The co-assets-compiler used in production mode seems to require the asset directory to exist before starting up the server.
I get the following error when it doesn't exist:
$ NODE_ENV=production node .
connect.multipart() will be removed in connect 3.0
visit https://github.com/senchalabs/connect/wiki/Connect-3.0 for alternatives
connect.limit() will be removed in connect 3.0
AssetsCompiler Precompiling assets: coffee, styl
Hatch server listening on premium:3000 within production environment
uncaughtException
uncaughtException: ENOENT, readdir '/home/chrisf/dev/hatchjs/app/assets'
Notify error
uncaughtException: ENOENT, readdir '/home/chrisf/dev/hatchjs/app/assets'