Stories & Updates

Exciting news! The nomination period for the WE Hatch Honor Circle is now open, and we invite you to put forth deserving individuals who have left an indelible mark in their communities and beyond. Help us recognize remarkable women contributing to the creation of an inclusive and forward-thinking business environment. Don't miss the chance to submit a nomination for an inspiring woman in your life by January 24!

Heading down Main Street on a Saturday night with your best friends determined to have a fun time at the bar is a common story for many students here at the University of Delaware and universities in general. Most students know the danger associated with drinking recklessly and take precautions to be responsible drinkers, however, there is one scenario that can get the better of even the most vigilant people. Someone slipping “something” into their drink. An unfortunate situation that has been victimizing innocent drinkers all around the world.

Take control of your summer and embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. Join the Summer Founders Pre-Accelerator at Horn Entrepreneurship, where you can be the captain of your startup, receive a stipend, and collaborate with fellow student visionaries. Throughout a three month period, tap into the expertise of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, enjoy 24/7 access to a dedicated workspace, and delve into the principles of evidence-based entrepreneurship. Plus, if you choose, you can earn 3 credits while doing so—all of this, while obtaining valuable information about entrepreneurship.

The Horn Hen of the Month article series is a series dedicated to highlighting Horn students who are inspiring others and impacting their community. One nominated Horn student will be chosen each month and a written feature will document their hard work and progress as they go through their time at Horn, within our community, and beyond. The winning student will also receive a gift card and a Horn Hen of the Month certificate. To nominate a student, fill out this Google form. Any student involved with Horn Entrepreneurship is eligible to be nominated.

(This article was originally published by University of Delaware's Lerner School of Business as part of their Seeing Opportunity series.)

This year, the UD Alfred Lerner College welcomed several new faculty members into its community. Johann Ducharme is an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and a faculty director of the Siegfried Fellows Program; he spoke with Lerner about his research focus and why he chose to join the University of Delaware.

Congratulations to our 2023 Fall Pitch Party winner, Jenna Tomasch.  Jenna is a junior here at UD, with a double major in Fashion Design and Product Innovation and minors in Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Apparel, Textile Innovation, and Functional Wearable Design. She also has a creative making entrepreneurship certificate. Jenna won this year's pitch party with her innovation, “Maker Pants”.

As time goes on, our circle of brilliant entrepreneurs and innovators continue to impress others and add to the list of ongoing achievements and accolades. Whether it’s obtaining funding through investments and grants, winning awards and competitions, or getting the recognition they deserve from notable people and publications, UD students, faculty, and alumni continue to succeed and display their excellence. Below are all those aforementioned achievements and accolades categorized by students, faculty, and alumni.

Another celebratory night in the books where innovative students and professionals came together to embrace the true essence of entrepreneurship at one of our biggest events of the year.  On Thursday, Nov. 16th at The Tower Audion at UD’s STAR Campus, Horn Entrepreneurship’s premier startup funding competition Hen Hatch, officially concluded after the third and final round. After months and months of passionate hard work from teams striving for a spot in the final pitching round, four young innovators secured their finalist position and a chance to pitch for the top spot plus a piece of the prize pool at 2023 Hen Hatch.  

The 2023 Siegfried Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership Workshop & Dinner was a grand event that brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, established business leaders, innovators from various industries, and University of Delaware students. Held on October 3 at the prestigious Wilmington Country Club, this annual gathering provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, gain valuable insights, and to recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to the entrepreneurial leadership ecosystem.

The Horn Hen of the Month article series is a series dedicated to highlighting Horn students who are inspiring others and impacting their community. One nominated Horn student is chosen each month and a written feature will document their hard work and progress as they go through their time at Horn, within our community and beyond. The winning student also receives a gift card and a Horn Hen of the Month certificate.  

To nominate a student, fill out this Google form. Any student involved with Horn Entrepreneurship is eligible to be nominated.  

For October, Xen K. Bossard has won the Horn Hen Of The Month award. Xen is currently a sophomore, majoring in Finance and English with a minor in Entrepreneurship. His involvement in the Delaware Innovation Fellows adds another dimension to his diverse interests. Xen has worked at The Tutoring Center since 2019 as Head Instructor, where he works with over 100 students in Math and English from ages 4 to 18. Within this role, he helps run the SAT prep program and trains the other instructors on academic instruction goals. The Tutoring Center is just like the type of business that Xen would like to own one day. Xen envisions owning a business focused on helping children learn English. His passion for education and assisting kids, coupled with his understanding of finance and language, forms the foundation of his entrepreneurial aspirations.