Creative industries take centre stage at final HATCH program for 2025
The UNE SMART Region Incubator wrapped up its 2025 HATCH program series on October 18th with focus on creative industries, partnering with Armidale Regional Council to align with the Creative Streets Festival.
The workshop at NOVA brought together aspiring founders with diverse creative concepts - from bespoke marketing and production design to event management, broadcasting ventures, creative education hubs, and hand-crafted jewellery businesses. Some participants arrived with early-stage ideas seeking direction, while others brought concepts that had been developing for years and needed fresh perspective to break through.
What makes HATCH particularly effective is its intimate workshop format. The small-group setting creates space for genuine conversation, meaningful feedback, and knowledge sharing that transforms uncertainty into clarity. Participants experience crucial lightbulb moments and visible confidence boosts, leaving with clear next steps and renewed energy to launch or scale their ventures. More importantly, they depart as part of a mini-cohort…a group that has worked intensively together and emerged with new networks and eager early-stage adopters ready to support each other's journeys.
Working in isolation remains one of the hardest aspects of being a founder, particularly in the vulnerable early stages when regional founders often lack the peer networks available in metropolitan areas. Recognising that one-off workshops aren't enough to maintain momentum, UNE SRI is expanding the HATCH program in 2026 to include follow-up masterclasses specifically targeting next steps for participants. This continuous support approach aims to establish new businesses in the region while nurturing a connected, thriving community of founders.
Saturday's workshop highlighted the untapped potential of creative industries in regional areas. Every idea presented was viable, interesting, and now equipped with the clarity and confidence needed to progress, whether launching in coming months or pivoting based on insights gained. For aspiring founders ready to transform creative concepts into thriving businesses, keep watching the SRI events page and social channels for 2026 program announcements. The next HATCH cohort could be the catalyst that transforms your idea into a vital contribution to our region's creative economy.
This workshop was delivered through funding from the Boosting Business Innovation Program (BBIP) via Investment NSW. BBIP supports regional incubators like UNE SRI to deliver programs, workshops, and capability-building initiatives that help founders start and grow innovative businesses across regional NSW. We're grateful for their continued investment in our region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
UNE SMART Region Incubator runs regular workshops to help founders build the skills they need to start, grow, and thrive. Want to know when the next one's on? Check out our events page or sign up to our e-news.