What happens when real community problems meet builders willing to jump in and try?

Hatch-a-thon brings together founders, students, technologists, and community members for a two-week build focused on solving real challenges submitted by local organizations. Demo Night is where those ideas come to life.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast, we take you inside Hatch-a-thon Demo Night. Recorded live at The University of South Alabama in Fairhope, you’ll hear directly from judges and builders as they share what they built, why they chose their challenge, and what surprised them along the way.

From automation and AI tools to nonprofit solutions and first-time builds, this episode captures the energy of a room full of people learning, experimenting, and building together.

You’ll also hear from Explorer Track award-winning teams, including two mother-daughter teams and an individual builder whose project stood out among a strong field.

This episode is a snapshot of what Hatch-a-thon is really about: real problems, real people, and ideas moving from concept to prototype.

💡 In this episode:

• What Hatch is and how Hatch-a-thon works
• What judges look for on Demo Night
• How builders chose their challenges
• The role of AI and automation in many projects
• Nonprofit problems and people-first solutions
• What it’s like to build for the first time
• Explorer Track award-winning projects

About Hatch-a-thon

Hatch-a-thon is a two-week build event hosted by Hatch Fairhope, where teams select real challenges submitted by community organizations and develop solutions to present on Demo Night. The event brings together builders of all experience levels to learn, collaborate, and create in a supportive environment.

About The Hatch Podcast

At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

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🔗 Learn more: hatchfairhope.com

📩 Contact: [email protected]

Produced by Tim Scott for The Hatch Podcast Network.