Stories & Updates

The revelation for Amira Idris Radović’s business – one that could significantly improve the quality of life for her customers – came in the football team’s gym at the Carpenter Sports Building.

As the world tries to move in the direction of a more sustainable future, renewable forms of energy like wind, hydrogen, and solar have become increasingly relevant, especially right here at the University of Delaware. We recently launched a multi-million dollar Center for Clean Hydrogen, and have been a leader in solar energy research for almost a half-century, hosting a state-of-the-art working photovoltaic array as well as the state of Delaware’s largest solar panel installation.Capturing energy from the rays of sunshine that shine down on UD’s Field House and converting them into electricity, the solar project produces an estimated 1,035,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and reduces the University’s carbon footprint by an estimated 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide every year. But how can the average person who can’t afford to install panels leverage solar power to meet their energy needs?

University of Delaware students showed their passion for the environment on Monday, May 8, at the 3rd Annual Ratcliffe Eco Entrepreneurship Fellows Pitch Day, hosted by Horn Entrepreneurship at the Venture Development Center. This year’s six teams of eco-entrepreneurs pitched their innovative and creative business ideas persuasively, addressing unique environmental issues to a panel of expert judges for a prize pool of $6,000. 

Horn Entrepreneurship and E-Club once again hosted the Spring Pitch Party on April 12 at the Venture Development Center, bringing exciting ideas and ventures to the spotlight in a Hollywood-themed exhibition. The evening featured 15 innovative pitches from University of Delaware students of varying majors and experience levels, each with their own unique startup ideas to share with the packed audience.

This IHeartUD Giving Day, Horn Entrepreneurship is celebrating and remembering a longtime supporter of Horn by creating the Rysheema Dixon Legacy Award. Meant to honor the impact Dixon had on the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and the City of Wilmington, the funding will be used to support UD student social innovators and entrepreneurs who best exemplify Dixon’s commitment to improving the lives of others through social innovation. Recipients of the Rysheema Dixon Legacy Award will be expected to utilize award funding in pursuit of sustainable societal impact.

The energy and excitement of almost 400 teens and parents from around the world was palpable at the Diamond Challenge Summit on April 23-25, 2023. The Summit, a three day conference celebrating entrepreneurial high school students, featured workshops, panel discussions, innovation sprints, and networking opportunities to connect, inspire, and build a community of aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Alexa Chronister, who founded an advocacy group for the chronically ill in her University of Delaware freshman dorm, believes that servant leadership is an important but unheralded concept.

During Women's History Month on March 16, 27 remarkable and innovative women were inducted and honored at the WE Hatch Honor Circle celebration. WE Hatch recognizes and celebrates women who are supporting and helping each other overcome the unique challenges faced by women innovators. Nominated by their peers, employees, spouses, and friends, Honors Circle members have made a lasting impact on their network and community. 

Horn Entrepreneurship's EntreX Lab dual enrollment program equips students to thrive amidst rapid change by cultivating agile thinking and developing their creative problem-solving skillsets. 

On December 19, student teams from Saint John Vianney and ASPIRA Academy gathered on Zoom to participate in an EntreX NASA Innovation Sprint. Equipped with documents describing a handful of innovative technologies from NASA, several teams brainstormed potential applications for the tech to solve problems in their local communities and contexts. The event brought out lots of creative ideas for applications of the tech, and inspired some young entrepreneurs along the way.