© Hatch Blue
Crest is an updated version of Hatch Blue's global accelerator.
“We felt that the existing accelerator model of 20 years was outdated and required innovation in itself. As an organisation we have also vastly expanded our capabilities and insights, and as such have designed the programme to deliver this curated value to companies,” explained Wayne Murphy, co-founder and partner at Hatch.
By participating in the programme, each company will receive an in-depth market and competitor study; a marketing and branding strategy; a life cycle assessment, and an intellectual property strategy - all business-ready assets that are essential to accelerate the growth of young companies.
The programme also retains its core offering of exposure to Hatch Blue’s global network of investors, industry representatives, farmers and first adopters. Similarly, the Hatch team and their industry experts will continue to provide input on participants' go-to-market and fundraising strategies.
Flexible tours in Norway and Asia
“Key features of our programmes are the on-the-ground trips for companies to learn about the industry and develop business relationships. However, we live in a different world post-Covid and it might not always be conducive for CEOs to be away for several weeks on end. With this in mind, we built a more flexible, hybrid programme schedule,” added Benedict Tan, programme director at Hatch.
After the on-site workshop, the first of which will take place in Hawai'i on 8-19 July, companies can decide to attend the industry trips to Norway and Southeast Asia when it suits them best. There is an 18-month window for each company to attend these industry trips, with a minimum notice period of one month.
“We are looking for companies who can benefit and thrive while leveraging our programme. Our standard investment offering means the investment team can focus on delivering value to the companies throughout the programme, while assessing the direction of follow-on funding opportunities,” said Caitriona Kelleher, managing director of early stage investments at Hatch Blue.
$75,000 investment
Hatch Blue will invest $75,000 in each successful applicant, with a possibility of follow-on investments from its funds. The combination of the investment and the exposure to Hatch Blue’s large network of mentors has catalysed the growth of companies in previous cohorts, with more than $150 million in follow-on funding raised by its portfolio to-date.
As Aristobula Loaiza, CEO and co-founder of Hedros Bio – who took part in the 2023 accelerator programme – commented: “Get ready to learn a lot. And, get ready to be open-minded about all the possibilities that are out there. Being with Hatch has really opened horizons for me and made me aware of needs that I was not aware of before, partners that I didn’t know existed, and new industries, new countries, new cultures.”
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with limited positions on each on-site workshop and industry trip. For more information, please visit this website.
