We want to thank Marie Northington for her leadership as Operations Manager this past year, as she transitions to her role as Program Director of the Cox Cleantech Residency powered by Gener8tor! Marie has made such an impact on the residents, faculty, fellows, and everyone else involved in the running of the incubator. We are thrilled for your future endeavors, and you will be missed here at HatchBridge!

Last month, we had our BuildIt! session hosted by Dylan GoldBlatt (CEO of Aquilops), Laila Harrison (AI Strategist at KSU), and Lauren Lange (Program Manager at HatchBridge) on the topic of Idea to App: Where Do You Get Stuck? Through this session, our residents had the space to discuss navigating the challenges in turning their business ideas into apps, platforms, and digital tools. We loved the turnout of this session, and we’re looking forward to the next conversation.

If you missed March’s BuildIt!, be sure to keep an eye out for our next one on social media⬇️

One of the questions we get most often is: who is HatchBridge for?

The honest answer is that our pipeline includes everyone from a local florist looking to scale her second location to a team commercializing nuclear microreactor technology for orbital power generation. Same building. Same week. Completely different worlds.

That range is the challenge. It’s also the point.

Most incubators pick a lane. They serve deep tech or Main Street, early stage or growth stage, first-time founders or serial operators. We made a different choice. We chose to meet innovators where they actually are, which means building programming that flexes across stage, sector, and mindset.

A flower shop owner thinking about her first hire and a PhD spinning research out of a university lab don’t need the same curriculum.

But they do need the same things underneath: clarity on who their customer is, honest feedback on what’s working, and a path forward that doesn’t waste their time.

That’s what we obsess over. Not a single track that forces everyone through the same pipeline, but a system flexible enough to be useful whether you’re validating your first idea or navigating a federal grant application.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:

We built modular programming across four learning tracks so founders can engage with what’s relevant to them right now. We brought in advisors and mentors who’ve actually built and sold companies, not just studied them. We developed tools for customer discovery, competitive positioning, and go-to-market planning that work whether you’re selling bouquets or pitching SBIR contracts.

Is it harder to build it this way? Absolutely. A narrow program is easier to run, easier to measure, easier to explain on a slide.

But narrowing the aperture means turning away the founder who doesn’t fit the mold. And in our experience, those are often the ones who surprise everyone.
We’re doing whatever we can to meet the challenge because the innovators walking through our doors deserve programming built for them, not the other way around.

We’ll keep building. Come see what we’re working on.

We’re excited to bring together our residents for another engaging Roundtable at HatchBridge. These conversations continue to highlight the power of collaboration, with founders sharing insights, exchanging ideas, and supporting one another as they build and scale.

Opportunities like this are what make our community so impactful. We’re proud to create a space where innovation thrives and connections turn into meaningful growth.

April 10th, 10 AM - 11 AM | 📍 HatchBridge Conference Room

What does it really take to get funded in the Southeast? What do investors look for when most startups are still just an idea and a pitch deck? 

Slice & Advice is an open conversation over lunch with an expert who has been in the room. This month, HatchBridge Incubator welcomes Matt Johnson, founder and Managing Partner of Johnson Venture Partners (JVP), an Atlanta-based micro VC with more than 15 years of early-stage investing experience. 

Bring your questions. No slides, no pitch competition, just a candid conversation with someone who has seen what works, what doesn't, and what founders get wrong before they even walk in the door.

April 17th, 12 PM - 1:30 PM | 📍 HatchBridge Classroom

Hike with HatchBridge is back! Come hit the trails with us on Friday, April 24th at Kennesaw Mountain!

This gathering is open to everyone in the Atlanta startup ecosystem and is a chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and innovators in a relaxed setting. The hike encourages meaningful conversations while enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise. Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas or just take in the scenery, we’d love to have you join us.

FYI‼️: If there are poor weather conditions, we will change the event location, so be on the lookout on our social media pages!

April 24th, 9 AM - 11 AM | 📍 Kennesaw Mountain

HatchBridge started with a simple belief: entrepreneurs building in the suburbs of Atlanta need community, coaching, and accountability, and they shouldn't have to commute to the city to find it. Since opening in 2023, we've grown from an empty office suite into a 6,000 sq. ft. home for founders and KSU faculty at every stage. 

At our Open House, you'll get a firsthand look at what HatchBridge has to offer. We'll kick things off with a brief overview of our programs and services, which span early-stage venture building, idea validation, fundraising preparation, and commercialization pathways for KSU faculty bringing discoveries to market. 

Then we'll take you on a guided tour of 1111 Chastain, where you can see the classroom, private offices, and advanced tools for rapid prototyping and content creation that help ideas take flight. 

Whether you're a first-time founder, an experienced entrepreneur, a KSU faculty member, or simply someone curious about what's happening in your backyard, come see it for yourself.  

April 27th, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | 📍HatchBridge Classroom

‼️Be sure to RSVP below, so that we have an accurate attendance amount for preparation ⬇️

HatchBridge Incubator is partnered with Startup Cherokee for their LaunchPad Bootcamp — a free 6‑week series, built to help you research, refine, and launch your big idea. This program connects you with the tools, resources, and momentum to move your venture forward.

Applications are closed, but you can still learn about the program and apply for future cohorts ⬇️