Six entries won funding after pitching their startups at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership's annual Hatching competition.

The winners, announced by LEAP on Tuesday, Oct. 13, came from three tracks: adult, college and high school. Fifteen finalists each gave a three-minute pitch to a panel of judges at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing on Thursday, Oct. 8. Judges scored them on creativity, feasibility and impact.

Mo Gerhardt took first place in the adult track for Every Collegiate, according to LEAP. Gerhardt also founded Every Spartan, an MSU-licensed brand offering traditional and adaptive apparel. Gerhardt, an MSU alumnus who holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the university, founded Every Spartan through his company Turtle Fox LLC, according to MSU Today.

He launched the online store earlier in 2026. The site crashed on its opening weekend from heavy traffic, according to CNHI.

Shameka Terry placed second in the adult track for Shane's Doggy Bag, a homemade dog treat business.

In the college track, Jordyn Heaney and Marrianna Cruz won first place for Blu's Bagels, an East Lansing-based handcrafted bagel brand. Jack Coats took second for PureFormance, a functional energy beverage company.

The high school track's top winner was Nautikah Garcia-Sams, an Eastern High School student, for a custom clothing business that creates handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. Cyrus Coker, a Holt High School student, placed second for Shots By Cy, a photography and videography business.

"When we invest in founders this early, from high school students to experienced professionals, we're building the pipeline of businesses that will create jobs and strengthen communities across the Lansing region," Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP, said in a statement.

Since its launch, the Hatching has received nearly 700 applications and awarded more than $170,000 to almost 100 winners, according to LEAP. The PNC Foundation and the MSU Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation sponsored the event.

The competition draws founders from Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. LEAP said finalists this year included a household management app, software for food and beverage manufacturers and handcrafted bagels made in East Lansing.