Stories & Updates

Johann Ducharme, assistant professor of entrepreneurship and faculty director of the Siegfried Fellows, was awarded a $50,000 grant from The Educating Character Initiative (ECI), a part of the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, for the project “Institutional Consensus of Character Education at the University of Delaware.”

Summer Founders: Demo Day 2024 

On August 15, 2024, the teams from Summer Founders showcased their ventures at Demo Day. Summer Founders is a 12-week pre-accelerator program where students are tasked to search for  repeatable and scalable business models that are able to solve both commercial and social problems. The students were granted a stipend during this program and were also given weekly mentoring and education sessions. The flexible structure of the program allows each team to achieve unique goals. Demo Day is the conclusion of Summer Founders, providing teams the opportunity to present their projects, demonstrate how the program has influenced their work, and connect with community members, peers, and mentors while sharing their summer progress on their venture. 

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.

The Summer Founders program takes approximately 12 weeks, from June 3 to August 15. During this pre-accelerator program, students receive a stipend while developing their ventures. They are supported by weekly mentoring, educational sessions, and progress meetings with advisors. The flexible structure and individualized mentorship allow each team to work on achieving specific goals unique to their projects. The program concludes with "Demo Day," a presentation to mentors, advisors, and stakeholders on Thursday, August 15, which all students must attend. There is one team under the theme of “Environment” involved in the Summer Founders program this summer, and that is Big Rig’s Lionfish Spearfishing Expedition and Charter.

Horn Entrepreneurship is thrilled to welcome a fresh, dynamic group of fellows to its much-anticipated Accelerating Innovation in Education program. The fellowship, led by Dan Freeman, Founding Director, and Felicia Harrington, Assistant Director of Youth Programs, is designed to foster a culture of innovation and experimentation within K-12 education. The fellows have taken the time to develop new skills and understand the building blocks of an innovative school culture through an immersive two day summer program. The fellows will continue to meet as a community of practice throughout the upcoming school year.

The Summer Founders program takes approximately 12 weeks, from June 3 to August 15. During this pre-accelerator program, students receive a stipend while developing their ventures. They are supported by weekly mentoring, educational sessions, and progress meetings with advisors. The flexible structure and individualized mentorship allow each team to work on achieving specific goals unique to their projects. The program concludes with "Demo Day," a presentation to mentors, advisors, and stakeholders on Thursday, August 15, which all students must attend. Two of the teams involved in the Summer Founders program this summer are Convertible Dress and Maker Pants.  They are both under the theme of Fashion Sustainability.

(This article was originally published on the Lerner blog)

Maya Narazeth, a distinguished alumna of University of Delaware, exemplifies the epitome of entrepreneurial determination and vision. What began as a humble operation from her student apartment, with her car serving as a mobile sales office, has blossomed into the thriving enterprise known as Alchemize Fightwear. Over the span of four years, Maya has transformed her passion for entrepreneurship into a dynamic business that not only meets but exceeds market expectations. Her journey from student entrepreneur to industry trailblazer explains the beneficial impact of entrepreneurship.

Congratulations to Brian Bressler! Brian won the April Horn Hen of the Month award. He is a junior at the University of Delaware, has distinguished himself with a double major in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and a minor in Professional Sales. The Horn Hen of the Month award highlights a student that is inspiring others and impacting their community.

For young and ambitious entrepreneurs, summertime offers an ideal opportunity to nurture and refine their ventures amidst great weather, ample free time, and positive vibes. The Summer Founders program allows a select group of students to fully immerse themselves in developing their startups. Congratulations to this year’s eight teams!