^{Friends of HatchBridge,}  

As we step into March, things are heating up at HatchBridge! This month, we're excited to share updates on a hackathon, introduce a new addition to the HatchBridge team that I’m very excited about, spotlight a new podcast our student fellows are producing, and announce our upcoming March hike.

And don’t worry—the pace won’t slow down for the rest of 2025. We're busy helping our venture-scale companies raise funding, building systems for internal growth, and expanding opportunities within the HatchBridge ecosystem. But I’ll save more of that for a future update.

Feel free to check out our refreshed website at HatchBridge.com (designed by our talented student fellows), and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help you in any way!

Colin Ake
^{Director of Incubation and Commercialization
HatchBridge Incubator}

This past weekend, students from across KSU teamed up with KSU Athletics and CCSE for an exciting hackathon aimed at tackling challenges in Fan Engagement, Athlete Experience, and Game-Day Operations. Over three days, participants conducted research, brainstormed innovative solutions, and built prototypes to enhance the sports experience at KSU.

The event showcased the incredible talent and fresh perspectives our students bring to the table. From improving fan interaction to optimizing athlete support and elevating the game-day atmosphere , the solutions were both creative and impactful.

✨ Congratulations to our winning teams! ✨

🏆 Owl Picks
Jean-Jacques Mutombo, Justin Owen, Katherine Smith, Steven Naliwajka

🏆 Playbook App
Juan Ferreira, Katherine Lanham, Mechelle Nguyen, Sofia Torres

🏆 Owl Spot
Robert McCrary, Ravi Kumar Rogannagari, Sanjaykrishnan Ravikumar

With 💰 $9,000 in cash prizes on the line, the competition was fierce, but the collaboration and innovation were even stronger.

We’re excited to see how these winning ideas can continue to improve the KSU sports experience, and we look forward to seeing more from these talented students in the future!

We’re excited to welcome Marie Northington to the HatchBridge team! 🎉 With a strong background in accelerators, venture programs, and corporate innovation, Marie brings a wealth of experience in building and scaling programs that support founders and industry leaders.

In her role as Operations Manager, she’ll focus on strengthening internal systems, optimizing processes, and expanding opportunities within the HatchBridge ecosystem. Her expertise will help drive growth and create new pathways for collaboration and success.

She loves animals, photography, and doing anything in nature. Next time you see Marie around the office, be sure to say hello and connect! 👋

The Hatching Success program is back with its fifth cohort, bringing together 10 early-stage startups ready to take their ideas to the next level! This program provides startup education, goal accountability, and mentorship to help founders build a strong foundation for success.

Meet the founders and their ventures in Cohort 5:

• Amber de Marché – Elevated Financial Coaching

• Anna Teal – Karry by Design

• Ashley Velez – Digital Marketing Consultant

• Barry Ngbobu – D’Baris Academy

• Eva Lester – Gleam Eyewear

• Lauren Youmans – Blooming with Lauren

• Lee Meyer & Matt Thomas – The Highlight Reel

• Jonathan Hernandez 

• Shalakay Gibbs – Suite Sciens

As they move through the program, these founders are laying the groundwork for their ideas to grow and thrive. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.

We’re excited to announce the launch of Building in the ‘Burbs, a brand-new podcast created and run entirely by our student fellows. This series dives into the stories behind the startups in our community, featuring candid conversations with entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes insights from HatchBridge, and lessons learned along the way.

From early-stage challenges to breakthrough moments, our students are bringing fresh perspectives to the world of startups—one episode at a time.

The first episode is out now! 🎧 Check it out at the link below and follow along for more inspiring founder stories.

Stay tuned for the second episode dropping soon—you won’t want to miss it!

Come hit the trails with us on Friday, March 28th, from 8:45 AM to 11 AM.

This informal gathering, open to everyone in the Atlanta startup ecosystem, 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 of Kennesaw Mountain, we’d love to have you join us.

🌿 See you there!

Interested in getting involved at HatchBridge? Follow us on Social Media for the latest events and updates

Contact: Marie Northington, Operations Manager - [email protected]