Stories & Updates

Nineteen teams have been selected for Horn Entrepreneurship’s 2025 Summer Founders pre-accelerator program. This intensive 10-week experience gives University of Delaware students and recent graduates the opportunity to build their ventures full time with the support of resources, mentorship, and funding.

Spring is the season of growth, and what better way to cultivate your entrepreneurial dreams than by taking advantage of the many opportunities available this semester? Whether you're new to entrepreneurship, have a startup idea, or are already scaling your venture, there's something for everyone. Here's a look at what’s in store for students this spring.

Horn receives transformative gift from Stanford family to support Summer Founders program

The Summer Founders program is a 12-week pre-accelerator initiative from June 3 to August 15. During this time, students will receive a stipend while working on developing their ventures. The program features weekly mentoring, educational sessions, and progress meetings with advisors. Its flexible structure and individualized mentorship allow each team to focus on achieving their unique goals. The program culminates in "Demo Day," a presentation to mentors, advisors, and stakeholders on Thursday, August 15th, where student participation is mandatory. Participants are required to work on the University of Delaware campus throughout the program.  The teams in the efficiency theme include ArPlan, One Click Docs, Kitch Co., Offshore Fishing Intel Service. 

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. There is one team under the theme of “Environment” involved in the Summer Founders program this summer, and that is Big Rig’s Lionfish Spearfishing Expedition and Charter.

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.

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!

Take control of your summer and embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. Join the Summer Founders Pre-Accelerator at Horn Entrepreneurship, where you can be the captain of your startup, receive a stipend, and collaborate with fellow student visionaries. Throughout a three month period, tap into the expertise of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, enjoy 24/7 access to a dedicated workspace, and delve into the principles of evidence-based entrepreneurship. Plus, if you choose, you can earn 3 credits while doing so—all of this, while obtaining valuable information about entrepreneurship.

The much-anticipated culmination of months of hard work and innovation arrived as the Summer Founder's Demo Day took center stage at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center on August 17. Summer Founders, UD’s pre-accelerator for students, is a 12-week program designed for students with early stage startups to work on their ventures and receive a stipend, mentorship and education sessions. To cap off a summer of innovation and learning, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts gathered for an occasion filled with excitement and anticipation. The atmosphere was charged with a palpable energy, as the spotlight shifted onto the cohort of startups that had undergone an intensive acceleration journey.

With the approach of Summer Founders Demo Day, take the opportunity to delve deeper into the profiles of our exceptional cohort members and their innovative ventures. Samantha McGhee and Heather Stroili have worked diligently throughout the summer to find a niche that they can service in their respective industries, human resources and fashion. Read on to discover their narratives, the significance their startups offer, and their focal points set for the past and future.