About Us
We’re currently refining our mission to better reflect our commitment to empowering WNC founders. Stay tuned for our updated vision!
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 2024 Annual Report
Our Board
Maui Vang
HATCH CHAIR OF BOARD FOUNDER OF UPHORA DANCE FITNESS & CO-FOUNDER OF TILLY
Mike Baer
HATCH BOARD MEMBER THIRDPATH INITIATIVE
Isaac Rowles
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
PARTNER- ASSURANCE SERVICE AT DMJPS PLLC
Jesse Fripp
HATCH FUNDRAISING VICE CHAIR
CEO SHINING ROCK VENTURES
Emi Kubota
HATCH SECRETARY
PINNACLE BUSINESS GUIDE, EMI KUBOTA GUIDE
Jonathan Brake
HATCH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
The Forged Leader
Jeffrey Kaplan
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
VENTURE ASHEVILLE DIRECTOR
Kim Celentano
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
FOUNDER & CEO OF virtualjobshadow.com
Jamie Gilpin
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
OWNER OF OUTFITTER BICYCLE TOURS
Max Humphrey
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
IT Security Manager
Yue Hillon
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
Professor of Business Innovation at WCU
Margaret H. Annunziata
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
President, Isothermal Community College
Myra Cowan
HATCH BOARD MEMBER
Founder, Rutherford Food Hall; Entrepreneur & Community Leader
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.
