BGSU sees more students apply to participate in entrepreneurial program The Hatch

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Underscoring its top-ranked student learning experiences and opportunities, Bowling Green State University is seeing more students apply to take part in its annual entrepreneurial program The Hatch, which takes place this year at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Presented by the Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, The Hatch is marking its 14th year at BGSU with a historic milestone: 160 students applied to compete in 2026, more than six times the number compared to previous years.

The final 10 participants, comprising eight teams, were recently selected 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 for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “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.

Student-developed entrepreneurial concepts for The Hatch this year include:

• Blockd – An AI-powered automation engine that lets users generate AI-driven workflows without technical configuration
• Cinema on Wheels (CW) – Brings premium movie experiences directly to where people are
• Curio – An AI-powered educational app making personalized learning accessible and affordable for autistic children ages 2-8
• 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
• Meridian Advisory Network – Offers ways for financial advisors to reach young people in an innovative, modern way
• OASIN – An online marketplace platform that connects local farmers, artists and small producers directly with consumers and local markets
• 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
• SCANI – A student engagement tool to help colleges and universities improve student life and programming

For more information on The Hatch and to view this year’s Hatchlings, visit BGSU.edu/thehatch.