Stories & Updates

Starting a business is never easy, but UD alumnus Blake Armentano (‘20) has done it twice—first with his indoor cycling studio, Oh-So Cycle, and now with his AI-driven startup, Revi Solutions. What started as a way to improve client engagement at his gym has grown into a powerful tool helping fitness businesses boost retention and revenue.  

Young innovators from across the region gathered at University of Delaware on March 6 for the 2025 EntreX Delaware Venture Showcase. More than 200 high school students pitched their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges, competing for $500 and a spot to compete in Diamond Challenge finals at the prestigious 2025 Limitless World Summit.

On February 26, 2025, more than 200 high school students from across the mid-Atlantic gathered at Rutgers University for the 2025 EntreX Regional Venture Showcase. These aspiring entrepreneurs pitched their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges, competing for $500 and a spot to compete in Diamond Challenge finals at the prestigious 2025 Limitless World Summit.

Horn Entrepreneurship is now accepting applications for its annual awards and scholarships, offering more than $10,000 in cash and Venture Development Center credit. These awards recognize innovative and entrepreneurial undergraduate students from all majors at the University of Delaware.

A friend of alumna and entrepreneur Daphne Vantine, 2019 alumna Rachel Heim and her venture, Vanilla Joe & Co., are the next feature in our series featuring alumni. Vanilla Joe & Co. is candle shop that caters to dog lovers.

Our first feature in the series focuses on Daphne Vantine, a 2018 graduate of the University of Delaware. She majored in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Integrated Design. In her undergrad she was heavily involved in VentureOn and was also a Horn Ambassador. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Daphne enjoys thrifting and supporting local small businesses like her own.

Our faculty are always on the move. Last summer, Dr. Laura Gasiorowski, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, captivated audiences at the Academy of Management Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, where she unveiled her research on how entrepreneurs’ responses during pitch Q&A sessions influence their chances of securing funding. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Gasiorowski to dive deeper into her compelling findings.

Horn receives transformative gift from Stanford family to support Summer Founders program

Four teams competed in the final round of Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition, and all four won thousands of dollars from a panel of judges – plus $2,500 for travel expenses to other competitions and often time with consultants.

With a career spanning three continents, Dr. Abayomi Akinboye brings a truly global perspective to entrepreneurship education. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics, he leverages experiences from Nigeria, Malaysia, and New Zealand to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. We sat down with Dr. Akinboye to learn more about his journey.