Students are challenged to develop a prototype of their solution to current problems they identify for a needed service, product, or business that will address one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as accessible education, sustainable communities, access to healthcare, support for inclusive culture and the arts, cybersecurity, regional unemployment, etc.  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. 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.

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.  Historically, an average of over $50,000 in financial or in-kind start-up support has been awarded to student ventures that present the best solutions and strategies for addressing timely social and business challenges.  Alumni investors have also made equity investments, providing real money for students to incubate their businesses and let their ideas fly!