Stories & Updates

His father and stepmother, both pharmacists, wanted Garry Johnson III to have a well-paying, stable career in healthcare. His 2017 University of Delaware bachelor of science in kinesiology and exercise science, leading to a career as a physical therapist, filled the bill, but then he had to have The Talk. 

He had discovered entrepreneurship and wanted to pivot.

Tortilla imprinted with logos and bacon made from mushroom roots are two unusual components of Alanna Weiss’ startup career.

In 2018, while a student at the University of Delaware, she created a food delivery and catering company specializing in quesadillas. Tortilla Text was born from that, with the ability to print messages, logos or other information directly on tortillas.

After graduation in 2020, she was hired by a company now known as MyForest Foods. Its game- changing product – and its first product to hit the shelves – is MyBacon, which is made of just six ingredients: Mushroom mycelium (the root-like structure), salt, coconut oil, sugar, natural flavors and beet juice concentrate (for color).

Shark Tank has evolved into a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and secure investments from seasoned investors. On February 17th, 2023, University of Delaware alumni Joelle Flynn and her childhood best friend Sonia Hounsell captured the attention of the Sharks with their revolutionary company, FunkkOFF!^®. With their environmentally friendly, reusable (30 x), all-in-one toothpaste and toothbrush combination, Flynn and Hounsell left a lasting impression on both the Sharks and viewers. They even secured a deal with one of the five Sharks, Robert Herjavec. Let's dive into their remarkable journey on Shark Tank and the growing success of FunkkOFF! TeethRefreshers^®.

Cute and personalized cookie cutters, hands-free door openers, and an “impossible floating” table are all imaginative ideas brought to life by the wonders of the 3D printing world. More specifically brought to life by the innovative mind of Richard Hayburn and his business Burn Social LLC., who have made it a mission to bring everyone’s imagination to life, whether it's the imagination of an established engineer or an artistic 8-year-old.

The revelation for Amira Idris Radović’s business – one that could significantly improve the quality of life for her customers – came in the football team’s gym at the Carpenter Sports Building.

Alexa Chronister, who founded an advocacy group for the chronically ill in her University of Delaware freshman dorm, believes that servant leadership is an important but unheralded concept.

During Women's History Month on March 16, 27 remarkable and innovative women were inducted and honored at the WE Hatch Honor Circle celebration. WE Hatch recognizes and celebrates women who are supporting and helping each other overcome the unique challenges faced by women innovators. Nominated by their peers, employees, spouses, and friends, Honors Circle members have made a lasting impact on their network and community. 

Our community of innovators and entrepreneurs have been hard at work over the past months, gathering an extensive list of accomplishments along the way. UD students, faculty and alumni continue to make waves, with notable achievements like getting recognized in news publications, winning awards and competitions, and securing funding through investments and grants. Check out the full list below, and keep working as a community to make an impact on the world!

This article is part of a series celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Horn Entrepreneurship by highlighting alumni, their stories and accomplishments.

Bryce Fender and Joel Amin for a long time have wanted to improve the world, and they were well into making their impact when they learned that changing the world involved doing the dishes, and getting dirty at times.

The pair, friends since middle school, acquired life-changing skills through Horn Entrepreneurship. With friend Demetrius M. Thorn, in 2017 they created Wilminvest, which buys and renovates houses, ultimately renting them to families in unstable housing situations while being connected to the social services they need for the duration of their stay.

To make progress and be successful, a plan is always the best course of action. Planning can provide structure, efficiency, clarity, and a plethora of other things that can be beneficial in all facets in life. More specifically, athletes, trainers, and coaches can make some real headway with a clear course of action to improve physicality, win games, and break records. This is where movement analytics comes in to provide valuable detailed information that can be used to ensure athletes achieve peak health, safety and performance.