For Subscribers

Art and Design Get a New Launchpad Opportunity with New Inc Incubator Technology incubators have traditionally underserved artists and designers, but New Inc is changing that, 100 members at a time.

By Michelle Goodman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Courtesy of New Museum
Creativity unbound: New Inc.

Check out other industries that are benefiting from launchpads here.

Artists and designers have long been underserved by traditional tech incubators. "Scaling may not be their first priority," says Julia Kaganskiy, director of New Inc, an incubator run by the New Museum in New York City. For example, she says, rather than solving a widespread problem, technology-minded artists may want to create a product that's simply playful or makes a statement.

New Inc, which launched in September 2014, gives artists, designers and technologists a place to build products, design studios and web-development shops. The program offers qualifying entrepreneurs full-time annual memberships ($600 per month) or part-time three- to six-month terms ($350 per month), both renewable, with space available for 100 members. Artists retain all equity in their businesses and all intellectual property rights to their work.

Image Credit: Courtesy of New Museum

Allison Wood joined New Inc in 2014 to get her startup off the ground. "I think about it as my creative MBA," says the co-creator and CEO of Reify, a platform that turns music into sculptures using 3-D technology and augmented reality. "It's my first time starting a business, and I knew I needed to be somewhere that I had the creative support as well as the professional development support to make it work."

To accommodate its range of members, New Inc teaches fundraising tactics, from grant writing and crowdfunding to angel investments and venture capital. Demo-day audiences include investors, gallery curators, creative directors from top brands and agencies, and members of the press.

Collaboration is encouraged. Wood met her company's CTO, creative director, art director and several freelance designers through New Inc. "It's been pretty awesome to have all that under one roof," says Wood, who now rents a second office in Brooklyn for her growing team. "I don't think you can pay for that."

Michelle Goodman is a Seattle-based freelance journalist and author of The Anti 9-to-5 Guide.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Amazon Tells Thousands of Employees to Relocate or Resign

Amazon says the move to bring teams together will make them more "effective."

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'Largest Data Breach in History': Apple, Google, and Meta Passwords Reportedly Among 16 Billion Stolen in Massive Hack

"Massive datasets" have been emerging every few weeks, according to a new report.

Devices

This $180 Chromebook Offers Flexibility and Performance for On-the-Go Entrepreneurs

This Chromebook is designed for entrepreneurs who need power and portability, and now it's 45% off.

Business News

Meta Poaches the CEO of a $32 Billion AI Startup — After Trying to Buy the Company and Being Told No

Meta is reportedly offering up to nine figures in compensation for AI researchers, amounting to $100 million signing bonuses and even higher overall pay.

Business Solutions

Tackle Decision Fatigue With This CEO-Worthy AI Tool

Let AI help you make some decisions with SkillWee, an app designed with entrepreneurs in mind.