Event Schedule:

2026 Schedule is coming soon!

HatchThis is for anyone who’s ready to dive into the entrepreneurial world, whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur, someone with a new business idea, or simply curious about the process. Entrepreneurship is a contact sport—you can’t just think your way into starting a company; you have to get hands-on. This event is an intense, experimental weekend where you can form a team—whether with friends or strangers—and get the chance to build a business from the ground up in just 48 hours. You’ll receive guidance and support throughout, allowing you to experience the ups and downs of entrepreneurship firsthand. And it’s not just for people with ideas who want to pitch—anyone can participate, contribute, and learn, regardless of whether you’re the idea person or the leader.

No, you don’t have to lead a team to participate in HatchThis. While the event often gets attention for the flashy pitches, it’s about much more than just that. HatchThis is an immersive experience designed for anyone interested in the entrepreneurial journey, regardless of your role or experience level. Whether you’re in marketing, communications, product development, finance, or any other field, this weekend gives you a chance to feel the pressure and excitement of being on an entrepreneurial team.

It’s not just for founders—designers, developers, and other professionals are crucial to the process. This event offers everyone the opportunity to step into roles they may not typically experience at work. It’s a chance to contribute your skills, experiment with new ideas, and see what it takes to turn an idea into something tangible in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Startups may often be associated with founders, but they are really built by teams. This weekend has roles for everyone, so whether you’re a marketer, designer, developer, or just passionate about entrepreneurship, HatchThis is an opportunity to dive in and make an impact.

Even with a busy schedule, attending HatchThis can be incredibly rewarding. Professionals from all walks of life, including those from large local businesses, often attend to exercise their creativity, engage in innovation, and experience the thrill of entrepreneurship without the usual risks.

When people ask how to get involved in the community, HatchThis is the answer. By joining a team, adding value, and contributing your expertise, you’re not just showing up—you’re building lasting relationships. The connections you make during this weekend won’t just be short-term; they’ll continue to grow and benefit you far into the future.

HatchThis is the perfect opportunity to find out if entrepreneurship is the right path for you. It allows you to experience the entrepreneurial journey firsthand without making a significant commitment or risking it all—like collateralizing your mortgage. This event lets you dip your toe into the water and see if you’re ready for the changes that come with starting your own business, including potential shifts in work-life balance.

One of the unique aspects of HatchThis is the density of talent and ideas in one place. Bringing together a diverse group of people from across the community and beyond for three days creates an environment that’s hard to replicate. This concentrated mix of creativity, knowledge, and experience is one of the key ingredients that makes the weekend so special.

If you’re worried about someone stealing your idea, remember this: ideas alone aren’t what make businesses successful—it’s the execution. At HatchThis, there are no NDAs or non-compete agreements. If you’re concerned about sharing your idea, this might not be the right event for you. However, if you’re ready to move forward, this weekend is an excellent place to test your idea, get market feedback, and find potential co-founders or team members.

For those who’ve been sitting on an idea, HatchThis offers a unique chance to validate it. You’ll receive mentorship, market testing, and the support of a team to help bring your idea to life. Ultimately, it’s the execution that counts, and this event provides a collaborative environment to help you take those first crucial steps.

Teams at HatchThis are formed organically. Participants don’t necessarily come in with predefined roles. On Friday evening, founders or those with ideas will pitch their concepts, and attendees will choose which team or idea they want to join based on their interests and skill sets.

During the weekend, the work varies widely depending on the project. Teams might work on building prototypes, which could range from a basic PowerPoint presentation to something more tangible like a functional app, a website, or a landing page. Some teams might focus on developing marketing strategies, testing ad campaigns, or creating branding elements. Everything is on the table, and the direction a team takes will depend on the skills of the members and the needs of the project.

In reality, most people don’t show up knowing exactly what they’ll do; roles evolve as the project takes shape. As the weekend progresses, the team collaborates to create a business model, a prototype, and other deliverables, whether that’s a visual representation of branding, a go-to-market strategy, or a working piece of software.

In addition to forming teams and working on your project, HatchThis offers a range of activities designed to enhance your entrepreneurial experience. Throughout the weekend, there will be three keynotes focusing on essential topics: the Business Model Canvas, Customer Discovery, and Pitching. These sessions are not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended that at least one member from each team attend each keynote. For example, if you’re responsible for the pitch, you’ll benefit from attending the pitching session, while someone focused on market research should attend the Customer Discovery talk.

Beyond the keynotes, mentors play a crucial role in the weekend. They are subject matter experts in areas like marketing, legal, product development, and sales, and they are there to provide guidance and answer questions. Unlike participants who are actively building something, mentors are there to offer advice and help identify gaps or challenges in your business model. This year, we’re revamping the mentor interaction process. Instead of mentors rotating between teams, teams will visit mentors based on their specific needs. This change aims to make the mentoring process more efficient and less disruptive.

Switching teams or breaking off to do your own thing is heavily discouraged. The event is designed to foster collaboration and teamwork, so we encourage participants to commit to the team they initially join.

After the opening remarks, those who want to pitch an idea will have one minute to present it. Following the pitches, participants will gather around the ideas that interest them most. The top ten ideas with the most interest will form the official teams for the weekend. If your idea doesn’t attract enough people, you’ll be encouraged to join one of the established teams.

Team sizes typically range from five to ten people. While the format is flexible, and some participants may switch teams, the core experience of HatchThis is about working together from start to finish. While it’s not mandatory to join a team, doing so is a key part of what makes this weekend valuable.

Sunday Pitch Presentation:

1. Team Presentation: The final pitch presentation is a collaborative effort where the entire team participates. Each team member typically presents a specific aspect of the project:
• Founder: Introduces the problem and the solution.
• Tech Lead/Developer: Provides a detailed explanation of the technical solution.
• Marketing Specialist: Describes the go-to-market strategy and marketing plan.
2. Pitch Template: Teams will be provided with a pitch deck template to help structure their presentation. While this template is available, teams are encouraged to customize it according to their needs. The template will be given at the beginning of the weekend to allow teams to work on it throughout the event.
3. Pitch Content: The pitch is an essential part of the competition but should not overshadow the focus on developing a solid product-market fit. Teams are advised to prioritize refining their product and solution, with the pitch being one of the elements of their overall evaluation.
4. Additional Guidance:
• A session on pitching, led by a speaker (e.g., Jay), will be scheduled after lunch on Sunday. This session will offer tips and insights to help teams prepare their final presentations effectively.
5. Presentation Schedule:
• Saturday: The morning will feature a keynote on Customer Discovery, and the afternoon may include a session on the Business Model Canvas. Pitching guidance will be provided in the late afternoon or evening.
• Sunday: Teams will use the morning to finalize their projects and the pitch. The final pitches will take place in the afternoon.
6. Prizes and Awards: The main prize is a $5,000 cash award, with additional prizes to be announced closer to the event date. These additional prizes may include consulting hours, services, or other valuable resources.

Teams are encouraged to focus on delivering a compelling pitch but to remember that it is only one component of the evaluation. The quality of the solution and its market fit will be crucial in the judging process.

If you find yourself struggling or feeling overwhelmed, there are still ways to engage positively. You can volunteer or observe the event. If you initially bought a ticket to participate but later feel like you’d prefer to observe or volunteer, that’s perfectly okay. The event is designed to be flexible and accommodate different levels of engagement. You can attend sessions and learn from them, or take on a different role that better suits your current comfort level.

If you decide you’re not ready to join a team but still want to experience the event, you can purchase a spectator ticket for the final presentations. This allows you to see the culmination of the weekend’s efforts and learn from the experience without being directly involved.

Remember, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed, especially if it’s your first time engaging in an intensive entrepreneurship event. The environment is meant to be supportive and encouraging, and many participants find that stepping out of their comfort zone can lead to personal growth and new opportunities.

Ultimately, the event is about learning and growth, and there’s no one right way to participate. Whether you dive in headfirst or choose to observe and learn, you’ll find ways to contribute and benefit from the experience.