BrightStar Wisconsin Announces Fall 2019 Hatch Events
MILWAUKEE, October 2, 2019 – BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Inc. launched the Hatch entrepreneurial pitch program in 2017 in the central part of the state. That successful launch allowed BrightStar to expand the program in 2018 and 2019. Hatch is a rotating, high-energy idea pitch program designed to facilitate connections between prospective entrepreneurs and those within a community who support them such as industry experts, professional service firms, banks, non-profits, business leaders and investors. BrightStar funds these events with the help of a matching grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the support of local donations and sponsorships.
This year BrightStar is having three regional Hatch finales and multiple local sub-regional Hatch events. The entrepreneurs that move on to the Hatch regional finales will have five minutes to pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience for the chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. The events are free and open to the public, but you are requested to register to attend.
The Chippewa Valley Hatch Regional Finale is October 17th at Cowboy Jack’s Saloon, 1432 Front Porch Place in Altoona. The program starts at 6:00pm and will last about two hours. It is still not too late to apply to pitch, but time is running out. For more information contact the Chippewa County EDC at 715-723-7150 or via email at info@chippewa-wi.com.
The Central Wisconsin Hatch Regional Finale is November 13th at the Noel Car Barn, 1995 River Bend Road in Plover. The program starts at 6:00pm and will end around 8:30pm. This event is also still accepting pitch applications. Please go to www.Tinyurl.com/hatch2019 to find the application form and the judging criteria. To register to attend, go to www.portagecountybiz.com; then click on the “Events” link.
The New North Hatch program will feature four sub-regional qualifying events and a regional finale. In preparation of the regional event, New North is working with its local partners to host various qualifying local events. The deadline to upload your pitch idea is November 1st so go to www.thestartuphub.org/pitch and select the one registration link that is closest to you. Below are the details for these events:
The Greater Green Bay Chamber Hatch event, The Audible, will be November 12th from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Urban Hub, 340 N. Broadway Street in Green Bay. There will be a special event to announce the winners on November 14that The Shindig. For additional information please contact Ron Franklin at rfranklin@greatergbc.org.
The Appleton Hatch event, Fast Pitch, will be November 12th from 5:00 to 8pm at the Fox Club Room at Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 N. Casaloma Drive in Appleton. For additional information please contact Amy Pietsch at pietsch@fvtc.edu.
The Sheboygan County Hatch event will be November 14th from 4:30 to 6:30pm at Mily Barn at Nourish, 100 Alfred Miley Avenue in Sheboygan Falls. For additional information please contact Ray York at york@sheboygancountyedc.com.
The Marinette Hatch event, Invent Your North, is a collaboration with Florence, Marinette and Oconto Counties. It will be held on November 14th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Wisconsin Maritime Center of Excellence, 1320 Main Street in Marinette. For additional information please contact Robert Pontius at operations@inventurenorth.com.
The top two finishers at the four New North sub-regional events will pitch at the New North Hatch Regional Finale on December 5th in Green Bay at a part of the New North Summit. For more information on the Summit go tohttps://newnorthsummit.com/.
In addition to these New North Hatch events, UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh have been active in the planning of these New North events and separately will be hosting pitch contests for their students’ participation.
For questions regarding BrightStar Wisconsin, contact Fred Raasch at fraasch@brightstarwi.org.
