High school students from across the mid-Atlantic stepped into the spotlight on February 25 for the 2026 EntreX Regional Venture Showcase. These aspiring entrepreneurs pitched their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges, competing for $500 and a spot in the Diamond Challenge finals at the 2026 Limitless World Summit.
Part of Horn Entrepreneurship’s EntreX program, the showcase provided students with a platform to showcase their creativity, receive valuable feedback, and connect with like-minded peers. For many, it was their first experience in a pitch competition, making it an exciting opportunity to refine their ideas and build essential entrepreneurial skills.
Congratulations to the winners:
Social Innovation Track
Business Innovation Track
The EntreX Regional Venture Showcase featured teams from regional high schools, highlighting their dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. Students from the following schools presented their ventures:
- New World High School
- Donovan Catholic High School
- South River High School
- Monroe Township High School
- Union Catholic
- Marvelwood School
- Northern Highlands Regional High School
- Glen Rock High School
- Perkiomen School
- Holmdel High School
- Holmdel High School
- St. John Vianney
- New Dorp High School
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- Toms River High School South
- Bergen Catholic High School
- Innovation Charter High School
- Lakeland Regional
- Yorktown High School
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, and a special appreciation to the dedicated judges for generously offering their time and expertise to make the 2026 EntreX Regional Showcase a success:
- Kelly Welsh, former Category Manager, TikTok
- Corey Singman, Founder, BBI Capital
- Chris DeSantis, former Senior Product Manager, Amazon
- Grace Leong, CEO, Hunter PR
- Veronica Fey, Principal, Soundboard Venture Fund
- Nazeer Bhore, CEO, Bhore Solutions
- Kevin Burke, Founder & CEO, Book Every Job
- Kelly O’Neill, Founder, Waxing
- Alex Viehman, Director of Delivery Innovation, Salesforce
- Jason Nanus, President, Steamboard Marketing
- Ben Ringe, CEO, B.Bold Content Studios
- Esther Sportello, Group Project Manager, Justworks
We extend our sincere gratitude to Capital One for their sponsorship and support at the EntreX Regional Venture Showcase.
The EntreX Lab program gives students early access to entrepreneurial education with up to three college credits. The curriculum focuses on the key skills of idea generation, creative problem solving, leadership, evidence-based decision making, resilience, teamwork and persuasive communication. Learn more about the EntreX Lab program and adopt it at your school.
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 U.S., horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
