--- title: 2025 Summer Founders Demo Day Showcases Student Innovation description: Summer Founders Demo Day showcased innovative student startups and celebrated a decade of entrepreneurial impact at the University of Delaware. image: https://horn.udel.edu/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founders%20Demo%20Day.jpg --- [![University of Delaware](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/HPE_Jan2017/logo.png?width=168&height=70&name=logo.png "University of Delaware")](http://udel.edu) #### Horn Entrepreneurship # [Stories & Updates](https://horn.udel.edu) ## 2025 Summer Founders Demo Day Showcases Student Innovation by [Horn Entrepreneurship](https://horn.udel.edu/author/horn-entrepreneurship) • August 25, 2025 **![2025 Summer Founders Demo Day](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founders%20Demo%20Day.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=2025%20Summer%20Founders%20Demo%20Day.jpg)** A milestone summer for entrepreneurship at UD culminated on August 14 with Demo Day, where the 10th cohort of Summer Founders shared their ventures with the community. Over the past 12 weeks, students immersed themselves in mentorship, customer discovery, and startup building. Backed by a $1.15 million gift from the Stanford Family, the program provided each founder with funding to develop their startup. ### A Packed House The room buzzed with energy as students, alumni, faculty, mentors, and community members gathered to hear pitches, ask questions, and connect with this year’s founders. ![2025 Summer Founders Demo Day student pitching on stage to audience](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founders%20Demo%20Day%20student%20pitching%20on%20stage%20to%20audience.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=2025%20Summer%20Founders%20Demo%20Day%20student%20pitching%20on%20stage%20to%20audience.jpg) ### 10th Cohort, Countless Ideas This year’s cohort included ventures tackling problems in education, sustainability, technology, social impact, and beyond. From software to service models, each founder demonstrated how much progress can happen in just one summer. ![2025 Summer Founder Phil Stoyanov founder of Aux](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Phil%20Stoyanov%20founder%20of%20Aux.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Phil%20Stoyanov%20founder%20of%20Aux.jpg) Phil Stoyanov, founder of Aux ![2025 Summer Founder Morris Kithinji founder of Citigen](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Morris%20Kithinji%20founder%20of%20Citigen.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Morris%20Kithinji%20founder%20of%20Citigen.jpg) Morris Kithinji, founder of Citigen ![2025 Summer Founder Katherine Oulman founder of Phone Dome](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Katherine%20Oulman%20founder%20of%20Phone%20Dome.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Katherine%20Oulman%20founder%20of%20Phone%20Dome.jpg) Katherine Oulman, founder of Phone Dome ![2025 Summer Founder Leena Maharaj founder of Durenia Pharmaceutical Technologies](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Leena%20Maharaj%20founder%20of%20Durenia%20Pharmaceutical%20Technologies.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Leena%20Maharaj%20founder%20of%20Durenia%20Pharmaceutical%20Technologies.jpg) Leena Maharaj, founder of Durenia Pharmaceutical Technologies ![2025 Summer Founder Beveline Sambu cofounder of EntryPath Careers](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Beveline%20Sambu%20cofounder%20of%20EntryPath%20Careers.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Beveline%20Sambu%20cofounder%20of%20EntryPath%20Careers.jpg) Beveline Sambu, cofounder of EntryPath Careers ![2025 Summer Founder Kenneth Kanyingi cofounder of EntryPath Careers](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Kenneth%20Kanyingi%20cofounder%20of%20EntryPath%20Careers.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Kenneth%20Kanyingi%20cofounder%20of%20EntryPath%20Careers.jpg) Kenneth Kanyingi, cofounder of EntryPath Careers ![2025 Summer Founder Amanda Membrado cofounder of Funky Rat](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Amanda%20Membrado%20cofounder%20of%20Funky%20Rat.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Amanda%20Membrado%20cofounder%20of%20Funky%20Rat.jpg) Amanda Membrado, cofounder of Funky Rat ![2025 Summer Founder Hunter Wills cofounder of Funky Rat](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Hunter%20Wills%20cofounder%20of%20Funky%20Rat.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Hunter%20Wills%20cofounder%20of%20Funky%20Rat.jpg) Hunter Wills, cofounder of Funky Rat ![2025 Summer Founder Jaabir Robinson founder of IBNs Water Ice](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20%20Jaabir%20Robinson%20founder%20of%20IBNs%20Water%20Ice.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20%20Jaabir%20Robinson%20founder%20of%20IBNs%20Water%20Ice.jpg) Jaabir Robinson, founder of IBN's Water-Ice ![2025 Summer Founder Sebastian Torres founder of InstaEdit](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Sebastian%20Torres%20founder%20of%20InstaEdit.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Sebastian%20Torres%20founder%20of%20InstaEdit.jpg) Sebastian Torres, founder of InstaEdit ![2025 Summer Founder Marc Parsons founder of PlanWell](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Marc%20Parsons%20founder%20of%20PlanWell.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Marc%20Parsons%20founder%20of%20PlanWell.jpg) Marc Parsons, PlanWell ![2025 Summer Founder Oliver King founder of Spin Tech](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Oliver%20King%20founder%20of%20Spin%20Tech.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Oliver%20King%20founder%20of%20Spin%20Tech.jpg) Oliver King, founder of Spin Tech ![2025 Summer Founder Brandon Maravilla Garcia founder of Tactyx](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Brandon%20Maravilla%20Garcia%20founder%20of%20Tactyx.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Brandon%20Maravilla%20Garcia%20founder%20of%20Tactyx.jpg) Brandon Maravilla Garcia, founder of Tactyx ![2025 Summer Founder Max Martin founder of The Oak and Ember](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Max%20Martin%20founder%20of%20%20The%20Oak%20and%20Ember.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Max%20Martin%20founder%20of%20%20The%20Oak%20and%20Ember.jpg) Max Martin, founder of The Oak and Ember ![2025 Summer Founder Aria Scott founder of Trustworthy](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Aria%20Scott%20founder%20of%20Trustworthy.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Aria%20Scott%20founder%20of%20Trustworthy.jpg) Aria Scott, founder of Trustworthy ![2025 Summer Founder Grace Phillips founder of Xpress On](https://2445198.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/2445198/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Grace%20Phillips%20founder%20of%20Xpress%20On.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20Grace%20Phillips%20founder%20of%20Xpress%20On.jpg) Grace Phillips, founder of Xpress On ### Mentorship in Action Throughout the program, founders received guidance from seasoned entrepreneurs, faculty, and advisors. Many credited these mentors with helping them pivot, refine their customer approach, and prepare to pitch with confidence. ![2025 Summer Founder mentor 1](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founder%20mentor%201.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=2025%20Summer%20Founder%20mentor%201.jpg) ### Community Connection Demo Day wasn’t just about presentations—it was about networking. Attendees mixed, mingled, and explored the ventures in an expo-style showcase, reinforcing Horn’s role as a hub for entrepreneurship at UD. ![2025 Summer Founders networking reception](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Summer%20Founders%20networking%20reception.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=2025%20Summer%20Founders%20networking%20reception.jpg) ### A Decade of Impact Since 2016, Summer Founders has supported 104 startups that have gone on to raise nearly $12 million in funding, with more than 60% still operating today. Alumni ventures range from robotics to fightwear to housing innovation, demonstrating the program’s long-term impact. ![2025 Past Summer Founders Decade of Impact-1](https://horn.udel.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/2025%20Past%20Summer%20Founders%20Decade%20of%20Impact-1.jpg?width=1200&height=628&name=2025%20Past%20Summer%20Founders%20Decade%20of%20Impact-1.jpg) ### Looking Ahead “Summer Founders is more than just time to work on your startup—it’s about learning how to think like an entrepreneur,” said program lead Garry Johnson III. “This year’s cohort built on a decade of momentum, and we can’t wait to see where they go next.” #### About Horn Entrepreneurship [Horn Entrepreneurship](https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/horn/) 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. 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