HATCH exists to inspire, support and launch innovative ideas to tackle some of the most pressing environmental and conservation challenges currently facing our planet.
HATCH offers three programs: Idea Generation, Pre-Accelerator and Accelerator, to support you at the right stage of your journey. All programs are free to participate and open to adults across Australia.
We are calling on innovators, thought leaders, disruptors, developers, passionate individuals and everyone in between to help develop and implement brilliant ideas for the planet.
One simple idea could change the future. The future starts today. What’s your brilliant idea?
Kickstart Your Journey to Ecopreneurship - Be Inspired
Catch up on two inspiring conversations with ecopreneurs and conservation experts who have applied their skills and experience from a range of backgrounds to exciting new startup ventures to do good for themselves, their customers and the planet.
Webinar 1: So You Want to be an Ecopreneur
This consversation is packed full of engaging insights and advice from our panel of changemakers – Natalie Kyriacou OAM, Founder and CEO of My Green World, Catherine Hutchins and Aniyo Rahebi, Co-Founders of Good Edi, and Fergus Woollcombe, Founder and CEO of The Pedal Club – on how they have combined their corporate experience with their commitment to the environment to establish environmentally positive startups.
Webinar 2: Eco-Expert to Ecopreneur
In this conversation with conservation leaders Nick Boyle, Taronga's Director of Welfare, Conservation and Science, Camille Goldstone-Henry, Founder of Xylo Systems, and Charlotte Mills, Head of Ecology at AirSeed we explore the opportunities for conservationists and environmentalists to turn their expertise into exciting startup ventures and how this can be a win-win for you and the planet!
Idea Generation Program
We recognise that many people want to be an ecopreneur but don’t yet have a specific solution in mind, or may have an inkling of an idea but aren’t sure where to start. So we have created the Idea Generation Program specifically for you.
Join us for a FREE six week online development program to help you explore key conservation challenges and apply design thinking and systems thinking to develop solutions to these challenges.
This is your opportunity to connect with like-minded legends who want to help our planet, explore new ways of thinking to design innovative solutions, and see where the experience leads. You might find a co-founder or be the next HATCH Accelerator Program Winner!
The program is open to anyone Australia-wide 18 years and over, and we strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to join us. We know that fresh perspectives and a mix of skills and experience can be the start of amazing initiatives and are excited to see what this program will hatch. Places are limited so don’t miss out!
Program dates 2022
We’re sorry you missed the fantastic 2022 program. Please register your interest and we’ll get in touch when dates for the next Idea Generation program are confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Have another question, check out our frequently asked questions.
Pre-Accelerator Program 2022
Do you have an idea that aims to positively impact Australian wildlife or the natural environment? If you’ve got an innovative idea, we can help you set the critical foundations for success through the HATCH Pre-Accelerator Program.
Over six weeks this FREE online development program will help you to:
- Clearly articulate the problem you are addressing,
- Clearly articulate your solution to the problem,
- Develop your Theory of Change and Social Business Canvas, and
- Develop a plan for first round market testing of you solution
This is a great opportunity to accelerate your startup journey and connect with other awesome changemakers, as well as some of the inspiring HATCH alumni and accomplished mentors.
The program is open Australia-wide 18 years and older; places are limited and selection is merit based. If this sounds like your next step, please apply now to be part of the 2022 cohort!
Applications close Wednesday 31st August.
Program Dates 2022
| Session Dates | Session Time | Session Focus |
| Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 September | All day | Interviews for Program Selection |
| Saturday 8 October | 9.30am - 1pm AEDT | Program welcome; Purpose, Vision, Mission and Values |
| Tuesday 11 October | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | Social Entrepreneurship and Impact-led Business |
| Tuesday 18 October | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | Social Impact and Theory of Change |
| Tuesday 25 October | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | Design Thinking and Prototyping |
| Wednesday 2 November | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | Market Testing and Agile Development |
| Tuesday 8 November | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | Value Proposition and Social Business Canvas |
| Tuesday 15 November | 5pm - 7pm AEDT | The Social Entrepreneur Journey |
| Saturday 19 November | 9.30am - 1pm AEDT | Teams presentations and program wrap-up |
Frequently asked questions
Have another question, check out our frequently asked questions.
HATCH Accelerator Program 2023
The HATCH Accelerator Program is all about supporting ecopreneurs to take their idea from vision to reality. If you are a not-for-profit or social enterprise founder with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife and the environment, we have an amazing network of mentors and experts who can help you bring your vision to life and reach your goals sooner. And at the end of the program one team will receive the $50,000 HATCH Grant!
The program is open Australia-wide 18 years and older, to individuals and teams who have at minimum completed their business model canvas and demonstrated initial traction through first round market testing, and are seeking to accelerate their development and path to impact.
Places are limited and selection is merit based. If you’re keen to be part of the next Accelerator Program, please register your interest and we’ll be in touch with more information.
Program Dates 2023
| Stage | Location | Dates |
| Applications open | Online | Tuesday 1 November 2022 |
| Applications close | Online | Tuesday 17 January 2023 |
| Applications review | Online | Mid-January to early February 2023 |
| Short-listed applications to provide additional information | Online | Early February 2023 |
| Short-listed applicants panel interviews | Via video conference | Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February 2023 |
| Program participants confirmed | Online | Early March 2023 |
| Program welcome session | Online | Tuesday 28 March 2023, 5pm - 7pm AEDT/AEST |
| Immersive One (in-person) | Taronga Zoo Sydney | Thursday 30 March to Saturday 1 April 2023 |
| Weekly workshops | Online | Tuesday 9 May to Tuesday 20 June 2023, 5pm - 7pm AEST |
| Immersive Two (in-person) | Taronga Zoo Sydney | Thursday 4 May to Saturday 6 May |
| Weekly workshops | Online | Tuesday 9 May to Tuesday 20 June 2023, 5pm - 7pm AEST |
| Pitch event preparation, judging and public pitch event (in-person) | Taronga Zoo Sydney | Tuesday 27 June to Wednesday 28 June 2023 |
| Public pitch event (in-person) | Taronga Zoo Sydney and online | Wednesday 28 June 2023, 6pm - 8pm AEST |
Eligibility criteria
- Open to Australian citizens and permanent residents only
- All applicants must be 18 years and over
- Teams can be a maximum of 4 people per team; individual applicants are welcome
- Initiatives must align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to Taronga’s 360 degree approach to conservation
- Initiatives must be delivered in Australia to benefit/support the Australian environment
- Not for profit and social enterprise initiatives are welcomed; for profit initiatives are not eligible for this program
- If applying as an organisation, the organisation will likely have an annual revenue of less than $150,000
- All participants must comply with the Terms and Conditions associated with the HATCH Program
- All participants must comply with Taronga’s Code of Conduct
Frequently asked questions
Have another question, check out our frequently asked questions.
HATCH delivery team
The HATCH program is led by Danielle Fryday and Tom Allen, with involvement and support from other members of the Taronga and Impact Boom teams.
Danielle Fryday - Lead Facilitator
Danielle is the Co-Founder of the HATCH: Taronga Accelerator Program and Lead Facilitator. Danielle combines her ten years of experience in adult learning and development, three years’ experience at Taronga and her passion for supporting others to design and deliver the HATCH program and help passionate changemakers bring their brilliant ideas to life.
Tom Allen - Entrepreneur in Residence
Tom is Founder and CEO of Impact Boom. As a certified social enterprise and leading intermediary, Impact Boom helps entrepreneurs and innovators unleash their greatest potential to create a better world. Tom has worked closely with hundreds of social entrepreneurs globally to maximise their impact and is proud to be supporting HATCH as the Entrepreneur in Residence and delivery partner.
Mentors and subject matter experts
HATCH participants are supported by a range of mentors and experts from across the startup, business, and for-purpose arenas, as well as Taronga’s in-house expertise in conservation, community engagement, education and not-for-profit management. A huge vote of thanks to our mentors and experts for their commitment to support the HATCH participants and program.
Alex de Aboitiz
Julie Alexander
Culture, business performance & people change specialist | MC & speaker, facilitator & trainer | Leadership & exec coach
Warren Bingham
Francisco Caffarena
David Chung
Tanya Christie
Madeline Cunningham
Jack Dean
Bradley Delamare
Robyn Foyster
Matt Gillam
Product & Engineering Leadership | Technology Strategy | Digital Transformation & Scale-Up
Jarod Green
Kylie Green
Emily Rose Hills
Ryan Kaveney
Tim Middlemiss
Obama Foundation Leader: Asia Pacific - consulting on Social Impact | Strategic Communications | Creative Campaigns
Stuart Reynolds
Ian Roth
Former Chief Veterinary Officer at NSW DPI
Taronga Conservation Society Australia Board Member
Tim Silverwood
Jill Storey
CEO ReadyFundGo | Non-Executive Director I Strategy, Innovation, Sustainability, Digital Disruption, CSR
