Stories & Updates

Four student-led ventures are advancing to the final round of Hen Hatch, the University of Delaware's premier startup funding competition.

Sury Gupta's journey as an entrepreneur began with a passion for problem-solving and a drive to leverage technology for meaningful impact. From winning student startup competitions on campus to innovating in healthcare technology, Gupta is now tackling a new path in medical research as the co-founder and CTO of Trial IQ.

Have an idea worth sharing? It's time to find your voice, take the stage and pitch your heart out!

Join the Entrepreneurship Club on October 28 for Fall ’26 Pitch Party: Pitch Perfect, where University of Delaware students will step into the spotlight, showcase their ideas and compete for cash prizes.

From agricultural robotics and adaptive fitness to digital platforms and healthcare innovations, student entrepreneurs are bringing bold ideas and fresh perspectives to the 2026 Hen Hatch competition. Ten ventures have been selected to advance to the semifinals, where student entrepreneurs will take the next step toward turning their ideas into impactful businesses.

Emilie Delaye's path as a founder began with a deeply personal mission: making medical wear feel less clinical and more like her. A master's student in Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware and a Horn Entrepreneurship alumna, Emilie has spent the past several
years turning personal chronic illness experience into the foundation for NOVA Medical Wearables, a venture reimagining medical accessories as fashion.

The University of Delaware proudly welcomes the 2026-2027 Siegfried Fellows—the program's largest and most diverse cohort since its inception six years ago. Drawn from five colleges across the university, these emerging leaders will spend the next ten months refining their capacity to: Lead Change. Be Nimble. Cultivate Character.

If you have participated in one of Horn Entrepreneurship’s commercialization programs, attended a REEF@UD Demo Day at the Venture Development Center or reached out through the UD Innovation Gateway, chances are Linda Walck helped make the experience possible.

As program manager for commercialization, Walck coordinates the people, logistics and connections that keep programs moving forward. From managing complex schedules alongside Troy Wilford, director of commercialization programs, to helping innovators find the right resources across the University of Delaware, she is known for stepping in wherever she can add value.

For many students, the path from graduation to startup success is a long, winding road of trial and error. For Sebastian Torres, a University of Delaware computer engineering graduate, that journey began in the middle of his undergraduate career—first by navigating the technical hurdles of video editing, and then by launching a digital project that turned a simple idea into a growing online venture.

For many college students, graduation marks the terrifying unknown of entering the traditional job market. But for Willem Westra, who graduated from the University of Delaware in 2022, the journey took an ambitious turn.

The Lerner College of Business & Economics recently hosted its spring Sales Competition, a high-stakes event that brought a competitive intensity to the University of Delaware campus. Led by Dan Alia, head of the Sales Minor, the competition serves as a premier test track for undergraduate talent, pushing students to refine their pitches and execute complex missions under pressure.