Venture Development
Activate Your Passion
Horn Entrepreneurship’s Venture Support and Commercialization programs provide a continuum of guidance and valuable resources to members of the UD community as they pursue new ideas for a better world, explore their professional interests and activate their passions.
The past year has been the most transformative of my life. Being immersed in a startup atmosphere, and developing a degree of expertise in the biotech space specifically, has been invaluable for both my personal and career growth.
Signature Programs
Solving societal problems
Big Ideas Challenge
Grants for STEM-based technologies
NSF I-Corps
12-week pre-accelerator program
Summer Founders
Mentorship, support and resources
VentureOn
Startup funding competition
Hen Hatch
Funding & training
Proof of Concept
guidance from industry professionals
ExpertConnect
Mentoring for startups
Venture Mentoring Service
International Students
International students on F-1 and J-1 visas are strongly encouraged to discuss any entrepreneurship, start-up, or volunteer opportunities with the Center for Global Programs and Services prior to accepting the position. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security restricts certain practical training options (whether paid or unpaid) for F-1 and J-1 students unless they have prior authorization from the government. Please note that even if an international student is not being paid or is volunteering, they may still require authorization.
If you are an F-1 or J-1 international student considering work, volunteering, self-employment, or start-up ventures (even if they are part of a class project or as part of your program of study), please contact an immigration advisor at CGPS to discuss your options and requirements for maintaining status in the U.S. Additional information can be found on the CGPS Employment page.
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Startup tackling spiked drinks wins over Hen Hatch judges
December 12, 2025 | Written by Horn EntrepreneurshipThe final round of Hen Hatch featured four teams with widely divergent concepts: straws that change color to discreetly reveal spiked drinks, an app for women to manage chronic health conditions, a clothing line that supports animal shelters and autonomous robots that look for leaks in water lines. -
Alumna’s ‘Shark Tank’ win mirrors Horn’s national rise
November 21, 2025 | Written by Jen HendricksonWhen University of Delaware alumna Maya Nazareth secured a $300,000 investment on Shark Tank this year for her company Alchemize Fightwear, she became the latest example of a Blue Hen turning an idea into national impact. Her rapid growth in the combat-sports apparel market reflects the entrepreneurial mindset fostered at UD and arrives as Horn Entrepreneurship earns new national recognition. -
Deep Dive into Innovation: Evan McArdle and Coral Restoration
October 29, 2025 | Written by Horn EntrepreneurshipAfter six years of service in the United States Air Force, Evan McArdle, class of 2025, found a new mission: protecting the planet.
