Fifteen entrepreneurs pitched business ideas to a panel of judges Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing, competing for more than $20,000 in funding at the Hatching pitch competition.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) hosted the event, which drew competitors from Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties across three tracks: high school, college and adult. WILX reported that first- and second-place awards were given in each category.

The WILX report and LEAP’s event page do not name the 2026 winners or list their individual awards.

LEAP’s advance event information called for each finalist to deliver a three-minute live pitch inside the Albert A. White Performing Arts Theater. The schedule placed high school pitches first, then college, then adult, with judges deliberating between tracks. Jazmin Anderson, LEAP's director of small business and equity programs, was listed as the program contact.

Adult track finalists competed for up to $10,000. They included Dustin Creagh of Come Play With DJ!, Mo Gerhardt of Every Spartan, Shameka Terry of Shane's Doggy Bag, Jacob Toomey and Kendrick Quon of Keel, and Zachary Kauffman of Troubleshot Industrial Solutions.

College track finalists competed for up to $5,000. They included Kaylie Livingston of ParPack, Lorenzo Ruma of Popcorn, Jordyn Heaney and Marrianna Cruz of Blu's Bagels, Jack Coats of Pure Formance, and Rahil Joshi of Pero.

The competition is part of LEAP's broader push to support early-stage entrepreneurs in the Lansing region. In an announcement about a separate accelerator-program showcase, LEAP President and CEO Bob Trezise said helping entrepreneurs grow means "helping create jobs, build wealth, and strengthen communities across the Lansing region."

According to a LEAP program summary, based on 2025 data, the organization's small business program participants and alumni have contributed to 529 full-time equivalent jobs, $30.78 million in outside investment and $40.13 million in business revenue across the region.

Last year's Hatching main event winners included Carter Louisell of BRCE in first place, Fatima Taha of CocoMar in second and David Garza of All Things Soccer 517 as the People's Choice. The 2025 youth edition first place went to Jamie Tran of NailsbyJamieT, with Zayyir Doyle of BoxerBlitz in second and Jashalyn Clay of Deveah's earning People's Choice, according to LEAP’s competition page.