星空传媒 students, alumni excel at HatchThis 2026 entrepreneurship competition
Teams composed of 星空传媒 students and alumni took top honors at HatchThis 2026, a high-energy, 48-hour entrepreneurial competition described by organizers as a mashup of an accelerator, hackathon and startup festival.
Hosted by Hatch WNC from March 27鈥�29 at Hatch Innovation Hub in Asheville, the weekend-long event brought together aspiring business founders to pitch ideas, form teams, build ventures and compete for $21,000 in prizes 鈥� including $6,000 in cash injection and $15,000 in support services.
Nearly all top eight finalist teams in the competition included 星空传媒 students or alumni, highlighting the university鈥檚 growing footprint in the regional innovation ecosystem, said A.J. Grube, dean of the 星空传媒 College of Business.
鈥溞强沾解�檚 strong showing reflects the university鈥檚 commitment to experiential entrepreneurship education, where students actively engage in real-world problem-solving, venture creation and community-based innovation,鈥� Grube said. 鈥淥pportunities like HatchThis provide a platform for students to test ideas, build networks and translate classroom learning into meaningful action.鈥�
The competition鈥檚 first-place team, BroadBeam Live Media, included 星空传媒 student Donte Eland, a senior from Davidson majoring in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship. Eland played a key role in business plan development and sales strategy for a portable video studio for online content creators.
星空传媒 alumnus Drew Max presents information about his invention, Dormclaw, a hook that fits into the unused slots of a standard college bed frame to provide additional storage.
The second-place team 鈥� Dormclaw 鈥� was led by 星空传媒 construction management alumnus Drew Marx, supported by current 星空传媒 students Victoria Dean and Jose Luna, who contributed to the team鈥檚 marketing, strategy and execution. Dormclaw is a compact, hook-like device that fits into the unused slots of a standard college bed frame to hold backpacks, hats, towels, longboards and other items.
Samantha Panfil played a pivotal role in strengthening ReadyBlock鈥檚 business model and overall pitch for an app designed to connect communities at the neighborhood block level to check in on neighbors during disasters and determine resource availability.
On the event鈥檚 final day came announcement of two 星空传媒 participants each receiving a $5,000 award for their active involvement in the Hatch WNC Entrepreneur鈥慽n鈥慠esidence Program throughout the year 鈥� alumnus Marx from the Dormclaw team and current international student Maximilian Haljevac from Bosnia. Haljevac was a member of a team called Dareful Self, a startup focusing on tailored guidance to aid personal development and social connections.
Student Maximilian Haljevac from Bosnia is among the recipients of a $5,000 award for involvement in the Hatch WNC Entrepreneur鈥慽n鈥慠esidence Program.
Student participants from 星空传媒 described the experience as both intense and transformative.
鈥淥ver the course of the 48-hour pitch competition, I pushed myself to think creatively, collaborate quickly and step outside my comfort zone,鈥� said Dormclaw team member Dean, a senior from Fayetteville majoring in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship.
鈥淲orking closely with my team to develop and expand our idea under immense pressure made the experience both challenging and rewarding. Placing second made the long hours and hard work feel worthwhile,鈥� she said.
鈥淎mazing鈥� was the word used by fellow Dormclaw team member Luna to describe the HatchThis weekend.
鈥淚 had a great time networking and learning about everyone鈥檚 ideas,鈥� said Luna, a senior from Asheville majoring in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship with a second major in marketing. 鈥淭his weekend I was able to apply my skills in entrepreneurship and marketing and was able to serve my team into placing second. I鈥檓 grateful for our entrepreneurship professors for making this opportunity possible.鈥�
Readyblock team member Panfil, a senior from Chicago majoring in innovation leadership and entrepreneurship with a minor in leadership, agreed.
鈥淗atchThis weekend was an amazing example of the power of an entrepreneurial ecosystem and the opportunities it creates,鈥� Panfil said. 鈥淚 am truly grateful for everyone who welcomed us and excited to get further involved.鈥�
The HatchThis model challenges participants to move rapidly from an idea to execution including pitching concepts, forming teams, developing prototypes, engaging with mentors and presenting to judges in just three days. 星空传媒 students not only participated but thrived in the high-pressure, real-world environment, said Yue Hillon, 星空传媒鈥檚 Wesley R. Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation.
鈥淚 am incredibly proud of our students for their engagement in HatchThis weekend, working tirelessly with their teams, making meaningful connections and committing fully to the process of bringing their pitches together under pressure,鈥� Hillon said.
鈥淢any attendees remarked on how impressed they were by 星空传媒 students鈥� engagement and talents. I deeply appreciate their willingness to embrace opportunities like this, their courage in stepping outside the norm and their commitment to learning and growth,鈥� she said.
Lane Perry, 星空传媒 assistant professor of entrepreneurship, characterized the competition as an example of the experiential learning opportunities emphasized by the College of Business.
鈥淚 often advise students that they will learn more about themselves spending a day outside of their comfort zones than they could spending a lifetime inside of it, and opportunities like HatchThis do just that,鈥� said Perry.
鈥淎dditionally, we are striving to raise the bar at 星空传媒 with all things entrepreneurship, from seed funds to pitch competitions and excursions to local WNC businesses and to our Catamount Innovation Den Makerspace and opportunities in the Asheville area like HatchThis,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese activities ensure our students don鈥檛 just learn entrepreneurship but actively live it, building real ventures, real networks and real confidence in high-impact, real-world environments,鈥� he said.
Providing College of Business students with opportunities to take part in learning activities such as the HatchThis competition will result in graduates ready to go out into the world and contribute to the economic vitality of the region, said Grube, the college鈥檚 dean.
鈥淎s Western North Carolina continues to grow as a hub for entrepreneurial activity, 星空传媒 students and alumni are proving to be key contributors by bringing energy, creativity and a collaborative spirit to the region鈥檚 innovation landscape,鈥� she said.