Summer Founders: Cadets for vets
August 19, 2016
Venture works with Horn Program to connect civilians to veterans
With its new Summer Founders Program, the University of Delaware’s Horn Program in Entrepreneurship is supporting the efforts of eight UD student teams to develop their business venture ideas.
On Fridays throughout this summer, the Summer Founders Fridays series highlights one venture and how its creators hope to impact the world.
This Friday, the series focuses on social entrepreneur Ian Milburn, a junior history major and ROTC cadet. Milburn worked with a team of his fellow UD ROTC cadets to create Reviresco, a social venture that engages and informs community members on veterans’ issues by helping veterans to share their stories of service and sacrifice.
The program model is centered on educational experiences that bring communities of civilians and veterans together for discussions and presentations at the high school, college and corporate levels.
“It’s time we change the conversation,” Milburn said. “I believe all communities can come together to do that.”
In order to build awareness for veterans’ affairs and raise donations for their presentations, the organization hosts annual Reviresco runs. During these journeys, cadets log hundreds of miles across the country.
This June, four UD ROTC cadets ran more than 1,200 miles from New York City to Miami to raise money for Reviresco’s events.
Milburn said that Reviresco serves veterans by helping their voices to be heard, connecting them with their communities and demonstrating gratitude for their service.
“People want to make a difference, they want to help veterans in any way that they can,” Milburn said. He described Reviresco as “the next viable solution.”
During this year’s Summer Founders Program, Milburn worked on expanding Reviresco’s scope.
The program is a 12-week long pre-accelerator used to validate members’ novel business models, provides students with stipends while they work to develop their ventures.
Participants have weekly mentoring and educational sessions, progress meetings with philanthropic investors and access to free and discounted services at the Horn Program’s Venture Development Center.
The Reviresco team’s goal is to give presentations in four high schools, four colleges and four corporations by the end of this year. They have already reached three schools at the high school and collegiate levels.
About the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship
The Horn Program ignites imaginations and empowers world changers through entrepreneurial education.
The program’s offerings emphasize experiential learning, evidence-based entrepreneurship and active engagement with entrepreneurs, business leaders and members of the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Participation in Horn Program courses and co-curricular activities empowers students by providing them with the knowledge, skills, connections and access to resources needed to successfully manifest innovation and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
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