The Entrepreneurship Club’s Spring Pitch Party was full of fresh new ideas on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Students brought their ideas to the market for a night filled with fresh pitches, innovative ideas, and cash prizes.
Fifteen students presented their homegrown ideas and delivered a 90-second pitch before an audience and a panel of alumni judges. The upbeat and supportive environment made it exciting to watch the creativity and passion shared by so many driven young entrepreneurs.
Market Favorites: Top 3 Finalists
Each finalist took home cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100 respectively, but no one left the market empty-handed. Every student who pitched their fresh ideas received a $20 gift card to support their entrepreneurial venture. On top of that, special awards such as Most Motivated, Most Interesting, and Most Promising were given to standout entrepreneurs from the night.
Seasonal Standout: Nicolette Prignoli
Nicolette Prignoli took home first place at this year’s Spring Pitch Party. As a freshman, this was Nicolette’s first time pitching her idea, making her win even more impressive. She walked away with the $300 first-place prize for her farm-fresh startup idea. Inspired by her love for art, Nicolette created Park & Paint, a pop-up experience designed to make art more accessible to everyone. Originally from New York, Nicolette explained that art classes and creative spaces often come with a high barrier to entry, especially in underrepresented communities. Park & Paint aims to solve this by offering free community art experiences in a relaxed outdoor setting while also selling snacks and drinks. With her prize money, Nicolette hopes to continue building her brand and create even more unique and enjoyable experiences for her guests.
Harvest of Ideas
This spring’s Pitch Party was truly rooted in innovation. From fresh ideas just beginning to sprout to ventures already starting to bloom, the market was filled with passion, creativity, and exciting new ideas from student entrepreneurs. The lively vibe of the market and community made the night one to celebrate and left attendees excited to see what these young innovators grow next.
Congratulations to all of the participants who stepped up to share their fresh ideas and creativity throughout the night. A special thank you also goes out to our alumni judges, Emilie Delaye, Hunter Wills, and Yannick Nguenkam, as well as the Horn Entrepreneurship community for their continued support and for helping make this year’s Pitch Party such a memorable celebration of innovation.
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.
