At a time when the planet is crying out for innovative solutions, the HATCH Accelerator Program has once again answered the call. We’re thrilled to introduce the six brilliant initiatives selected for HATCH 2023 – each one led by passionate founders dedicated to protecting wildlife, preserving ecosystems, and pioneering creative solutions for a more sustainable world.
This year’s cohort is a particularly exciting one – not just for their ground-breaking ideas, but because, for the first time ever, the teams will be joining the program onsite. That means more collaboration, more creativity, and more chances to bring their planet-positive ideas to life. The program officially kicks off next week and will wrap with the much-anticipated HATCH Pitch Event on Wednesday 28 June – mark your calendars, because these founders are going places.
So, who made the cut? Let’s dive into the six powerful ideas that are getting the HATCH treatment in 2023.
First up, Be The Future, led by the ever-hopeful Sally Giblin. This initiative is all about changing the climate narrative – starting with our kids. Through books, games, and a vibrant educational subscription model, Be The Future teaches children about climate care in a way that’s bursting with humour, colour, and optimism. Think playful action plans instead of doomsday dread. It’s a climate education revolution that’s equal parts fun and fierce.
Next, we meet Habitat Pods, the brainchild of Alexandra Carthey. In the wake of bushfires, our native wildlife often find themselves without shelter. Enter Habitat Pods – lightweight, biodegradable emergency refuges designed to provide instant sanctuary for ground-dwelling critters. You can rapidly deploy these life-saving pods post-disaster, offering both a literal and symbolic refuge for our most vulnerable fauna
For those of us drowning in soft plastic (and guilt), Scrunch might just be the hero we’ve been waiting for. David Roberts has developed a low-cost compression system that allows bulky soft plastics to be squashed into manageable shapes at home – plus, there’s a QR code-enabled tracking system to ensure they get recycled through proper channels. It’s a scrappy little idea that could have a seriously big impact on ocean-bound waste.
Meanwhile, fashion lovers with a conscience will be excited about LOWN – a fashion rental platform that lets you access style without the waste. Emma Foster-Geering is on a mission to make rental the new retail, promoting regenerative fashion choices that are both luxurious and low-impact. With garments curated based on ambitious sustainability criteria, this isn’t fast fashion – it’s future fashion.
In a different but equally important space, Reviving Cultural Practices is working to bring traditional Indigenous fire-burning knowledge back into the mainstream. Led by Rebecca Woods and Tara Mercy, this education initiative uses hands-on experiences to teach the environmental and cultural value of cool-burning – a practice that not only preserves ecosystems but also safeguards centuries of Indigenous wisdom. It’s all about reconnecting with Country to create a healthier, more resilient landscape.
And finally, there’s OneFishTwoFish (Seafood Positive), a refreshingly straightforward yet revolutionary idea from marine ecologist Dr Chris Gillies. For every fish caught, sold, or eaten, two fish will be returned to the ocean. That’s right – net positive seafood. It’s a bold vision for a circular seafood economy, one that seeks to reverse biodiversity loss and re-stock our oceans with life.
These six teams are not only dreaming big – they’re taking action. With the support of HATCH, Taronga, Odonata Foundation, and Impact Boom, each initiative will receive the mentorship and resources needed to scale their impact and bring their visions to life.
So whether these HATCH 2023 teams give kids the tools to fight climate change with crayons, create shelter after wildfires, or turn fish into a force for good, they prove that hope is not lost. In fact, it’s hatching right now.
