^{Friends of HatchBridge,}  

Somehow September is upon us!

HatchBridge is bustling as we head into the fall with programs, meetings, and companies that are growing. There are some exciting things afoot, led by a date for the HatchBridge Grand Opening Celebration on October 16. See more information later to RSVP – we’d love to see you!

Resident companies, Chasing Venture participants, and program alums are raising funds, too. We’re excited that the current running of total funding since HatchBridge launched in July 2023 is now $18.3M. We’ll let companies run their own PR – the milestones are theirs to celebrate and proof of their dedication and hard work.

As the number of students at Kennesaw State University eclipses 50,000 this semester, faculty are pursuing impact through commercialization. These emerging startups are based on research at KSU and pursuing grant funds, customer conversations, and are building structure to support growth.

We'll see you in October for the grand opening, but don’t be a stranger between here and there. Come visit HatchBridge at any time for a cup of coffee, a conversation, or to find community in a room full of builders.

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

The rules for starting a business have changed. 

Ideas no longer sit in notebooks or pitch decks for months. They turn into live businesses in hours and days. I just watched a video where someone launched a business in 56 minutes. 

Customer discovery is being replaced by business discovery. You launch, you learn, and the market tells you the truth in real time. 

The angel money that once funded those first steps is mostly gone. But the cost to start has collapsed. The tools are in your hands. Infrastructure is cheap. What used to take hundreds of thousands now takes hundreds. 

AI is the engine behind this shift. ChatGPT, Claude, v0. They are speeding up development and lowering the bar to entry. Companies are spinning up 24/7 voice agents for service businesses. Others are building systems that decide whether a task is better done by a human or a machine. Agents are already moving into research, accounting, finance, and more. 

If you are thinking about starting, here is the point: the gatekeepers are gone. You do not need permission. You do not need perfect timing. You do not even need outside money to test. 

What you need is the ability to lead. To hold humans, machines, and agents in one system that works. That is where the new edge is. 

If you are curious, start experimenting. Try tools like v0 or Lovable. Play with Claude. Learn what each one is good at. The more you practice, the clearer the opportunities become. 

And 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}

🍕 Slice & Advice: Building Hardware MVPs

Hosted by Addison Shelton, Join us for a conversation with Addison Shelton, CEO of Kickr Design and former engineer at Apple and Sila Nanotechnologies. With a background in mechanical engineering and years of experience bringing ideas to life, Addison will share practical insights on taking hardware concepts from prototype to MVP.

Takeaway: Validate hardware ideas quickly with rapid prototyping from amazing printing tools.

🗓️ September 19 12:30-2pm | 📍 HatchBridge Incubator (1111 Chastain) | 🍕 Pizza served

Pizza is on us — RSVP now to save your spot!

Meet Local Mushrooms, a culinary mushroom farm located in Canton, GA selling specialty mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Oyster, and Chestnut varieties. You can find them at farmer’s markets across North Georgia and they’re always looking for restaurants and distribution partners across the city.

We're proud to have CEO Wesley Davis as a resident founder at HatchBridge Incubator!

Explore more at localmushrooms.com

Resident Roundtable is a guided forum where residents come together to share what they are working on, the lessons they are learning, and the challenges they are facing. It is a space for open conversation, peer support, and problem solving. Each session helps participants surface needs, exchange ideas, and connect with others who can offer perspective and resources. The goal is to create a trusted circle that fosters growth, accountability, and community.

If you’re interested in a Residency at HatchBridge, we currently have 2 remaining desks available for this term.

Come hit the trails with us on Friday, Septmeber 26th, 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]