Testimonials

HATCH has a profound impact on the way even these highly accomplished creators think of themselves, their work, and what is possible for all of us. And we’re equally enthusiastic about what they create with each other:

“When you do something audacious, and the world tells you it is impossible, you must be surrounded by people who are incredibly audacious as well. That is HATCH.  New truths emerge from collisions – of multiple perspectives, multiple experiences, in confined quarters.  These are my areas of interest… Design for humanity, turning everybody into entrepreneurs, re-discovering the path to success, and re-thinking the economics of art and creativity. HATCH puts people together who jump without a net, and gives us a chance to spend time with each other.  The scale of other conferences don’t allow us to truly connect.  The world needs us to do more amazing work so we can inspire other people.  Hatch makes us more dangerous.”

– Jeff Leitner, Founder

“I am more inspired than ever.  HATCH this year was much more than I could have imagined! I feel very fortunate to be a part of an event with so many creative and high-caliber minds, and I returned to my work rejuvenated and inspired to push it to the next level. These days its easy to get caught up in the routine and HATCH is this amazing release where high level creatives and thinkers are exchanging work and ideas and the energy level is extremely high and very refreshing. I’m proud to be included and I hope to be a part of the future of HATCH!”

– Evan Twyford, NASA Designer

“Not until 3 days into the HATCH, had I even thought to read Hatch as a verb (“to hatch”). The obvious innuendo and provocation never crossed my gray matter. I had no idea of what I’d discover in real time;  Not a single hint of how a ‘festival’ masked as a think tank meets adult summer camp masked as a sanctuary masked as a human refueling station masked as extraordinary networking space would impact my life.  Inspire my life.  Change my life.  Re-orient my life.  Re-kindle my life…. I wish I could do fair justice to what took place day by day, conversation by conversation, panel by panel, performance by performance, inspiration by inspiration, friend by friend, day dream by day dream.  And weeks later, I’m still musing at how little I knew flying into HATCH, now realizing how profoundly proud I am that the extraordinary Hatch community let me get beautifully lost in their presence, let me pull up a seat at their poetic table, and let me fall in love with their compelling stories from near and far.  And for that, I am forever humbled. And already counting the days down until I fly back in next year.”

– Christian Long, thethirdteacher.com

“Thank you HATCH, for creating one of the best experiences of my life. I am blessed to have shared this journey and am ever more optimistic about our future when I meet people who are passionate about creating a better world in any way possible.  HATCH is awesome and unique! Keep doing what you’ve been doing.. the world needs you.”

– Bita Shafipour, www.sociarts.org

“It was a privilege to be among such inspiring minds at HATCH, for which I am both humbled and grateful. The experience was an unbelievable conduit to all things powerful and great.  Needless to say, I got Hatched. I’m so looking forward to continuing our journey.”

– Colette Brooks, Big Imagination Group

“Hatch is a great event for so many reasons…..there was a comment that one architecture student made to me on Saturday, after having been to discussions on Friday…. she said that through Hatch she was able to understand, experience and appreciate “design thinking” and designers not by discipline (architect, entrepreneur, filmmaker, etc,) but by creativity. Also, she said she started to understand that creative conceptualization is not discipline specific…. the multidiscipline and “alternative path” problem solving that she saw going on was very inspiring for her.”

– Mike Everts, MSU Architecture professor

“Having spent the bulk of my 20′s pursuing a deeply rooted passion, I became acclimated to the idea that I would operate my life in some kind of isolation… around people that admired my work but never really understood it… commended my drive but never really identified with it… and propped me up as a bright shiny star without ever realizing that I had only started.  I have searched in many places around the world, looked for context in a variety of books, and sat in silence on my yoga mat wondering when, where, and around whom I could be fully myself… at all times… without apology. Wondering when the resume would no longer matter, when the public persona could melt away, and when I could turn “off” instead of constantly being “on.” It was a learning to play in all 8 octaves when those around me were comfortable only hearing 5 or 6.  And then I came to HATCH… and at the age of 28, I met my tribe.  A global group of deeply passionate, inspiring, genuine people that had the good fortunate of finding their place in the world and embracing it without apology. The stories of how they got there were not pretty and the road was not paved for them… but the point is that they fought to get there… and now their sole motivation in life was to help others get there too. Peer to peer, mentor to mentee and mentee to mentor… each of us understood the value in helping others find their tribe so the creativity did not die in isolation.  Having mentored hundreds of young people over the last decade of my life… I can only dream of a world in which every young person, every aspiring creative, every innovative thinker could meet and be supported by their tribe.  The world would change. Thank you for inspiring me. I am forever grateful.”

– Courtney Klein, Founder of New Global Citizens

“Being part of HATCH spurs my imagination, connects me with other creative people, and inspires me to excel in my field of product design. HATCH is a gathering of inventive minds that encourage, mentor, and unite towards the common thread of creativity.  It is not that HATCH is hard to define; it is just hard to define using words. It’s like trying to describe where creativity comes from, trying to pinpoint the inspiration behind art, and attempting to identify the source of innovation all at the same time. However, if I had to use words, I would define it with just one, creativity. I encourage everyone that inhabits creativity, from photographers to industrial designers, filmmakers to architects to take part and I look forward to personally being part of HATCH again.”

– David Yakos, Salient-tech.com

“Thank you all for including me in the incredible Hatch experience.  You have transformed my life.  I feel rejuvenated, inspired and ready to ask more questions.”

– Susan Brecker, Producer More to Live For

“Anytime I have an opportunity to listen to someone who is world class in their field I get excited. It doesn’t matter what their chosen field is I know that I will be able to extract and adapt their lessons and methods to my own life and work. HATCH not only offers the opportunity to listen and be inspired, the scale of HATCH allows for access and mentorship from these world class thought leaders.”

– Jared Joyce, Inventor, jaredjoyce.com

“It’s been difficult to keep the faith over the years as I’ve been fighting to get better and become relevant.   Getting invited to HATCH was huge.  I started feeling like I belonged at a different level than the one I was playing at.  I’m now playing at more than twice the level now than I was before.  I’m working harder than I ever have in my life to become better… to write great songs, to move people.  And you are to thank for that. I feel like I’m suddenly playing at a new level, and the culmination of all of it was HATCH.  The thrust of wanting to “HATCH a better world” by connecting thought leaders in film, music, technology, design, and architecture and entrepreneurship of many types with up and coming dreamers, thinkers, and groundbreakers in the same fields is ambitious.  And it works.  Greatness is born every day, but no one achieves greatness alone.  In fact, it’s easy to wonder if there are tens of thousands of greats out there who simply need a shove, some guidance, some inspiration, someone who’s already doing it at a high level to tell them they can, to light the way.  There was a mystery and excitement about HATCH in my head.  I arrived in Bozeman expecting some sort of exclusive networking thing, where I would get to perform in front of a prestigious crowd and maybe make some connections that would give me a shove in the right direction.  What I found instead, was unparalleled camaraderie, love, and inspiration.  I was pulled to a new level of action, moved to tears, uplifted, forced to think more than I wanted to.  I came with the expectation that I would get to show off a little.  I left humbled, with my heart on fire.  That’s really only the beginning of how I feel.

I think HATCH could be one of the most important things in the world.  It’s better than anything I’ve ever been to or been a part of, because there’s such a huge element of nurturing and bringing up the new.  It was so inspiring to watch the students enthralled with the film and music panels at MSU.  It was such an honor to be there in the context of being a groundbreaker, and to have Patrick Leonard commenting, encouraging, and pointing me in the right direction.  Everyone who’s trying to do something new, trying to change the world, trying to move people NEEDS that… just like I needed you to believe in me right when you did.

HATCH could be a revolution in education that actually works.  Most people don’t usually leave music school or film school equipped to make great work.  They often have some technique that they wouldn’t have otherwise.  Then again, anyone who’s willing to self-educate, to find the information can learn that stuff.  What everyone needs is nurturing, guidance, and encouragement.  HATCH is important, one of the most worthwhile legacies I can possibly imagine – on of many for you.  The point is, I feel drawn to more of a mission now.  I want to be a part of HATCH for many years to come.  The people who are nurtured by HATCH, and the stories they tell, can change more than just a few people.  Millions will by moved.  Thank you for inspiring.  Thank you for everything.” 

– Aaron Howard, 2011 Groundbreaker Musician

“Getting into Hatch was exciting, though I didn’t really know what to expect. Having attended only 5 festivals beforehand, I was prepared for the same competitive atmosphere, cold handshakes, empty congratulations… What I found was a living, breathing community of people passionately trying to change the world. Unlike any film festival, Hatch is an entity, an organism that could not exist without the full commitment of truly great people, willing to put their own success aside in an effort to communally push our world forward and make it better. I was never offered a hand, only a hug. I was never talked down to, only included in truly awe-inspiring conversations. My film screened to a full house of appreciative, intelligent people who’s questions were far and away the most thought provoking and interesting I have encountered during a Q&A. I danced the night away with friends, not colleagues. Hatch left me with same feeling I used to get after summer camp… like I wanted it to last all year, like I had been changed by the people I met, like I had been welcomed into a new family.  Thank you!” 

– Ali Scher – Film Outstanding Groundbreaker, Director of INTEL’s HATCH Your Passion Inside Winner “The Maiden and the Princess“

“All I can say is WOW!  I had a great time not only being introduced to HATCH and all of the amazing people that gather from around the world, but also watching out students absorb and revel in the one-of-a-kind energy created at HATCH.  Thank you for such an amazing opportunity for myself and our students.”

– Erin Belmont, MAPS Coordinator

“Thank you so much for letting me be part of this experience.  HATCH is the biggest turning point in my life.  I am permanently changed for the better and the magic of HATCH is still running through my veins.”  

– Ivar Ogden, MAPS Student

“You have amazing people with you and I want to be surrounded and guided by the people of hatch. It just makes you believe there are no limits and I have spent a lot of my life as an outcast because of the drive i have in my heart I believe anyone can do anything.”

– Chef Ian Smith

“I’d very much like to promote these opportunities.  People want to stay in Montana and find high-end, technical solutions to real-world problems,”

– Joe Fedock, Dean of Arts and Architecture at Montana State University