WE HELP YOU REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Do you have a business idea or interest in entrepreneurship?

You don’t need to be have previous experience to apply, – all you need is motivation!

In just 8 weeks, we will guide you through topics such as idea validation, pitching and presenting, business strategy, sales and marketing, communication, and much more. Our workshops and coaching will help you gain valuable business knowledge and give you the tools to hatch your own company one day.

NPS® *

_{* The willingness of past participants
to recommend our services to others}

workshops
hosted to date

program alumni

Application open from September 21st to October 16th!

Hatch Incubator Program

What is Hatch?

Hatch Incubator Program, established in 2017, is a Helsinki-based pre-incubator business and entrepreneurship program for university students. The program is founded and managed by the non-profit entrepreneurial community Laurea Entrepreneurship Society.

During this 8-week program, we help you discover your potential as an entrepreneur and teach you the most important aspects of starting a business. Workshops are held every Tuesday and Thursday, supported by voluntary after-work sessions for peer support on Wednesdays, pitching and presentation training, excursions, and networking activities.

The program culminates in the final pitching competition Hatch Demo Day on December 15th. In addition to providing a platform for our participants to gain essential pitching and presenting experience, the event also allows them to reach the right audience for their business idea.

The program is completely free of charge!

Who can apply?

1. Students of Laurea, Haaga-Helia and Metropolia UAS (can earn 5 ECTS)
2. Students of other Finnish universities (do not earn study credits)

Participants can apply as individuals or as a team of max. 3 people!

Applicants must be over 18 and attend a Finnish university/UAS and be able to attend physical workshops in Helsinki. Most of the spots are reserved for students from the 3AMK* universities, but additional spots are available for students from other schools.

Study credits
Hatch Incubator is registered in the 3AMK official course offering as an optional intensive course, realized by Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Students from the 3AMK universities can earn 5 ECTS study credits upon successfully graduating from the program. Metropolia and Haaga-Helia students will receive their credits in Puro, from where they will tranfer them to their home university.

*3AMK is the strategic alliance of the three biggest Universities of Applied Sciences in Helsinki metropolitan area; Laurea, Haaga-Helia and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

Participant categories

This year our program will have two participant categories;

1. Participants with an existing business idea
You apply to the program to develop a business idea you’ve come up with earlier. Your idea might be just a whisper in your head, or you might have already started working on it and developing it. During the program, we will help you validate and develop this idea, while equipping you with crucial business skills and knowledge. At the end of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch your business idea to a live audience for potential partners or even investors, and see where this takes you next.

2. Participants interested in entrepreneurship
You apply to the program to learn what it takes to become an entrepreneur. During the Bootcamp Weekend, you will go through a series of innovation workshops to discover a business idea you’ll be working on for the rest of the program. Through working on your newly found business idea, you’ll learn the abc of founding a business. After the program, it’s up to you if you want to take this business idea you developed during the program forward, or if you’re content with just the knowledge you gained.

Application process

The application is open from September 21st to October 16th.

Once you’ve filled out the application form, our team will process and review your application.

An interview will be scheduled within a few weeks for applicants selected for further consideration based on their application. In the event that your application was not selected, we will send you a letter informing you of the results.

The interviews will be conducted online between October 10th to 20th. Our final selection of program participants will be based on the interview process.

Participant selections will be announced no later than Monday, October 24th, and the program begins on Thursday, November 3rd.

Program & Schedule

Program starts on November 3rd!

Click HERE to open detailed PDF calendar view of schedule.

WEEK 1

Thursday 3.11. – participation mandatory!
from 17:00-19:00 Info Day (online)

Saturday 5.11. – participation mandatory!
from 10:00-18:00 Bootcamp Weekend (Helsinki)

Sunday 6.11. – participation mandatory!
from 11:00-16:00 Bootcamp Weekend (Helsinki)

WEEKS 2-5

Tuesdays 8.11, 15.11, 22.11, and 29.11.
from 17:00-20:00 Weekly Workshop (online)

Thursdays 10.11, 17.11, 24.11, and 1.12.
from 17:00-20:00 Weekly Workshop (online)

+ optional activity:
Wednesdays 9.11, 16.11, 23.11, and 30.11.
from 18:00-20:00 Afterwork (Helsinki)

WEEKS 6-8

Monday – Friday 5.12. – 9.12.
Participants work on their presentations for the Demo Day. Coaching and support available through appointment.

Tuesday 13.12.
from 17:00-20:00 Pitching Rehearsals (Helsinki)

Thursday 15.12. – participation mandatory!
from 16:00-21:00 Hatch Demo Day (Helsinki)

Monday 19.12. – Wednesday 21.12.
Final return dates for remaining assignments and homework in order to qualify for study credits.

More info

All weekly workshops take place online on Zoom. All f2f events are organized in Helsinki, right next to the Sörnäinen metro station.

The Bootcamp Weekend is organized as a day-program, and does not include any accommodation. Snacks and beverages are provided, and during the lunch break participants can go out to eat or use the kitchen to heat up their meals.

OUR AWESOME HATCHLINGS

Comments From Past Participants

Still considering whether or not to join our FREE program?

I learned that starting a business isn’t just throwing something at the world and hoping that it works. It requires patience, hard work and perseverance.

Hatch was the best thing to happen to me businesswise. It’s where my journey as an entrepreneur begun.

Rasheed Ataruwa

Winner of Hatch 2018

During Hatch I was able to get out of my comfort zone! I’m really grateful of the journey and I took a huge step forward with myself.

Now I truly believe in my own skills and I’m able to stand up to get my voice heard.

Maria Kärkkäinen

Participant of Hatch 2018

Hatch provided us with amazing connections and helped us build enough confidence to pitch our business in front of a huge audience.

All the feedback and guidance we received throughout the journey was extremely helpful.