Stories & Updates

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

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.

Arielle Mahugu, Class of 2027, is turning her interest in science and wellness into something tangible through Arima Skincare. A Biological Sciences major with a Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship minor, Arielle is building a skincare brand while balancing academics, leadership roles, and hands-on entrepreneurial experiences through Horn. From Pitch Party and VentureOn to Hen Hatch and E-Club, Arielle has been steadily growing as both a founder and a student leader.

Alec Boyd is a fall 2025 entrepreneurship grad with a minor in professional selling and sales management and a familiar face in the Venture Development Center. When he tried to transfer a few community college courses back to the University of Delaware to save time and tuition, he hit a wall of PDFs, emails, and outdated processes. Alec leveraged his coursework plus VentureOn, Pitch Party, and Hen Hatch to turn a personal frustration into a tool that can save students real time and real money: Equivly.

The final round of Hen Hatch featured four teams with widely divergent concepts: straws that change color to discreetly reveal spiked drinks, an app for women to manage chronic health conditions, a clothing line that supports animal shelters and autonomous robots that look for leaks in water lines.

Four teams advanced to the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition, at the 2025 Blue Hen Innovation Fest on December 4. These finalists will compete to find out how much of the $50,000 prize pool will help them advance their ventures.

Four teams competed in the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition, and all four won thousands of dollars from a panel of judges – plus $2,500 for travel expenses to other competitions and often time with consultants.

Calling all innovators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers! Get ready to celebrate creativity, groundbreaking ideas, and entrepreneurial spirit at the University of Delaware’s Blue Hen Innovation Fest on December 5. This exciting new festival is a unique opportunity for UD students, alumni, and community members to connect, collaborate, and showcase their entrepreneurial journeys. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a seasoned innovator, or someone curious to learn more about the future of entrepreneurship, this event has something inspiring for everyone!

Four teams advanced to the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition, at the 2024 Blue Hen Innovation Fest on December 5. These finalists will compete to find out how much of the $50,000 prize pool will help them advance their ventures.

Eleven teams advanced to the second round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition. These semifinalists will compete on October 25 to find out which of the promising concepts will advance to the final round of Hen Hatch at the 2024 Blue Hen Innovation Fest on December 5.