Stories & Updates

Republished with permission from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, who originally published the content here: https://lerner.udel.edu/seeing-opportunity/friends-to-founders/. The “Blue Hens of a Feather” series highlights students and alumni of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics who “flock together” with fellow Blue Hens to launch successful business ventures. Read on for the story of two friends who started their company while at UD and have remained true to their Blue Hens origins as they’ve expanded.

After deeply exploring the tech space on his entrepreneurial journey, Jonathan Wood, Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, Class of 2019, discovered his true unique value. The recent graduate emphasized his own tech and entrepreneurial capabilities to land a full-time tech role within PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a Big Four public accounting firm with more than 250,000 global employees.

University of Delaware Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics and Horn Entrepreneurship announce recipients of the 2019 Blue Hen 17&43 Awards, which recognize University of Delaware students and alumni who have founded or led promising new ventures and fast growing companies. Fifty-one businesses will receive the honor.

Patient Sortal, a Hen Hatch 2019 winner in the alumni track, has grown from a nascent startup to a qualified healthcare data management company eager to make a difference in the lives of patients with chronic conditions. Founder Kenny Eck, Alfred Lerner College of Business Economics, Class of 2018, says that persistence and the unwavering support of his family, are what have made the two-year journey possible.

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.

Jason Bamford recognized a need for a more immersive experience in entrepreneurial education at the University of Delaware and three months after a compelling conversation with Vince DiFelice, the Horn Entrepreneurship Summer Founders pre-accelerator program was born.

The University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship invites submissions from UD students, faculty, staff and alumni for Hen Hatch 2019, the university’s premier startup funding competition.

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship will hold the inaugural Tech Innovation Showcase on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Perkins Student Center from 12:30 to 5 p.m. The showcase is an opportunity to engage with UD’s top scientists and engineers who are creating solutions to the world’s biggest problems, and features seventeen presenter teams.

Cassidy Nalbone experienced a minor setback when a position with a student event group fell through. With that came some uncertainty in her own abilities.

Rather than allowing failure to define her, Cassidy found success in her own response to a difficult situation.

For Matt Wilens, entrepreneurship was the final piece of the puzzle, the component of his education that connected the dots and solidified the value of his degree.