About Us

We aim to empower WNC founders by uniting the region’s entrepreneurial support, accessible resources, and world-class mentorship in one easy-to-navigate innovation hub.

Our Values

Equity

We’re here to support entrepreneurs of all ethnicities, backgrounds, nationalities, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations in bringing their visions to life, especially those from communities historically underrepresented in WNC’s business world.

Inclusion

We embrace diversity in all its forms. The more backgrounds, ideas, perspectives, experiences, and skill sets represented at Hatch, the better our chances of achieving our mission.

Community

Our community is more than a network. It’s a collaborative and dedicated team of innovators who are wholeheartedly invested in each other’s success.

Creativity

From our programs and mentorship practices to our space and organizational culture, everything about Hatch is designed to nurture the creativity that powers entrepreneurship.

Courage

Entrepreneurship teems with unknowns and heaves with risks. We celebrate all founders for having the courage to embark on this challenging (but immensely gratifying) journey.

Paying it forward

Behind every successful entrepreneur is an invested support system. That’s why we encourage all who “make it” to pay it forward by helping someone else do the same.

Our Story

We’re a startup, too, and our story’s only beginning. Since we hatched in 2017, we’ve become the home for entrepreneurship in WNC. Now, we’re working with our partners to make WNC a globally-recognized home of entrepreneurs.

Download the 2023 Annual Report

Our Board

Mike Baer

HATCH CHAIR OF BOARD
THIRDPATH INITIATIVE FOUNDER

Maui Vang

HATCH VICE CHAIR FOUNDER OF UPHORA DANCE FITNESS & CO-FOUNDER OF TILLY

Chris Buehler

HATCH TREASURER
ENTREPRENEUR & COO

Jesse Fripp

HATCH FUNDRAISING VICE CHAIR
CEO SHINING ROCK VENTURES

Chris DeVault

HATCH BOARD MEMBER
FOUNDER OF ALPHA VANGUARD

Dr. Susan Clark Muntean

HATCH BOARD MEMBER
 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT AT UNCA

Angela Brandt

HATCH NEW PROGRAMS LEADER
SERVICES SOLUTION ARCHITECT

Eileen Hutchison

HATCH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
MARKETING COACH & STRATEGIST

Jeffrey Kaplan

HATCH BOARD MEMBER
VENTURE ASHEVILLE DIRECTOR

Betty Shotton

HATCH BOARD MEMBER
FOUNDER OF LIFTOFF LEADERSHIP

Kim Celentano

HATCH BOARD MEMBER
FOUNDER & CEO OF virtualjobshadow.com

Ursula Jorch

HATCH PROGRAMING CHAIR
BUSINESS CONSULTANT FRACTIONAL COO

Headquartered at Hatch

Our building is chock full of mission-driven innovators who are working to make WNC (and the world!) a thoughtfully accessorized, healthier, happier, more aware, more sustainable, more efficient, and more meaningfully connected place.

Our Partners

We're honored to be working alongside these incredible organizations to make WNC a great place to start and grow a business:

Our Sponsors

We wouldn’t be the innovation hub we are without the support of our sponsors. Their generous contributions have enabled us to offer world class business development programs, affordable space, and high quality events to founders across WNC.