With purpose-driven ventures, powerful storytelling, and a passion for solving environmental challenges, the 2025 Ratcliffe Eco Entrepreneurship Fellows (REEF@UD) took center stage at the fourth annual REEF@UD Demo Day, held on Monday, May 5 at the Venture Development Center.
The culminating event of the four-month REEF@UD fellowship program, Demo Day brought together students, faculty, judges, and community members to celebrate and support the next generation of eco-entrepreneurs. From sustainable tourism to nutrient runoff mitigation and climate-conscious consumer goods, this year’s ventures reflected a wide spectrum of challenges and showcased just how creatively students are using entrepreneurship to drive impact.
“At REEF@UD, we believe that environmental challenges demand entrepreneurial solutions,” said Tomé Salgueiro, assistant professor of social and eco-entrepreneurship and faculty director for REEF@UD. “The climate crisis won’t be solved by doing more of the same - it will be solved by bold, imaginative thinkers willing to build what doesn’t yet exist. That’s what we saw at Demo Day. It was a reminder that the future of environmental innovation is already being shaped by the students in our classrooms today.”
A panel of expert judges evaluated each pitch and awarded $5,000 in prize funding to the most promising ideas.
- 1st Place ($2500): Alana Hill, Island Dream (Eco-friendly cleaning products)
- 2nd Place ($1500) : Evan McArdle (Coral aquascaping service)
- 3rd Place ($1000): Errik Onyekwere, Piq Energy (Sustainably sourced energy drink)
Other teams will receive between $5,000 and $50,000 each in follow-on funding to continue developing their businesses, with awards to be finalized over the coming months.
Thank you to our judges for providing their time, expertise, and vital feedback for participants. This year’s panel of judges included:- Jo Norris, Cofounder & CEO, Carbon Reform
- Jodie Morgan, CEO, Nexus Circular
- Adam Bitar, Clean Tech Underwriter, PERse
All nine teams shared thoughtful, impact-driven concepts, each addressing a unique environmental challenge through entrepreneurship:
- Sarah Bromberg – Creating a sustainable summer camp experience
- Sophia Freeman – Mitigating chemical runoff and eutrophication
- Alana Hill – Launching an eco-friendly cleaning business
- Evan McArdle – Combating coral bleaching through regenerative tourism
- Errik Onyekwere – A more sustainable and tastier alternative to caffeinated drinks
- Joshua Paul – Connecting influencers with environmentally conscious brands
- Aria Scott – Helping groups organize eco-friendly vacations
- Trey Martin – Tackling sustainable tourism challenges in Crystal River, Florida
- Narcisse Ukwitegetse (Rebisken Group – Community Team) – Developing a carbon emissions measurement venture
The REEF@UD program, supported by the Ratcliffe Foundation and a partnership between Horn Entrepreneurship and the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE), empowers students with entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and funding support to launch ventures that address environmental problems and promote sustainability.
Demo Day not only marked the end of an intensive program, but also the beginning of what’s next for these bold innovators as they continue to refine their ideas and build businesses for a better planet.
About Horn Entrepreneurship
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the US, Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
