Stories & Updates

A friend of alumna and entrepreneur Daphne Vantine, 2019 alumna Rachel Heim and her venture, Vanilla Joe & Co., are the next feature in our series featuring alumni. Vanilla Joe & Co. is candle shop that caters to dog lovers.

Our first feature in the series focuses on Daphne Vantine, a 2018 graduate of the University of Delaware. She majored in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Integrated Design. In her undergrad she was heavily involved in VentureOn and was also a Horn Ambassador. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Daphne enjoys thrifting and supporting local small businesses like her own.

Horn Entrepreneurship recently honored Dave Raymond with the 2024 Siegfried Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Nasir Young with the 2024 Student Award at a private dinner and award ceremony. The Siegfried Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership recognizes exceptional individuals who have not only shown themselves to be stewards of innovation through significant contributions to the leadership ecosystem, but have also made a significant positive impact on their communities and industries.

Effective leadership in the dynamic world of innovation and entrepreneurship is essential, driving both growth and creativity. At the heart of this leadership is the ability to lead oneself before guiding others. The Siegfried Fellows program is founded on this principle. Meet the 2024-2025 cohort of Siegfried Fellows.

The Venture Development Center was packed Wednesday night for the 2024 Fall Pitch Party. The event, designed for students new to pitching, provided a stage for innovative ideas, a space for networking, and a showcase for student startups. Everyone who participated received a $20 gift card, while the top 3 received monetary prizes in recognition of their outstanding presentations and concept potential.

Do you have an idea for a new product or service?  The Fall Pitch Party will occur at the Venture Development Center on Wednesday, October 23 from 6 pm-7:30 pm. The Pitch Party is a unique event tailored for UD students who are new to the experience of pitching ideas.

More than 200 students from 17 high schools joined together to participate in the EntreX Lab Delaware Connect design sprint, a timed competition in which students address a problem and pitch a solution to a panel of judges.

Horn Entrepreneurship’s Enrichment programs enhance the college experience by bringing students into a supportive community of like-minded peers while helping them gain valuable skills, experiences, and connections outside the classroom.

The Summer Founders program is a 12-week pre-accelerator initiative from June 3 to August 15. During this time, students will receive a stipend while working on developing their ventures. The program features weekly mentoring, educational sessions, and progress meetings with advisors. Its flexible structure and individualized mentorship allow each team to focus on achieving their unique goals. The program culminates in "Demo Day," a presentation to mentors, advisors, and stakeholders on Thursday, August 15th, where student participation is mandatory. Participants are required to work on the University of Delaware campus throughout the program.  The teams in the efficiency theme include ArPlan, One Click Docs, Kitch Co., Offshore Fishing Intel Service. 

Nicholai Williamson is a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship and Management, with a minor in Professional Selling and Sales Management. As one of the winners of Hen Hatch, the University of Delaware’s premier startup competition that provides resources, networking opportunities, and support for entrepreneurial ventures, he is also the founder of BonaFyde. BonaFyde Inc. is a startup dedicated to helping international prospective students select the right university by offering detailed admissions information and facilitating one-on-one Zoom calls with current college students.