Stories & Updates

Editor’s note: We had an outpouring of testimonials from students Vince has mentored. We couldn’t include all of them in the article, so we listed them at the bottom. Thanks to all who felt moved to participate.

Vince DiFelice, senior instructor of entrepreneurship and faculty director of venture support,  was awarded the 2020 Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising & Mentoring Award from University of Delaware Faculty Senate Committee on Student and Faculty Honors. This Committee accepts nominations from students, alumni, faculty and staff and selects one faculty member from across the University recognizing their outstanding work in advisement and mentoring students.

Editor's note: this is an article in a series that explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.Hope Vega and Abu Kamara presenting Potluck at Demo Day in August 2019.

Just like domestic students, international students are continuing with a full-course load as classes move online. In these tough times, international students are missing home more than ever. 

Editor's note: this is an article in a series that explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

Nat Measley, adjunct professor for Horn Entrepreneurship is in the same boat as the rest of us: at home, trying to stick to a normal routine. To keep busy, he has been working on a new venture that helps start-up companies develop their workplace culture. Your Culture Story is one of a few products in development for Nat's new start-up called the The Organizational Culture and Design Institute. Nat and his team are working to help organizations tell their story by building sustainable culture solutions aligned with real business outcomes. As of now, there is a small dynamic team and a few early-adopting clientele from around the country. He is eager to keep working on the start-up, and discover how they can thrive in these trying times. 

Editor's note: This is an article in a series that explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

When James Massaquoi, co-founder of 360VR Technology, emailed entrepreneur and Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban pitching his startup, he did not expect to find a response waiting for him in his inbox. After a shot-in-the-dark email to one of the biggest names in entrepreneurship, the opportunity to set up a meeting with Cuban was suddenly at hand.

"Entrepreneurship is truly a test of consistency in toughness, relentlessness, motivation and the ability to look at any obstacle that lies ahead with the courage to tackle it and conquer it no matter how ominous it may appear." - Blake Armentano, founder of Oh-So Cycle

Editor's note: this is an article in a series that explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

In the course of my life as an entrepreneur, I have failed many times and succeeded a few times. It seemed like each time we launched a venture, something in the world went wrong (of course this wasn’t true but it seemed that way); 9/11, the Ebola virus, the SARS virus, housing market and stock market crashes, you name it.

My name is Kelly Andreason and I work at Horn on the Enrichment team as a Special Projects Coordinator. One of the best parts of my job is being able to build community among our students. As an Entrepreneurship student myself, I have the advantage of being one of our “customers” and can better understand what will resonate with students. This has led our team to run a variety of community-building events from our annual Welcome Party to a Shark Tank Watch Party to a De-Stress Fest for finals! I love these events because our students are able to come together, make new friendships, and strengthen the Horn community.

Editor's note: this is the fourth article in a series that  explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

Enrichment programming at Horn is fundamentally experiential – we coordinate opportunities for our students to do, connect, innovate and create. But with the switch to online classes and virtual living, Horn’s enrichment team was met with a new challenge: how can we provide valuable, enriching hands-on experiences without the “hands-on” part?

Editor's note: this is the third article in a series that  explores how the Horn Team practices entrepreneurship.

At times like these, we find ourselves traversing new territory. When we realized that the writing was proverbially on the wall regarding our ability to host the 2020 Diamond Challenge Summit on the University of Delaware campus, our team never once questioned whether or not the show would go on. We felt compelled to deliver the best possible outcome, on time, to our students. Why? At a time when our worlds have been turned upside down and many of our regular routines and activities have been put on pause, we need to maintain connectivity and perpetuate the hope and inspiration that naturally aligns with entrepreneurship.

I asked Dan Freeman, Horn's founding director, to write this article a couple weeks ago; but Dan, like all of us, has been in the midst of turmoil, chaos and upheaval. I kept saying “Dan, write about entrepreneurial mindset, adapting to rapid change, resilience…just write something.” So, after urging, nudging, prodding, I decided to write it. Here it goes: