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Founders’ Story

Claire Fontana is my partner in Hatch Network. She and I met at the first big event for women entrepreneurs I produced in San Francisco in 2006. She participated in a workshop I was leading and after I wrote myself into her future in a creative vision exercise we decided to work together as a team to further help other women in our group. Claire had a background in branding and I claimed to be a sales and marketing expert.

I didn’t really want to go to the event. It was women only, and I thought it was going to be cheesy. My friend dragged me there and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I signed up for the incubator Allie was leading because I had recently been laid off from my job. At the time, the only thing I knew for sure was that I could never work for anyone else again. I figured I had nothing to lose. Like the event, the workshop was better than expected. I was inspired and excited to start a brand consultancy and started working with women entrepreneurs.

We had fun working as a team. We didn’t really know what the structure was or our roles, but we knew we were on to something. Meanwhile, I was going crazy working from home. The TV, laundry and my cat were all too much for me to ignore and my work was starting to suffer. I wanted to get an office and started to look for a cool space.

Then I lost my office lease.

I knew it was a sign that we had to shack up. I asked Claire if she would be willing to share an office if I found something we could afford.

I don’t remember her asking. It was more like telling.

Whatever. It all worked perfectly and we found an awesome space. I’ll leave out the details about our inabilities to pick couches, but I will brag that we assembled all of our furniture and it all still works today.

Did you say “we” put it all together?

Fair enough. Claire was the lead on the assembly. I talked a lot while she worked.

We have two main things in common – our weak interior decorating skills and our passion for taking risks in business.

No! We have way more than that in common. We see the same future for our business and that’s more important thank liking the same kind of chocolate. I like rich dark chocolate.

Cheap milk-chocolate is fine for me. The rich stuff is not in our budget

Back to the story. We shared an office and shared ideas, values, goals and stories. We knew we had a mutual business in us – we just had to figure out what it was. We had many ideas and finally the stars and moons aligned. Our shared experiences and the lessons we learned working with 100’s of women entrepreneurs brought us to the place of our destiny. We found our purpose.

And it aligns.

We see the same future for Hatch Network and it’s big. Actually, Jane Wurwand of Dermalogica inspired it. She said when she started her company; her mission was world domination of skin care. Now she is the only skin care manufacturer who exports her products to Asia. Everyone else imports from there.

We want world domination too. But we’ll settle for being the absolute best provider of entrepreneurial education and services in the world. With this launch, we set forth confidently on the path to achieve our goal.

You said it girlfriend.

About Allie

Alison Covarrubias was raised in San Jose, California. She graduated with a BA in Speech Communication from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. Her professional chutzpah comes from her years working at salesforce.com, 2000-2005, where she worked in many roles including Executive Assistant to the President, EA to the Founder/CEO, Sales Recruiter, Human Resources Coordinator and Sales Representative. She got her start-up legs at the force and carried them to Ladies Who Launch as the San Francisco Leader and Bay Area Director from 2005-2009. Her own small business marketing consulting business, Business Legs, has been absorbed into Hatch Network. Alison lives in San Francisco. She loves to talk about the latest diets, dating and anything pop culture. Favorite quote: “All of this is already finished on some level. For now, you get the pleasure of creating it.”

About Claire

Claire Fontana graduated with a BS in Telecommunications from University of Florida. After college she spent her time freelancing media production on independent films and documentaries before becoming the Communications Manager at Mulberry Neckwear for 6 years. At Mulberry she managed graphics and advertising for several main fashion labels. Claire started her own consulting business, Pitch Agent, in 2006, where she helped small businesses develop and execute their own brand strategy. She lives in San Rafael with her husband, some kids, and a dog.

Advisory Board

We are fortunate to be mentored by industry experts and thought leaders. We consult with our advisory board on ways to improve our business, enhance the customer experience, reach new audiences, and how to think bigger, better, brighter, and faster about any obstacles or opportunities on our path. We have the utmost respect for their expertise and greatly appreciate their time and insight.

Betsy Burroughs, president of FutureCatalyst, has over 25 years experience in marketing, advertising, sales, and publishing. She has marketed products ranging from Informix software and NEC semiconductors to Sun-Maid raisins, Zee paper towels, and Purex. She has worked in account management at leading advertising agencies including Foote, Cone & Belding, D'Arcy-McManus Benton & Bowles, and TFB/BBDO. She has held sales and sales management positions at both International Data Group (IDG) and CMP. Betsy loves what Hatch Network is doing and has provided us with focus and guidance in matters pertaining to women in business.
futurecatalyst.com

Ruth Beauchamp has empowered hundreds of teachers, coaches, and learners though coaching and professional development since 1999. She founded Oranda Teaching Learning and Coaching Networks, a member-based organization for independent teachers, coaches, and schools. She also founded the GoFish Teacher Squad, a cadre of professional teachers that empower clients of all ages by teaching “how to learn.” Thanks to Ruth’s advisement, we are able to address learning styles, recognize strengths, and create individualized plans while providing content support. All of this allows us to developengaged entrepreneurs eager to learn.
See Ruth’s Hatch Profile

Lucas Buick and Ryan Dorshorst founded Synthetic in 2006. They met in the corn and cranberry fields of central Wisconsin as undergraduates. They work with people that are as passionate about the world as they are. Synthetic is small, and though they don't claim to be the Swiss Army knife of commercial creativity, they are resourceful. They work with a very small, select group of individuals they consider friends. Lucas and Ryan have advised Hatch Network on all web and technology aspects of the business. We have great future plans for the reach of Hatch Network through technology products that will serve small businesses and Synthetic will be there with us.
Hey Synthetic!