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A growth spurt and a deeper well of funding could be ahead for Southwest Florida's tech startup sector through an ambitious project initiated by a young Fort Myers entrepreneur.

But while Matt Hurley, 21, is young, he's not a novice. For starters, he launched, ran and sold a successful web marketing agency before his senior prom. Hurley's current vision, backed by several investment partners, is to create a business incubator that will shelter and invest in promising young tech companies that spawn other companies and investments. Hurley says his partners include “individuals, family offices and corporations.”

The project, H2 Innovation Center, is planned for the former 123,000-square-foot Atrium Executive Center at the southwest corner of College Parkway and Winkler Avenue. By summer 2018, Hurley expects to welcome the first of what he hopes will be around 125 startups. He expects to draw tenants from within the region, state and nation.