^{Friends of HatchBridge,}  

Happy November everybody!

October was a fantastic month! On the 16th, we welcomed President Schwaig, Dana Johnson from the Cobb Chamber, Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, and many others as we cut the ribbon on HatchBridge's new building at 1111 Chastain Road NW and welcomed the community into our space.

I know we've been open since August, but it's great to have a formal event to signal how excited we are to welcome the community to our new space. We are proud to have unveiled a new two-year review of HatchBridge at the grand opening, and we have a digital version that we were happy to share with you and the rest of the community in this month's newsletter!

I know November is the time of the year where things start to slow down, but HatchBridge is eager to continue to build on the momentum that we have been building together. Stay on the lookout for more programs and more news from our entrepreneurs!

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

One of the strongest indicators of entrepreneurial success is not the quality of the original idea, the size of the market, or how much capital a team starts with. It is whether the founders consistently run experiments. 

There is clear data to support this. 

A large multi-year research study of more than 30,000 startups found that teams who adopted structured experimentation practices saw material improvement in performance. In the first few months, those startups saw modest gains. After a full year of consistent testing, the impact became significant. Performance increased between 30 percent and 100 percent compared to before they adopted experimentation. They were more likely to launch new products, more likely to make substantial improvements, and far less likely to stay stuck with an unproven idea. 

Research on the Lean Startup method shows the same pattern. Entrepreneurs who test hypotheses, interview customers, and adjust based on data are measurably more successful than those who rely on assumptions or long planning cycles. INSEAD summarized it this way: founders who behave like scientists outperform founders who behave like planners. 

The reason is simple. Experiments accelerate learning. Founders who test weekly discover what customers want, what they do not want, and what they are willing to pay for. They uncover friction faster. They correct mistakes earlier. They avoid spending months building features no one needs. Testing is not a sign of uncertainty. It is how uncertainty becomes information. 

Important experiments do not need to be complex. 

Simple tests: 

• Asking customers why they did or did not buy • Trying two different price points • Sending ten targeted LinkedIn messages • Changing a landing page headline and measuring response 

Larger tests: 

• A small paid pilot • A new sales channel • A redesigned feature driven by user interviews • A limited product launch to measure demand 

The size of the experiment matters less than frequency and learning. Each test reveals something. Over time those learnings compound. That is why the data shows founders who run experiments either succeed faster or fail faster. Both outcomes are better than stagnation. Motion beats guessing. 

Every successful company is the result of hundreds of tests. Very few ideas work on the first attempt. The founders who win are the ones who keep learning until they find what does. 

If you want to talk about what this means for your own path, you can book time with me here:  

Mark Feinberg
^{Entrepreneur In Residence
HatchBridge Incubator}

The holiday season brings a time to strengthen relationships by expressing gratitude, find moments of joy even during challenges, and connect with family and friends through traditions like sharing meals. Join James E. Washington for a special Slice and Advice. Topics include: Lessons about pivoting, how a no can be a yes, taking adversity and changing it to growth opportunities, and changing your outlook on setbacks.

November 14 12:00-2:30pm | 📍 HatchBridge Incubator (1111 Chastain)

RSVP now to save your spot!

The game has changed. Businesses now launch in hours. Got an idea? Let’s launch.

Join us November 7th from 12-2:30pm at HatchBridge. We’ll start by introducing you to AI, vibe coding, prompting, and other tools and resources, with live support to help you take action and start moving your idea to launch.

Come hit the trails with us on Friday, November 21 from 8:45 AM to 11 AM.

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 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]