Now that I’ve had a little time to step back after HatchThis, I’ve had a chance to rest, reset, and let my mind catch up a bit.
My work supporting communications for Hatch Innovation Hub has wrapped, and I really enjoyed being more immersed in and connected to the entrepreneurial community here in WNC. We’re incredibly lucky to have the level of support, resources, and people that we do.
This business I’m in now is my second, and very different from the art jewelry and gallery I ran years ago, which I started bare knuckles, not really knowing what I was doing… I digress…
But maybe that’s part of why I appreciate this space so much.
The willingness to share, to support, to learn from each other. I’ve been coaching and being coached, and there’s something really valuable about seeing both sides of that.
I keep coming back to what it felt like to be in the room, not just as an attendee, but behind the lens.
When you’re there in that role, you’re not just watching what’s happening, you’re looking for it. The moments, the energy shifts, the conversations forming, the small interactions that turn into something bigger.
And this group of teams brought it.
The evening began with teams gathered, dialing in last-minute adjustments. You could see the focus in the room, a mix of nerves and determination, but they all looked ready to step on stage for the final competition
Brian Hickey team, Broadbeam Live Media, took the win, and their presentation stood out right away. What looked like a tech glitch at the start turned out to be intentional, a smart way to demonstrate the flexibility of their audio and video production services. If you are local and have been to One Million Cups in Asheville, hands-on, making sure everything sounds right and capturing moments as they happen in the Hatchworks Event space. His win was also a reflection of the team around him. He was quick to give credit, which really speaks to what HatchThis is all about, building strong teams and making meaningful connections within the entrepreneurial community.
Team Dorm Claw brought props and a live demo into their pitch, which made their idea feel tangible and engaging.
Team Ready Block faced unexpected tech issues mid-pitch, no slides at first, and completely out of their control, and they handled it like pros. Calm, composed, and they kept going. You could feel the room rooting for them.
Shoutout to Jeffrey Kaplan for leading the event. There was a clear sense of intention behind how everything was run. It created a supportive and engaging experience for the teams while keeping things moving smoothly.
The judging panel, including Coral Darby, Col. Dan Whisnant, Benjamin Colvin, and Thom Ruhe , brought a strong range of experience and perspective. Thom also served as keynote speaker, adding another level to the event. NC IDEA continues to be a strong supporter of the entrepreneurial community across North Carolina, including WNC, and that presence was felt throughout the evening.
Honestly, it didn’t feel like there was a weak link in the group. It felt like everyone belonged in that final round. Every pitch brought something to the table, and in the end, they were all winners for what they accomplished in such an intense weekend.
One thing I genuinely appreciated was how interactive some of the presentations were. Teams brought props, walked through demos, and even shared QR codes so you could experience their app or website right there. It made everything feel more real, not just an idea, but something already in motion.
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) student awards were another highlight.
Watching those students realize they were each receiving $5K for their ventures was such a cool moment. You could feel the surprise and the possibility in the room. Drew Marx, Max Bakir Haljevac, and Roselin Anesu Nhira were each awarded $5K to support their ventures.
It also gave visibility to a newer program that not everyone may know about yet, and hopefully one that continues. There’s a lot of bright, driven talent in rural WNC.
I put together a photo gallery from the HatchThis event weekend. Feel free to browse and download anything you’d like.
And if you want more of the in-the-moment energy, I also captured clips that are saved in Hatch’s Instagram highlights.
Not just capturing what happened, but what it felt like to be there.
Because that’s what carries forward. That’s what builds momentum before an event, keeps it going while it’s happening, and gives it a life afterward for the people who didn’t make it yet.
If you’re building something, an event, a program, a community, and want to capture that kind of momentum, I’d love to be part of it. 👉 NanetteCreative.com
From my desk to yours,
Now that I’ve had a little time to step back after HatchThis, I’ve had a chance to rest, reset, and let my mind catch up a bit.
My work supporting communications for Hatch Innovation Hub has wrapped, and I really enjoyed being more immersed in and connected to the entrepreneurial community here in WNC. We’re incredibly lucky to have the level of support, resources, and people that we do.
This business I’m in now is my second, and very different from the art jewelry and gallery I ran years ago, which I started bare knuckles, not really knowing what I was doing… I digress…
But maybe that’s part of why I appreciate this space so much.
The willingness to share, to support, to learn from each other. I’ve been coaching and being coached, and there’s something really valuable about seeing both sides of that.
I keep coming back to what it felt like to be in the room, not just as an attendee, but behind the lens.
When you’re there in that role, you’re not just watching what’s happening, you’re looking for it. The moments, the energy shifts, the conversations forming, the small interactions that turn into something bigger.
And this group of teams brought it.
The evening began with teams gathered, dialing in last-minute adjustments. You could see the focus in the room, a mix of nerves and determination, but they all looked ready to step on stage for the final competition
Brian Hickey team, Broadbeam Live Media, took the win, and their presentation stood out right away. What looked like a tech glitch at the start turned out to be intentional, a smart way to demonstrate the flexibility of their audio and video production services. If you are local and have been to One Million Cups in Asheville, hands-on, making sure everything sounds right and capturing moments as they happen in the Hatchworks Event space. His win was also a reflection of the team around him. He was quick to give credit, which really speaks to what HatchThis is all about, building strong teams and making meaningful connections within the entrepreneurial community.
Team Dorm Claw brought props and a live demo into their pitch, which made their idea feel tangible and engaging.
Team Ready Block faced unexpected tech issues mid-pitch, no slides at first, and completely out of their control, and they handled it like pros. Calm, composed, and they kept going. You could feel the room rooting for them.
Shoutout to Jeffrey Kaplan for leading the event. There was a clear sense of intention behind how everything was run. It created a supportive and engaging experience for the teams while keeping things moving smoothly.
The judging panel, including Coral Darby, Col. Dan Whisnant, Benjamin Colvin, and Thom Ruhe , brought a strong range of experience and perspective. Thom also served as keynote speaker, adding another level to the event. NC IDEA continues to be a strong supporter of the entrepreneurial community across North Carolina, including WNC, and that presence was felt throughout the evening.
Honestly, it didn’t feel like there was a weak link in the group. It felt like everyone belonged in that final round. Every pitch brought something to the table, and in the end, they were all winners for what they accomplished in such an intense weekend.
One thing I genuinely appreciated was how interactive some of the presentations were. Teams brought props, walked through demos, and even shared QR codes so you could experience their app or website right there. It made everything feel more real, not just an idea, but something already in motion.
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) student awards were another highlight.
Watching those students realize they were each receiving $5K for their ventures was such a cool moment. You could feel the surprise and the possibility in the room. Drew Marx, Max Bakir Haljevac, and Roselin Anesu Nhira were each awarded $5K to support their ventures.
It also gave visibility to a newer program that not everyone may know about yet, and hopefully one that continues. There’s a lot of bright, driven talent in rural WNC.
I put together a photo gallery from the HatchThis event weekend. Feel free to browse and download anything you’d like.
And if you want more of the in-the-moment energy, I also captured clips that are saved in Hatch’s Instagram highlights.
Not just capturing what happened, but what it felt like to be there.
Because that’s what carries forward. That’s what builds momentum before an event, keeps it going while it’s happening, and gives it a life afterward for the people who didn’t make it yet.
If you’re building something, an event, a program, a community, and want to capture that kind of momentum, I’d love to be part of it. 👉 NanetteCreative.com
From my desk to yours,
~ Nanette 🙂