Toscano said.

Rochester and Buffalo as Anchor Hubs

As part of its expansion plan, the incubator is investing in establishing a Western New York Collaborative Hub, with Rochester and Buffalo serving as anchor cities. The hub will pilot the model, bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives and local organizations to co-design new partnership models and drive sustainable economic growth.

“Rochester is rich with innovative thinkers and community-minded leaders,” Davis said. “It’s the perfect place to model what a locally connected, collaborative economy can look like.”

Local entrepreneurs or organizations interested in becoming part of the WNY Collaborative Hub are invited to contact Davis at melissa@humanityinc.world.

A Shift in How We Define Success

More than a business community, the Collaborative Entrepreneurship Incubator signals a paradigm shift, one that honors both ambition and aliveness. It posits that individual success and community well-being can exist in harmony.

Entrepreneurs across the country can become founding members for $11/month, gaining access to early tools, live labs and experiments designed to test new models of partnership and collaboration.

To learn more and join the movement, visit: https://humanityinc.world/incubator

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About the Collaborative Entrepreneurship Incubator

Founded by Melissa Davis, Kristen Toscano and Tracy Borreson, the incubator is an experimental platform and community reimagining how business gets built together. Rooted in values of integrity, sustainability and relational leadership, the incubator aims to foster a world where entrepreneurship is collaborative, regenerative and deeply impactful.