Hatch Detroit Makes One Entrepreneur’s Dreams a Reality

Imagine if you had a chance to win $50,000 to start the business of your dreams. For one Detroit entrepreneur, that vision is almost a reality.

Voting ends today to pick the winner of Hatch Detroit, a contest sponsored by Comerica Bank that awards $50,000 to a business to help get its brick-and-mortar plan off the ground.

This year’s finalists were selected from a group of over 200 submissions. Now, the power is in the public's hands to decide which one of the four finalists deserves the grant. Let’s meet the contestants:

Batch Brewing Company

These beer aficionados want to hop on the latest brewing trend and become Detroit’s fist nanobrewing company (crafting their own beer in small quantities—about four barrels per batch or less), while also supporting other small breweries through their “Brewery Incubator” program. Read more about them here.

Corktown Cinema

Corktown Cinema hopes to put Detroit on the map when it comes to independent film. The group is a reincarnation of Burton Theater: an eclectic, independent cinema featuring arthouse, independent, LGBT, foreign, second-run mainstream, local and cult films.  Whew. That’s a lot of movies. Learn more about their vision here.

HenriettaHaus Coffee Roasters

Amy Duncan started roasting coffee out of her home in 2003. In 2008 she started her business and began selling coffee at farmers markets. Along with her husband, Duncan spends her weekends in Ferndale, roasting coffee and making Liège-style waffles for customers. Now she hopes to open up a permanent coffee roasting joint and café in Hamtramck. Get your fill on their plan here.

Spielhaus Toys

Is Detroit a toy desert? Maybe not, but it’s certainly not an oasis for tikes and their parents looking for fun and creative toys and books to pass the time. Kurt Spieles is ready to bring the imagination and fun back to Detroit with his independent specialty toy store. Read about his dream here.

To vote for your favorite, head to Hatch’s website or go to their Facebook page. Voting ends at 5 p.m. CST tonight. The winner will be announced August 29.