Incubators are not just for tech firms and universities any more

What do a wedding officiant, an accountant and a former computer hacker have in common?Not much, it turns out — and that’s precisely the challenge, says Carter Ferrington, who started the Dupont Circle Business Incubator in August. In two months, Ferrington has assembled a mix of entrepreneurs who are starting businesses or beefing up existing ones. There is Peter Frampton of Accounting Comes Alive, which teaches people to make sense of balance sheets. And J.J. Scheele, who owns Dog Walking DC and handles up to 70 dogs a day. Joining them is a duo who produces weekly podcasts, a couple with a flower shop and a rent-licensing expert.

"It’s like speed-dating," Ferrington said. "I meet with people, we size each other up, and sometimes there’s a match."

By Abha Bhattarai

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/incubators-are-not-just-for-tech-firms-and-universities-any-more/2011/09/27/gIQAHDYfYL_story.html