In the past two years, the HatchBridge Incubator at Kennesaw State University (KSU) has supported ventures led by faculty, alumni, and community members, resulting in millions of dollars in investments and new businesses entering the market. The incubator aims to bridge university research and local entrepreneurship with practical support.
HatchBridge operates on Chastain Road near the Kennesaw Campus and is open to alumni, faculty researchers, and regional entrepreneurs ready to bring their ideas to market. It complements other university programs like the Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center by focusing on startups that are further along in development.
“At HatchBridge, we’re building a culture where founders can learn from each other, avoid repeating the same mistakes, and grow faster together,” said Colin Ake, director of incubation and commercialization. “We’re serving KSU researchers – but we are also serving the wider community of entrepreneurs in the region who want to build something meaningful.”
Graham Gintz, associate director of the incubator, described HatchBridge’s approach: “The reality of startups is that most of the journey is hard, unglamorous work. What we do at HatchBridge is give founders the structure, mentorship, and accountability they need to keep moving forward – whether they’re raising capital, refining a product, or making their first sale.”
Among companies emerging from HatchBridge is Chowder Financial. Founded by KSU alumnus Daniel Collier ’06,’13, Chowder provides lease-purchase financing for essential home system replacements. The company has secured over $8 million in venture funding.
“As a Kennesaw State University graduate, joining the HatchBridge Incubator was an invaluable step in Chowder’s early journey,” Collier said. “The guidance, resources, and continued support we receive, especially in building a strong business foundation, has helped shape Chowder into the company we are today.”
MycoLogic is another example—a faculty-led startup developing sustainable mushroom growing systems using climate-controlled units now available commercially across the country. Kyle Gabriel and Chris Cornelison from KSU’s Office of Research lead this venture.
“The impact of research can in many cases be realized through commercialization, which typically involves taking new information created through academic scholarship and making that into a product or service,” Cornelison said.
Alumni have also benefited from HatchBridge’s resources. Emerson Smith ’18 founded HappyDoc—an AI assistant for veterinary clinics—to streamline medical note-taking and workflow integration for veterinarians. The project began with grant support from KSU’s Mookerji Innovation Fund before progressing through HatchBridge’s Chasing Venture Program; it has since raised more than $5 million.
“During the most stressful stage of building HappyDoc, the personal coaching I received through the Chasing Venture Program made all the difference. I’m grateful to have graduated from KSU, a school that pairs resources with the kind of personal mentorship every founder needs,” Smith said.
Faculty innovation continues as Maria Valero develops GlucoCheck—a non-invasive blood sugar measuring device—under her company Predicor. Tiffany Roman is working on an app for music education targeting K-12 students. Both participated in Innovation Launchpad at HatchBridge for business model refinement and customer discovery activities.
Student involvement is another key aspect: 14 students have worked alongside startups as part of HatchBridge Fellows—contributing design skills while gaining practical experience. Two Fellows have transitioned into full-time roles at portfolio companies Chowder Financial and MycoLogic.
In its short history so far—serving 187 startups across 20 program cohorts—HatchBridge founders have collectively raised over $18 million.
“This is just the beginning,” Ake said. “Our goal is to make HatchBridge the first call for anyone in the region with an idea worth building. Through ventures like Chowder, MycoLogic, and HappyDoc—and promising research by faculty innovators—HatchBridge is demonstrating that entrepreneurial success at KSU is not a dream for the future but a reality happening right now.”
