More BGSU students than ever apply to participate in 'The Hatch'

Representation from every college marks a historic shift in student innovation and "Life Design" application

By Branden Ferguson

Bowling Green State University is preparing for its most ambitious entrepreneurial event to date. On April 16, from 4 to 8:30 p.m., the Bowen-Thompson Student Union will transform into a high-stakes boardroom for The Hatch, an annual program hosted by the Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Now in its 14th year, the program has reached a historic milestone: 160 students applied to compete this year, more than six times the number compared to previous years.

The final 10 participants, comprising eight teams, were chosen for their strong, well-researched business proposals and the potential for their companies or products to be successfully developed beyond the competition. The remaining students were supported through center programming and the entrepreneurial student organization, the Falcon Entrepreneurial Network.

The Hatch distinguishes itself from traditional business competitions by its campus-wide initiative. This year’s participants include representation from every college at BGSU, proving that the entrepreneurial mindset is not confined to business majors.

“We had representation from every college, further promoting our message that entrepreneurs come from all careers and walks of life,” said David Uhlenhake, director of the Paul J. Hooker Center. “The program is designed to help students discover and apply their entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial potential in their chosen vocation.”

Unlike a standard course, Hatch participants, called Hatchlings, are tasked with building their own companies or products from the beginning. Over a high-pressure 15-week period, students apply Life Design principles – such as curiosity and reframing challenges – to navigate a fast-paced curriculum that includes ethnographic research, prototyping and rigorous testing.

“In this high-pressure environment, they test, fail, pivot and grow,” Uhlenhake said. "They don’t just emerge with investable ventures; they emerge as entrepreneurial leaders.”

During the event, students pitch their ideas and can receive funding to support their entrepreneurial ventures.

What’s “Hatching” this year?

• SCANI - A student engagement tool to improve student life
• OASIN - An online marketplace platform that connects local farmers, artists and small producers directly with consumers and local markets
• Maddie's Money Lab - A subscription-based website empowering athletes to build lifelong financial confidence by transforming NIL financial literacy into an engaging, interactive experience
• Curio - An AI-powered educational app making personalized learning accessible and affordable for autistic children ages 2-8
• Blockd - An AI-powered automation engine that lets users generate AI-driven workflows without technical configuration
• Cinema on Wheels (CW) - Bringing premium movie experiences directly to where people already are
• Personal goals and wellness app - An AI-powered app making personalized and achievable plans for people who are interested but often intimidated by their goals.
• Meridian Advisory Network - Focused on lead generation for financial advisors, offering ways for financial advisors to reach young people in an innovative, modern way.

For more information on The Hatch, to RSVP for the event, register to become a 2027 hatchling and to see this year’s Hatchlings, visit www.bgsu.edu/thehatch.