--- title: 2026 Blue Hen Innovation Fest description: Celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship at UD with a day of inspiration, collaboration, and networking. --- [![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) # 2026 Blue Hen Innovation Fest ## Celebrate Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UD ### Join us for an evening of inspiration, collaboration, and networking Blue Hen Innovation Fest is an exciting event dedicated to celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware and beyond. This vibrant festival brings together a diverse community of participants, from enthusiastic undergraduate students to ambitious young alumni to innovators creating value within the community, all eager to share their groundbreaking ideas and entrepreneurial journeys. Attendees can look forward to hearing inspiring pitches from early-stage startups, engaging in dynamic discussions, and exploring a variety of innovative projects that showcase the creativity and talent within our community. Join us for an evening of inspiration, collaboration, and networking as we celebrate the spirit of innovation and the future of entrepreneurship! When: December 3 Where: The [Atrium & Audion](https://www.google.com/maps/place/University+of+Delaware+Tower+at+STAR/@39.663856,-75.7566891,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c7a9837ba1009d:0xf7aababba7013ac4!8m2!3d39.663856!4d-75.7541142!16s%2Fg%2F11gh042p7s?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) at STAR campus Agenda: 5:00 p.m. [Innovation Showcase & Networking Reception](https://horn.udel.edu/2026-blue-hen-innovation-fest#Innovation-Showcase) 6:00 p.m. Welcoming Remarks 6:15 p.m. [Hen Hatch Final Round](https://horn.udel.edu/2026-blue-hen-innovation-fest#Hen-Hatch) 7:15 p.m. [Blue Hen 17&43 Awards Recognition](https://horn.udel.edu/2026-blue-hen-innovation-fest#BH-1743) 7:45 p.m. Networking Reception 8:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony   Parking Information: complimentary parking is available in the [STAR Tower Parking Lot](https://horn.udel.edu/hubfs/audion%20event%20parking%20map.jpg). --- ## Session Descriptions ### Innovation Showcase & Big Ideas Challenge Explore the creative projects and startup ventures of University of Delaware students who are still exploring their entrepreneurial paths. The showcase provides a unique platform for aspiring student entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators to present their work, share their ideas, and gain valuable feedback from a diverse audience of industry professionals, mentors, and peers. ### Hen Hatch Final Round Watch the final round of Hen Hatch, the University of Delaware's premier startup funding competition, as top student teams take the stage to pitch their business concepts to an expert panel of judges. Competing for a share of a $50,000+ prize pool, these entrepreneurial students will vie for startup cash and prizes, while seizing the opportunity to make valuable connections and get real-world feedback on their innovative ideas. Don't miss the excitement as they bring their ventures to life! ### Blue Hen 17&43 Awards The Blue Hen 17 & 43 Awards celebrate the University of Delaware alumni who are driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact across industries, organizations, and communities. Reflecting the launch of the Neil Book School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the awards recognize both the individuals creating new ideas and the companies turning those ideas into growth and impact. ## Meet the Hen Hatch Finalist Teams During the final round of Hen Hatch, these teams will have 7 minutes to pitch and a 5 minute Q&A session with judges in front of a live audience.   **Agri Sky Eye** *Arjun Nanda Kumar | Graduate Student, Robotics | Expected 2027* Agri Sky Eye is an overhead cable-driven robot designed to detect and selectively spray weeds in high-value specialty crops. Built for farms of up to 10 acres, the technology aims to reduce the labor required for manual weeding while helping growers manage their crops more efficiently.   **ContentCraze** *Drew Tendler | Finance, Sales Minor | Class of 2028* ContentCraze is a platform that allows brands to launch marketing campaigns where thousands of user-generated content creators promote their products or services, helping businesses expand their reach through creator-driven content.   **GIGXY LLC** *Emmanuel Akande | Business Management | Class of 2027* *Jesse Wilson | Marketing and Management, Entrepreneurship Minor | Class of 2028* Gigxy is an online marketplace connecting musicians and music professionals with customers looking to book talent for performances, events and other opportunities. The platform aims to make discovering and booking musical talent easier.   **Rivulet** *Annamalai Muthupalaniappan | Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering | Expected 2030* Rivulet is a low-cost agricultural robot that travels along existing center-pivot irrigation systems to monitor crop health and soil moisture. Designed for agricultural research programs and high-value crop growers, the technology provides field-level data without requiring additional infrastructure, drone operators or manual data collection.   --- ## Innovation Showcase Exhibitors **Agri Sky Eye** *Arjun Nanda Kumar | Graduate Student, Robotics | Expected 2027* Agri Sky Eye is an overhead cable-driven robot designed to detect and selectively spray weeds in high-value specialty crops. Built for farms of up to 10 acres, the technology aims to reduce the labor required for manual weeding while helping growers manage their crops more efficiently.   **ContentCraze** *Drew Tendler | Finance, Sales Minor | Class of 2028* ContentCraze is a platform that allows brands to launch marketing campaigns where thousands of user-generated content creators promote their products or services, helping businesses expand their reach through creator-driven content.   **GIGXY LLC** *Emmanuel Akande | Business Management | Class of 2027* Gigxy is an online marketplace connecting musicians and music professionals with customers looking to book talent for performances, events and other opportunities. The platform aims to make discovering and booking musical talent easier.   **Hardbat Adaptive** *Owen Mathias | Entrepreneurship | Class of 2027* Hardbat Adaptive makes fitness more accessible for people with disabilities through personalized one-on-one and small-group programs. The venture helps participants build strength, confidence and independence while developing healthy routines that support their long-term well-being.   **Healing Ivy** *Sophia Small | Human Services | Class of 2026* Healing Ivy is reimagining traditional IV poles to better meet the functional and aesthetic needs of patients receiving care at home. The concept focuses on creating medical equipment that fits more naturally into the home environment.   **MESH** *Youssouf Drame | Global Business, Marketing Concentration | Class of 2027* MESH is developing an operations workspace for behavioral health organizations that connects the software systems they already use. The platform aims to streamline workflows by giving staff a clear path from requests to verified task completion.   **Nouvho** *Loovensky Louis | Finance | Class of 2027* Nouvho is an all-in-one business platform that helps service-based businesses simplify their operations. The platform allows businesses to launch fully branded websites in minutes while managing bookings, payments, clients, retail, classes, staff and space rentals from one system.   **Parker Media** *Parker Stille | Entrepreneurship | Class of 2028* Parker Media is a full-service social media agency specializing in video content for real estate professionals. Through engaging digital storytelling, the agency helps real estate agents strengthen their online presence, attract new clients and grow their businesses.   **Prediction Wizard** *Jacob Wyngaard | UD Doctoral Student, Applied Mathematics | Expected 2029* *Kyle Wyngaard | Washington College, Economics | Class of 2029* Prediction Wizard is a points-based mobile platform that allows friends to create predictions about custom events, track outcomes and compete on shared leaderboards. Inspired by popular prediction platforms, Prediction Wizard brings the excitement of making predictions to friendly competitions without involving real-money betting.   **Rivulet** *Annamalai Muthupalaniappan | Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering | Expected 2030* Rivulet is a low-cost agricultural robot that travels along existing center-pivot irrigation systems to monitor crop health and soil moisture. Designed for agricultural research programs and high-value crop growers, the technology provides field-level data without requiring additional infrastructure, drone operators or manual data collection.   **Stemma's Garden** *Emma Stiner | Entrepreneurship | Class of 2027* Stemma's Garden provides a creative third space where customers can design their own custom flower arrangements while reducing glass waste and contributing to a circular economy.   --- ## Big Ideas Challenge The Big Ideas Challenge program brings together interdisciplinary teams to conduct user-centered research, engage in design-thinking, and pursue the development of innovative solutions to promote conditions for the optimal health, well-being and thriving of all people. Stay tuned....Big Ideas Challenge Teams coming soon! 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