The University of Delaware’s Horn Program in Entrepreneurship is partnering with the Delaware Founders’ Initiative and Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC) to support community-based entrepreneurs through the new Delaware Startup Launchpad program.

“This unique program combines strengths from three organizations to deliver an exceptional opportunity to community-based entrepreneurs and their startups,” said Dan Freeman, founding director of the Horn Program. “Founding teams will engage in guided customer discovery activities that will accelerate their progress and provide valuable experience utilizing a repeatable, evidence-based startup process.”

The Delaware Startup Launchpad includes a series of workshops based on the Horn Program’s successful National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Sites (NSF I-Corps Sites) commercialization program, the Delaware Founders’ Initiative mentors, and the Small Business Development Center’s follow on opportunities. Features of the program include:

• Five three-hour workshops focused on hands-on application of lean startup methods.

• Two supplemental mentoring sessions.

• Experienced instructors and mentors with a 1-to-1 ratio of instructors and mentors to teams.

• Workshops hosted at 1313 Innovation, The coIN Loft at Start It Up Delaware and The Mill Space.

• Participation limited to no more than eight teams

Applications for the Delaware Startup Launchpad are due on or before Sunday, Oct. 2. There is no cost to apply. The fee for accepted teams is $399 per team.

Participating teams will compete for at least $5,000 in cash awards, making this a potentially profitable opportunity.

For full program details and to submit an application, visit the website.

About the Horn Program

The University of Delaware Horn Program in Entrepreneurship 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 provides students with the knowledge, skills, personal capacities, connections and access to resources needed to create, deliver and capture value from new ideas and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

About Delaware Founders Initiative

The Delaware Founders Initiative is dedicated to coordinating and amplifying the Delaware start-up entrepreneurial environment through: entrepreneurial education, mentorship, funding start-up companies, and promoting small business legislation.

About Delaware SBDC

DSBDC is a unit of the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP), a team guided by a singular purpose to drive the University and the State’s entrepreneurial, technology and business community to new heights of economic development.

DSBDC is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. The DSBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the state of Delaware and the University of Delaware.