Stories & Updates

Like many young students coming into their college experience, Daphne Vantine had little conviction of what she truly wanted to do. By embracing new opportunities, Daphne was able to carve a path that is uniquely hers.

Apparel from recycled jeans, lubricants from renewable carbon and housing for the homeless from straw bales are among the sustainable and eco-friendly products being developed by University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship ventures. Companies like AndAgain, RiKarbon and Y Innovations speak to the commitment of the university to maintain and take care of the environment.

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship venture Wilminvest won the Pitch Slam competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The competition was a part of e-Fest® 2018, a 3-day celebration of undergraduate entrepreneurship.

University of Delaware graduate student Garry Johnson placed first at the Startup Tech Conference and Pitch Competition at Prairie View A&M University on Feb. 22, 2018. The competition was hosted by A&M student group HBCU.vc, a not-for-profit organization that connects and equips the next generation of black and brown tech innovators and investors. The prize is an opportunity to interview for the DivInc Accelerator Program.

University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship Masters student Garry Johnson ran a successful second year of his I Have a Dream Pitch Competition. The event is designed to empower young men and boys of color in the city of Wilmington through entrepreneurship to inspire confidence and improve problem solving skills. 

Recent University of Delaware alumna, Amira Idris, received a $20,000 grant from VentureWell’s Entrepreneur Team (E-Team) Program to aid in funding her startup, TheraV.

Snoop, an ambitious new tech student team in University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship VentureOn program, is led by freshman Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation major Andrew Cercena. The Delaware native graduated from Tower Hill and has used his own experience transitioning from high school to college to inspire entrepreneurial creativity.

Color Coded is a startup searching for a way to increase diversity in the tech industry. Color Coded is one of many participating teams in University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship VentureOn, a program led by seasoned entrepreneur Vince DiFelice, and is spearheaded by graduate student Garry Johnson and sophomore James Massaquoi.

Mariano Di Gabriele, Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Class of 2018, has utilized classroom skills to help his singing and songwriting career. The Wilmington raised musician just released his debut EP, “Thicker Skin”, on streaming services SoundCloud and Spotify. The debut project includes the charity track “Endlessly Devoted” which raised more than $200 for the B+ Foundation to fight childhood cancer. “Thicker Skin” is the culmination of years of writing and developing in Di Gabriele’s time at the University of Delaware.

After traveling abroad with Students for Haiti, Alyssa Kuchta found her passion and started selling unique handmade jewelry to fundraise for earthquake relief in Haiti. She taught herself the craft and started her own business in 2011.