Are you ready to bring your innovative dreams to life? The Hatch is an open invitation to all students, regardless of your major, to step into the world of entrepreneurship and innovation. Do you have a business idea? Fill out this Hatch 2025 interest form today!
Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Watch last year's Hatch
The Hatch is a semester long immersive program that takes student and alumni business ideas from concept to the stage! The goal of The Hatch is to engage BGSU students in creative and innovative problem solving for the public good by working to tackle some of the complex problems that affect our region. Students will work individually or in teams to explore their idea towards creating a positive social impact for our community.
Students are challenged to develop a prototype of their solution to current problems they identify for a needed service, product or business. Once selected to be part of The Hatch, each BGSU student entrepreneurial team, or Hatchling, is also partnered with an alumni mentor who guides them through the entire process. This process is supported through enrollment in an experiential learning-based ESHP course where students learn the key concepts and steps to idea generation, opportunity analysis, the business model canvas, business plan and pitch presentation development.
At the end of the spring semester, the Hatchlings present their business ideas to alumni investors during the live Hatch event to vie for funds to launch their business idea. This year, due to event sponsors Wood County Economic Development and PNC, over $30,000 in financial startup support will be awarded to student ventures that present the best solutions and strategies for addressing timely social and business challenges. Historically, alumni investors have also made equity investments, providing real money for students to incubate their businesses and let their ideas fly!
Meet the 2024 Hatchlings
This year's Hatchlings represent a variety of colleges across the University. On April 11, a select number of Hatchlings will pitch their business ideas in front of a live audience to see which investors will help their idea fly to new heights.
Alexis Andres
Alexis Andres, of Bellevue, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in studio art with a minor in community art education. Andres is a second-year resident advisor at Conklin Hall. In her free time, she enjoys drawing digitally and researching neurodiversity.
Paige Blauvelt
Paige Blauvelt, from Troy, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in visual communication technology with a specialization in photo and video. Blauvelt spent a semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria. In her free time, she enjoys reading, seeing movies, painting watercolors and playing with her cat, Pearl.
Aditya Gupta
Aditya Gupta, of Perrysburg, Ohio, is a sophomore in the Schmidthorst College of Business. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in insurance and risk management with minors in finance and Spanish. Gupta is involved on campus and in his fraternity, Kappa Sigma. He likes to work out, read, play video games and travel.
Mackenzie Hennagin
Mackenzie Hennagin, from North Canton, Ohio, is a senior in the Schmidthorst College of Business. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in management and is involved in multiple student organizations, including the Supply Chain Management Association and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning to cook new meals, watching movies and spending time with her two dogs.
Ryan Hoelscher
Ryan Hoelscher, from Fort Loramie, Ohio, is a first-year student in the Schmidthorst College of Business. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management. He enjoys the outdoors, animals and family.
Quan Le
Quan Huynh Hieu Le, from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a current MBA student in the Schmidthorst College of Business. She earned her Bachelor of Science in chemistry at BGSU. Active in campus life, Le serves as an International Student Ambassador and president of the Vietnam Student Association. Her enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and experiences extends to her personal blog, where she writes about topics including college life, personal growth and science. In her downtime, Le enjoys reading and exploring nature.
Jacob Litsey
Jacob Litsey, of Spencerville, Ohio, is a junior in the Schmidthorst College of Business. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management. Litsey currently works as an operations manager for FedEx Ground. In his free time, he loves the outdoors, reading and researching nutrition and fitness while helping others achieve their goals.
Ryan Lothamer
Ryan Lothamer, of Defiance, Ohio, is a sophomore in the College of Education and Human Development. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science education. Lothamer is an avid volunteer and has leadership roles in multiple organizations on campus. He enjoys reading, music and meeting interesting people.
Elizabeth Meadows
Elizabeth M. Meadows, originally from Cleveland and Shaker Heights, Ohio, is a nontraditional graduate candidate in the Master of Fine Arts 3D visual arts program. Meadows received her BFA in visual arts from Carnegie Mellon in 1994. She is an interdisciplinary artist whose work includes natural and recycled materials, steel, nonferrous metals, glass, plaster, wax, printmaking, guerilla installation and singing art performances.
She is a disabled mother of four, who brought her youngest child to Bowling Green State University. She enjoys exposing her child to art openings, gallery talks and visiting artists. Meadows also enjoys photography, gardening and reading urban fantasy and dystopian science fiction.
Rachel Nitschke
Rachel Nitschke, of Sandusky, Ohio, is a second-year student majoring in management and international business with a minor in philosophy, politics, economics and law. Driven by her enthusiastic commitment to workers' rights, she has chosen a career path focused on labor relations. Nitschke is a talented performer in a family trio alongside her sister, Sydney, and father, Brian. She is an active member of the International Relations Organization and Model United Nations.
Alexis Norris
Alexis Norris, of Fostoria, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Education and Human Development. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and product development with a minor in marketing. Norris has an extensive history in the education field, from early childhood education to after school program management. She is an active member of her community’s educational and political sectors. For enrichment, she loves creating “pieces,” cooking and spending time with her family.
Julia Roffman
Julia Roffman, of Galena, Ohio, is a sophomore in the college of Health and Human Services. She is pursuing a career in criminal justice with a specialty in forensics. Roffman enjoys volunteering and giving back to her community. She is involved in various campus groups, serving as vice president for Hillel and as a student board member of the Pre-Law Society.
Cortney Smalley
Cortney D. Smalley, of Detroit, Michigan, is a doctoral student in the organization development and change program in the Schmidthorst College of Business. He currently works for the federal government and is a seasoned professional in the field of recruitment and talent acquisition. Recently, Smalley completed a TEDx talk on the future of the recruitment industry. He enjoys traveling, swimming and spending quality time with his two labradoodles, Uno and Otto.
Owen Thompson
Owen Thompson is from Oregon, Ohio. He is a junior in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering. During the school year, Thompson is a part-time groundskeeper with BGSU’s Campus Operations. Outside of classes, he enjoys football, movies and spending time on the water.
David Timm
David Timm, of Waterville, Ohio, is a junior in the Schmidthorst College of Business. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in entrepreneurship. Timm is active in several on-campus and off-campus organizations. He is the vice president of the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Society, the personal tutor for the BGSU economics department and a youth minister for St. Richard's Catholic Church. He enjoys running his business, IronClad Comics, writing books for his company, reading and watching movies.
Everett Weaver
Everett Weaver, of North Baltimore, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. They are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in psychology. Weaver is vice president of the Non-traditional Student Organization and president of the Transfer Student Organization. In their free time, Weaver enjoys spending time with their 4-year-old daughter, Lily, and going to the Toledo Zoo.
Jacob Wenzlick
Jacob Wenzlick, of Mentor, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in flight technology and operations. Wenzlick is active in his fraternity and serves on the executive board of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He also enjoys snowboarding and traveling.
Yaliyah Wilson
Yaliyah Wilson, of Detroit, Michigan, is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and is majoring in digital art. Wilson loves to dance, write, read and listen to music. Spicy foods and sweets are Wilson's favorite foods to eat while traveling.
Elaina Wintringham
Elaina Wintringham, of Findlay, Ohio, is a freshman in the College of Education and Human Development. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in the intervention specialist program at BGSU. In her free time, she loves to go roller skating, crochet, solve Rubik's cubes and read.
Watch last year's Hatch!
Hatch Case Studies
Similar to "Shark Tank," not every Hatchling will receive an offer from our alumni investors. But finding success through the Hatch program can mean many things, including the development of a product or business idea. Check out a few Hatchling case studies to learn more.
The Hatch Case Study (2021) - Sarah Yarger (Clark), 2018 Participant
The Hatch Case Study (2021) - Jacob Kielmeyer, 2017 Participant
The Hatch Case Study (2021) - Corey Jones, 2013 Participant
E-Week Events
The Hatch is part of Entrepreneurship Week (E-Week) at BGSU. View the full listing of E-week events.
The Hatch Sponsors
Diamond Sponors
Updated: 02/07/2024 09:32AM