Stories & Updates

The Summer Founders program takes approximately 12 weeks, from June 3 to August 15. During this pre-accelerator program, students receive a stipend while developing their ventures. They are supported by weekly mentoring, educational sessions, and progress meetings with advisors. The flexible structure and individualized mentorship allow each team to work on achieving specific goals unique to their projects. The program concludes with "Demo Day," a presentation to mentors, advisors, and stakeholders on Thursday, August 15, which all students must attend. Two of the teams involved in the Summer Founders program this summer are Convertible Dress and Maker Pants.  They are both under the theme of Fashion Sustainability.

(This article was originally published on the Lerner blog)

Maya Narazeth, a distinguished alumna of University of Delaware, exemplifies the epitome of entrepreneurial determination and vision. What began as a humble operation from her student apartment, with her car serving as a mobile sales office, has blossomed into the thriving enterprise known as Alchemize Fightwear. Over the span of four years, Maya has transformed her passion for entrepreneurship into a dynamic business that not only meets but exceeds market expectations. Her journey from student entrepreneur to industry trailblazer explains the beneficial impact of entrepreneurship.

Congratulations to Brian Bressler! Brian won the April Horn Hen of the Month award. He is a junior at the University of Delaware, has distinguished himself with a double major in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and a minor in Professional Sales. The Horn Hen of the Month award highlights a student that is inspiring others and impacting their community.

For young and ambitious entrepreneurs, summertime offers an ideal opportunity to nurture and refine their ventures amidst great weather, ample free time, and positive vibes. The Summer Founders program allows a select group of students to fully immerse themselves in developing their startups. Congratulations to this year’s eight teams!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Stitched With Innovation at VentureOn

This is the fifth article in a series highlighting the Spring 2024 VentureOn teams. In this article, we'll delve into teams that focus on ventures related to Fashion and Apparel. VentureOn is a program that spans a semester and requires an application. It gives students the opportunity to validate a problem and create a practical solution related to their personal interests. These projects can cover social issues, business concepts, or product ideas. The students come from multiple different universities with a variety of different majors and areas of study.

VentureOn 2024: Honoring Teams Based On Social Impact and Community Development 

This is the fourth article in a series highlighting the Spring 2024 VentureOn teams. In this article, we'll delve into teams that focus on ventures related to Social Impact and Community Development. VentureOn is a program that spans a semester and requires an application. It gives students the opportunity to validate a problem and create a practical solution related to their personal interests. These projects can cover social issues, business concepts, or product ideas. The students come from multiple different universities with a variety of different majors and areas of study.

Congratulations to Devina Patel! Devina won the March Horn Hen of the Month award. She is a sophomore at the University of Delaware, with a double major in finance and financial planning, a minor in trust management, and has a certificate in entrepreneurship leadership. The Horn Hen of the Month award highlights a student that is inspiring others and impacting their community. 

The 4th Annual Ratcliffe Eco Entrepreneurship Fellows Pitch Day, hosted by Horn Entrepreneurship at the Venture Development Center recently took place Monday May 6. Nine participants with a strong passion for the environment and sustainability came together to pitch their ideas to the judges and compete for a grab at the cash prize. Ideas ranged in all areas from, sustainable home buying, to energy conversion, to aquatic ecosystem preservation.

On April 10th, Horn Entrepreneurship and the E-Club hosted the fan favorite 2024 Spring Pitch party at the Venture Development Center, which was transformed into a charming tropical getaway for the night. During this school year, once again driven and zealous entrepreneurial talents were brought together ready to pitch their ideas against each other, whether it's for some pitching practice or the cash prize. The night consisted of 15 90 second pitches from students of varying majors and experience levels, each with their own unique startup ideas to share with the eager audience.