Stories & Updates

John Smothers, Leadership and Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation, Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, discovered his true passion through the entrepreneurial journey and pivoted away from his business management degree to dive into leadership and entrepreneurship. Now, John is a founding partner at Dimension Ventures, an investment firm eager to create real impact for a better future through investments in highly selective startup ventures. But John’s journey wouldn’t have been possible without his work ethic and the transformational relationships he was able to form.

Winners of the Hen Hatch competition were announced during its final round on Tuesday, April 30 at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware.

Seven UD Students were honored with scholarships and awards from Horn Entrepreneurship for the 2018-2019 school year. The students will be formally recognized for their achievements at an award ceremony held during the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup competition.

The Innovation Showcase, featuring Hen Hatch semi-finalist teams, will take place before the final presentations at Hen Hatch on Tuesday, April 30. Hen Hatch attendees and guests are invited and encouraged to join the Horn Entrepreneurship community in celebrating the success of semi-finalist teams and learning about their next steps on the entrepreneurial journey,

Vince DiFelice, Senior Instructor of Practice and Faculty Director of Venture Support, has been an instrumental figure in helping nascent student startups find their footing and future success. Beyond delivering exceptional venture support guidance, Vince has helped students find new passions and recalibrate their career goals to better match what they are most interested in.

Six teams comprised of students and alumni from across several colleges, including Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics, College of Arts & Sciences and College of Engineering, are advancing to the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition. Finalist teams will pitch before a panel of accomplished judges and an audience of regional business leaders, experienced entrepreneurs and the broader UD community for a share of a $100,000 prize pool.

The University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship recently hosted The Out of This World Pitch Party at the Venture Development Center, complete with 20 student pitch presentations and a $1,200 prize pool.

Jason Aviles, the serial social entrepreneur behind such projects as FLYOGI and Artist Ave Station, as well as Project Director of Wilmington Green Box and Executive Director of Wilmington Placemakers Inc., is the current Social Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Delaware.

Each spring, Horn Entrepreneurship recognizes entrepreneurial students through awards and scholarships totaling almost $10,000 in cash and Venture Development Center credit. Undergraduate students from all majors are invited to apply now through Friday, March 29 at 11:59 p.m.

Twelve teams from the student track and another 12 teams from the alumni, faculty and staff track are advancing to the semifinal round of the University of Delaware’s 2019 Hen Hatch startup funding competition.