Stories & Updates

Horn Entrepreneurship held its 2021 Spring Pitch Party virtually this past Wednesday, an event where students were able to pitch ideas for business ventures with the possibility of winning awards and prizes.

University of Delaware student teams were awarded more than $5000 to use in design, prototyping and fabrication of their projects.

The inaugural Spring 2021 Make It Happen Challenge showcased students from across the University with one thing in common: a desire to bring their ideas to life. The Challenge, presented by UD MakerGym and Horn Entrepreneurship, is a University-wide, semester-long student design competition that provides grants for making and innovation, targeting ideation, proof of concept, prototyping or small batch production. In addition to financial support, students receive training, tools, materials and mentoring.

The 2020 Siegfried Entrepreneurial Leadership Award Event took place virtually on Oct. 13, as the online event honored two prominent award recipients and also featured workshop opportunities.

Covid-19 hasn't stopped senior instructor DiFelice, pictured above, from continuing to serve in important mentorship roles for Horn Entrepreneurship students from his own home.

As 2020 Hen Hatch finalists prepare for the busy days ahead leading up to the Hen Hatch competition’s final round where everyone is invited to attend on Dec. 3. The Horn Entrepreneurship team had a chance to reflect on Hen Hatch with Horn community members who have been directly involved in the startup competition.

After a record number of team submissions, the finalists for Hen Hatch 2020, Horn Entrepreneurship’s much-anticipated premier startup competition, have been announced. The following teams of finalists will include three teams from each of the Pre- and Post-Revenue tracks that will compete in the final round of the 2020 Hen Hatch competition that is set to take place virtually on Dec. 3 2020 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Hen Hatch, Horn Entrepreneurship’s premier startup funding competition, will hold its semifinal round on Nov. 5, 2020 to determine which six most promising business concepts will advance to the finals to be held on Dec. 3, 2020. The 20 semifinalist teams have already progressed through one round of judging.

This past spring’s Delaware Innovation Fellows Senior Showcase included 10 different innovation projects from students of the program’s first graduating class.

After a long and intensive 12-week program, Horn Entrepreneurship's Summer Founders assembled virtually this Tuesday for the pre-accelerator’s 5th annual Summer Founders Demo Day. With 18 teams and over 130 total attendees at the virtual event, this year’s Demo Day marks the program’s biggest yet.

Early June, we found out that University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship will welcome its largest cohort of students to Summer Founders 2020 virtually. This group of students was composed of twenty-two startup teams totaling 34 students in the 12-week virtual pre-accelerator. During these virtual summer weeks, our founders have been receiving mentorship, education, and resources to develop and advance their concepts. Since going virtual, the groups have seen their fair share of ups and downs. The biggest include how to advance their concepts and build relationships with their teams all through a computer screen. 

Adapting to the Big Shift to Online Events

Four months ago we were sent home to limit our in person interactions.  We were amateurs but zoom was there to help. We forgave the family interruptions and learned everyone's pet’s name, and sometimes could not find that link!  It was new to everyone and it was comforting to see others struggle with the new normal like you were. Now four months have gone by and we no longer have a pass on its