After being postponed twice—first by the pandemic and then by Hurricane Helene—HatchThis is back for its fourth year from March 28-30, 2025. This event is a mash-up of an accelerator, hackathon, and celebration that offers aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for prizes, including a seed funding package and in-kind donations from area businesses. 

Entrepreneurs and "Wantrepreneurs" are invited to pitch, plan, and build a business in 48 hours. You'll pitch ideas, join teams, get coaching from world-class mentors, and tackle real business challenges.

Participants should come ready to pitch a business idea, or to join a team and support that team in developing their idea.

Aspiring founders pitch their business ideas and the event attendees choose their favorites. The winning founders then form their teams from the remaining event attendees. Once teams form, the real work begins: in small groups they build a prototype, get real user feedback, get coaching from mentors, pitch their deck in front of real investors, and compete for the prize package.

Tickets purchased for the event in September 2024 will be honored for this event. If you are a prior ticket holder and the new dates of March 28-30, 2025, don't work for you, email [email protected]. 

Visit hatchavl.org to learn more and purchase tickets.

HatchThis is powered by Hatch AVL Foundation, Venture Asheville and AVL Digital Nomads. The event will be hosted at the Hatch Innovation building at 45 S. French Broad Ave. The closing pitch event on Sunday evening will take place at The Mule/Devil’s Foot Beverage. 

Source: Hatch AVL.