Stories & Updates

Article by Adam Thomas Photos by Evan Krape and iStock December 02, 2021

The Venture Development Center provides a central location for student entrepreneurial activity.

Horn Entrepreneurship is pleased to announce a successful fall lineup of VentureOn teams. Twenty teams from across campus ranging from undergraduate to graduate students compose the newest cohort. VentureOn, offered each semester, is for students who already have a startup or social venture and are working on building revenue, meeting customers, and other needed resources.

From electricity generating tires and eco-friendly construction material to wellness apps and bacteria reducing inventions, more than 20,000 teens are addressing the world’s toughest problems through the Diamond Challenge, an entrepreneurship competition for high school students. Registration for the 2022 competition is open to high school students through January 7, 2022.

As the fall semester begins to pick up speed, don’t forget to mark your calendars for all of the amazing entrepreneurial events and happenings coming up!

The Diamond Challenge, an entrepreneurship platform for high school students from around the world, recently wrapped up its week-long summit which took place virtually this year, from April 11 - 16, 2021.

Horn Entrepreneurship and eClub welcome alumni Lily Wolfe, Brianna Bannach, and Farhad Baqi as judges for this year's Spring Pitch Party on March 31 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. over Zoom! Join the audience and spectate as UD student teams pitch innovative ventures for a total of $1,500 in funding and resources.

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship is offering 10 Delaware high schools launch grants for its newest youth offering, EntreX Lab.  EntreX Lab (short for “Entrepreneurial Experience Laboratory”) is an opportunity for high school students to take credit-bearing entrepreneurship coursework through the University of Delaware.

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.

In the spaces of creative disruption where entrepreneurs operate, the skills of effective leadership have always been of key importance, and are inextricably tied to the spirit of innovation. However, before anyone can even begin to become a leader of others, they must first learn to lead themselves.

Horn Entrepreneurship is excited to announce the “Advancing Equity Thru Entrepreneurship Summer Internship Challenge.” This new program seeks to provide funding and mentorship support to UD undergraduate students who are actively working to advance social justice and equality of opportunity.