From BGSU MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Bowling Green State University student entrepreneurs will present their business ideas to alumni investors during The Hatch on Thursday, April 6, vying for funds to launch their businesses in a format similar to the television show “Shark Tank.”
The Hatch will take place from 6-8 p.m. in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Registration is required at bgsu.edu/thehatch.
This is the fifth year for the event in which alumni investors make equity investments providing real money for students to launch real businesses. To date, more than $500,000 has been committed to student startups.
New this year is HatchTonight, like ESPN’s “College GameDay,” except featuring business ideas. High school students, the BGSU community and alumni will watch as a panel of experts analyzes and discusses each Hatchling’s business idea, determines who it thinks will be funded and predicts who will receive the Eggy (fan favorite) award. Hatch Tonight will be presented 5-5:30 p.m. in The Falcon’s Nest on the first floor of the union.
The student entrepreneurs, Hatchlings, come to this night after being paired with mentors, mostly BGSU alumni, who have helped coach business ideas, plans and presentations. This event is streamed to Hatch Watch parties across the country and to several countries.
The 2017 Hatchlings are:
Fatima Camara
10,000 Threads
Camara created 10,000 Threads, a clothing line that merges rich traditional African textiles and forecasted fashion styles of Western society. Growing up on different continents made her realize that although African immigrants constitute a large population in Europe and America, there is no substantial effort to market to them in particular. She wants to make a social impact in the African textile industry by providing better job opportunities to the local artisans who will be a part of this journey.
Shannon Ebert
Workforce Academy
Ebert created Workforce Academy, an online learning software that high schools can subscribe to so that they can offer more elective classes to students to help better prepare them for college, careers and the real world. Subjects include areas like personal finance, professional development, career exploration and college readiness.
Andrew Hood and Sarah Walter
Medication Dispenser
The team created a new form of dispensing prescription medicines with the implementation of a new pill canister design. The idea derived from the rising abuse of prescription drugs and the effects on families and loved ones. Their main goal is to ensure pharmaceutical drugs are being used in the way they were intended, to help people.
Jacob Kielmeyer
Nostalgia – Alzheimer’s Assistance
Kielmeyer created Nostalgia, a multi-functional Alzheimer’s therapy tool. Nostalgia started out as a senior DECA project inspired by his late grandfather, but quickly morphed into an obsession that he has been working on for over a year. Nostalgia is a personalized tool that features four established Alzheimer’s therapies as well as one Kielmeyer developed himself. He hopes that the personalization that Nostalgia provides will help reconnect families with their loved ones who suffer from Alzheimer’s.
Joe Lisa
Wearable Charging Device
Lisa created a wearable charging device for phones. His idea will make forgetting phone chargers practically impossible and will give users the freedom to have them without even realizing it. Lisa believes he is the perfect candidate for this venture, as he has a knack for creativity, design and fashion. He also has a solid base on circuit theory and basic electrical principles from the engineering courses he took while in high school.
Thomas Moody
Virtual Reality Sales Trainer
Moody created a virtual reality sales software used for hiring positions in the sales industry. His idea is a company that will expand virtual reality technology from the world of gaming into the world of everyday professionals.
Marharita Tavpash
Ice Sleeve
Tavpash created the ice sleeve to be used as a compressor for athletes when they are injured. The ice sleeve is an alternative to a traditional ice pack because it won’t leak, uses ice instead of a frozen ice pack and will stay in place.
Cory Thompson
Autism App
Thompson created an autism application for helping adults with autism become more independent by assisting them make executive decisions. The app will be completely customizable for each user and will utilize icons that give a description of the situation with which the user is struggling. From there, the user will be given a set of instructions that is set up by the user or caregiver to aid in decision making.
The Hatch will take place from 6-8 p.m. April 6 in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Registration is required at bgsu.edu/thehatch.
