HatchThis Returns to Asheville: March 27-29, 2026

Fifth Annual Startup Weekend Offers $20,000 in Prizes and Unparalleled Access to Mentors and Investors

ASHEVILLE, NC — January 29, 2026 – Now in its fifth year, HatchThis brings a game-changing fusion of an accelerator, a hackathon, and a weekend-long celebration to Asheville’s entrepreneurial community. Aspiring founders arrive Friday evening ready to pitch an idea or join a team. Following the pitch session, a select group of ideas is chosen, and teams form around those concepts to work throughout the weekend with world-class mentors.

HatchThis offers a unique combination of elite business mentorship and startup intensity, all designed to help teams compete for $20,000 in prize packages, including a $5,000 cash seed-funding award.

How It Works

Participants should come ready to pitch a business idea or join a team supporting one. Aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their concepts, and all event participants vote on their favorites. Selected founders then form teams from the remaining participants. Once teams assemble, the intensive work begins: small groups build prototypes, gather user feedback, receive coaching from experienced mentors, and pitch in front of real investors to compete for the prize package.

HatchThis is powered by Hatch AVL Foundation, Venture Asheville, and AVL Digital Nomads. The event will be hosted at the Hatch Innovation Building, 45 S. French Broad Ave. The closing pitch event on Sunday evening will take place at The Mule / Devil’s Foot Beverage.

Event Details

Dates: March 27-29, 2026
Location: Hatch Innovation Building, 45 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC
Final Pitch Event: Sunday, March 29, at The Mule / Devil’s Foot Beverage
Tickets go on sale January 30, 2026

Ticket Pricing:

• Early Bird Tickets: $49 through 2/27 (includes entire weekend of business building, mentorship, festivities, food, and swag)
• Standard Rate Admission: $69 (includes entire weekend of business building, mentorship, festivities, food, and swag)
• Student Admission: $29 (includes entire weekend of business building, mentorship,  festivities, food, and swag)
• Final Pitch Event Only: $29 (open to the general public, includes food and 1 drink ticket – Sunday, March 29)

Whether you’re an engineer, designer, creator, entrepreneur, investor, or future co-founder, HatchThis welcomes you into this innovation learning lab. Join us March 27-29 to expand your network, immerse yourself in startup culture, and jump-start Asheville’s best ideas.

How to Get Involved

HatchThis is made possible through the support of individuals and organizations committed to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the Asheville region. There are two primary ways to contribute.

In-kind contributions provide direct, tangible support during the event and beyond by supplying food, services, and resources such as marketing, legal, and financial guidance. These contributions play an active role in the HatchThis experience, connecting local businesses with entrepreneurs and helping strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem.

Monetary contributions support event programming, prize funding, and operational needs essential to delivering the HatchThis experience and sustaining its impact across the community.All supporters receive recognition and gain meaningful alignment with Asheville’s startup community.

What Past Participants Are Saying

“HatchThis was buzzing with new connections and amazing people,” said Lilly Field, 2025 winner and founder of Me2We, now evolved into Celium with co-founder Nathan Phillips, whom she met at HatchThis. “The magic of building something together under pressure is indescribable. We accomplished more in two days than I might have in two months on my own, and those connections continue to strengthen Asheville’s startup community.”

“HatchThis is where ideas become businesses. In just a weekend, it transforms dreamers into doers, equipping them with the skills and confidence to start up,” said Maui Vang, entrepreneur and Vice Chair of the Hatch Board. “It’s a one-of-a-kind event in Asheville that really captures what being an entrepreneur is all about. We’re thrilled to bring it back to our community.”

About HatchWNC

HatchWNC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting early-stage founders across Western North Carolina as they move from idea to entrepreneurial momentum. Through mentorship, community connections, and accessible programming, Hatch WNC helps founders gain clarity, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward launching sustainable businesses. Focused on serving the diverse and often underserved communities of the region, HatchWNC strengthens the broader startup ecosystem by empowering local entrepreneurs and fostering collaboration that fuels long-term regional impact.

We’ll be rolling out more details and our keynote speaker, coming soon. Follow our social media channels and email updates for more details as they happen, visit www.hatchinnovationhub.org.

Media Contact:

Nanette Asbury
Hatch Innovation Hub
Email: info@hatchavl.org
Web: www.hatchinnovationhub.org