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.

TheHatchUpdate-2023-02

Apply to be a Hatchling!

Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 6 p.m. 

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.

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.

What's Hatching: Refine, a personalized app to help teach people about sustainable buying habits.

Paige Blauvelt

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.

What's Hatching: Scholl, a generative scholarship AI bot to assist students in finding scholarships that suit their demographics and interests.

Aditya Gupta

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.

What’s Hatching: Heat Safe, a device placed on a pot or pan to detect the pre-set maximum temperature. The device will sound an alarm when your stove or oven gets too hot. If every home had this device, cooking would be a lot safer.

Mackenzie

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.

What's Hatching: RH Real Estate helps students and others invest in real estate without having to put down a year's salary for a down payment.

ryan-hoelscher

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.

What’s Hatching: WhereWorldU – a web-based hub that offers tailored resources and community support to students from diverse cultural backgrounds, facilitating a smoother transition into academic and social life.

Quan Le

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.

What's Hatching: The Everyone Bar is an allergy-friendly protein bar that is free from the top nine food allergens; including milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, soy, wheat and sesame, with the goal of empowering “Everyone” on their health and wellness journeys.

Jacob Litsey

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.

What’s Hatching: The SPARK Foundation, an educational nonprofit that provides access to hands-on, experiential learning opportunities and "spark" a passion for learning in children from underserved and underrepresented communities.



ryan-lothamer

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.

What’s Hatching: Elizabeth M Meadows-Artist LLC is developing a traveling visual art school for underserved communities in Wood, Lucas, Ottawa and Sandusky counties. Her client base will focus on juvenile detention, group homes, foster care and homeschooled youth, as well as people of all ages with disabilities. Art can heal or remove stress while creating an object that validates our humanity. We need that right now.

elizamm

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.

What's Hatching: Calli Toys specializes in crafting toy conducting batons that not only entertain, but also educate children about music, rhythm and leadership. With these batons and educational videos, we strive to foster confidence and unlock the inner maestro in each young conductor.

rachel-nitschke

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.

What’s Hatching: Curated Café, a “vinyl café,” is an innovative concept blending the charm of a record store with the vibrant atmosphere of a café and bar. Curated Café offers a multifaceted experience where enthusiasts can explore curated media collections, enjoy a cozy café ambiance, and indulge in a variety of café items. Community members can participate in hosted events featuring local artists in various mediums or host their own private events in our space.
 
“Curated Café aims to become the cultural heartbeat of the community, enriching lives through celebrating music, fostering connections and creating lasting memories.”
alexis-norris

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.

What's Hatching: Sense Vibrate Alert is an automotive advancement to steering wheel covers, assisting the deaf and hearing impaired community through the power of haptic technology.

julia-roffman

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.

What’s Hatching: Unity Community Barbershop, a cosmetology setting that provides inclusive hair designs and styles to transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities.

cortney-smalley

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, spending time on the water and interning at Bay Controls.

What's Hatching: Topwater Tools, a family of products that includes simple, handheld tools that float in water for easy retrieval when dropped.

owen-thompson

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.

What's Hatching: IronClad Comics is a graphic novel publisher that seeks to forge the next generation of characters and stories. Our stories embrace the morals and beliefs that unite us all as humans, like truth, hope and justice. In a world where so many young adults – especially young men – are lost and lack purpose, we want to provide them with role models, heroes they can relate to and that they can be inspired by.

david-timm

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.

What’s Hatching: Fold-n-Stroll, a company specializing in foldable travel products for infants and toddlers. Their first product is a light-weight stroller that folds into a diaper bag.

everett-weaver

Jacob Wenzlick 

Jacob Wenzlick, of Mentor, Ohio, is a senior in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aviation with a specialization 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.

What's Hatching: QuikDrop is an advanced air mobility product that solves the “Last 20 Feet of Aerial Delivery” utilizing a parachute that functions as a bag upon delivery.

jacob-wenzlick

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.

What's Hatching: Momintos produces children’s books focusing on an activity to encourage children to get off their electronic devices and live in the “momint”, where each book illustrates a fun activity with tips on how children can implement the activities in their own “momints”.

elaina-wintringh

Meet the 2024 Judges

Tony Drockton '88, '96

Chairman and Chief Cheerleader at Hammitt

Tony Drockton, founder of Hammitt, America's fastest-growing handbag brand, embodies a fusion of Midwestern values and entrepreneurial zeal. With an MBA from BGSU, he ventured to Southern California, establishing successful ventures in finance, housing and construction before embracing the challenge of building Hammitt, a luxury brand celebrating craftsmanship and lasting quality.

In his 15-year tenure as Hammitt's chairman, Drockton is renowned for his blend of analytical decision-making and genuine connections. Featured by prestigious platforms like Women’s Wear Daily and the Wall Street Journal, he champions philanthropy and serves on influential boards such as New York's Accessories Council. Committed to nurturing emerging talent, Drockton dedicates himself to mentorship and community upliftment.

tony

Suheb Haq '00

President of Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC.

Suheb is a seasoned general manager with manufacturing and operations expertise. Within his position as president, he holds P&L responsibility and execution of a mutlimillion dollar equity investment in a startup joint venture, for the design and construction of the first commercial-scale fuel cell manufacturing plant. He takes part in global assignments (Asia, Europe and North America) leading transformation in areas of strategy, operations, manufacturing engineering and program/project management.

Haq-Suheb

Bruce Fisher '68

Bruce Fisher, retired vice president of Hayward Pool Products, boasts a rich history of leadership in the pool industry. Serving as chairman of the Manufacturer's Council within APSP and on various boards including Latham International and World & Main, his expertise has been instrumental in shaping industry standards. Currently, Fisher sits on the board of directors of Advanced Pool Technologies LLC.

Before his tenure at Hayward, Fisher held key roles at Lightolier, overseeing marketing and operations. Notably, he spearheaded the growth of The Light Store from a startup to 17 locations as general manager and chief operating officer. His contributions extended to chairing industry associations, advocating for quality lighting practices.

A graduate of BGSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Fisher's career exemplifies a commitment to excellence and industry advancement.

bruce-fisher

Marilee MacAskill '86

Area Director and Certified Dale Carnegie Trainer at Dale Carnegie Training of NE Ohio

Marilee MacAskill, a seasoned trainer and consultant with Dale Carnegie Training for 29 years, is dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth. Specializing in the Dale Carnegie Course and High Impact Presentations Program, she holds five international sales and trainer awards, consistently ranking among Ohio's top performers.

With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Disney College Program graduate, Marilee actively engages with various organizations. She contributes to the Schmidthorst College of Business Leadership Council and Cleveland Alumni Organization, while participating in associations like CSHRM and the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Marilee serves as a former board member of Youth for Christ and passionately supports Christian Business Women’s Connection as the Northeast Ohio area coordinator and chapter leader.

Marilee

Mike W. McDaniel '01

Vice President and General Manager of Global Workplace and Mobility

Mike is Vice President and General Manager of Global Workplace and Mobility. He is responsible for DXC’s global workplace experience business, leading innovation and growth, managing all activities and a global staff and achieving customers’ expectations.

Previously, he spent 15 years in several senior positions at Accenture. Most recently, he was senior managing director for Accenture’s North America sales organization, active in sales origination, client management, technology and innovation development and C-suite engagement plans for major transformation programs.

McDaniel

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

PNC Foundation logo
Wood County Economic Development Commission
O-I logo

Supporting Sponors

Coca Cola 

realizability

VERTLogo-FullColor 

Updated: 09/03/2024 03:58PM