Summer Founders
About the program · 2 linked sources
Summer Founders is UD's pre-accelerator for student ventures. The dedicated page calls it an 11-week program with a stipend, mentorship, and education sessions. The 2026 program runs June 1 to August 13, 2026, with no sessions the week of June 29 to July 3, and Demo Day on August 13, 2026. In-person participants work from the Venture Development Center. Hybrid participants must attend June 1-2 and August 13 in person. A FAQ line also describes the commitment as 10 weeks of weekday sessions. The Horn homepage says the 2026 cohort is 11 weeks and that eleven teams were selected, with equity-free stipend funding. Students may enroll in ENTR 450/650 for credit at regular summer tuition.
This listing was compiled from public university pages on October 8, 2026. It is unclaimed and has not been confirmed by the school or a program director.
How we know this: the figures on this page come from the linked sources (last verified 2026-10-08); what those sources do not state is left unknown.
Key numbers
Funding range
Not listed
Stipend, Non Dilutive
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
Not recorded
High confidence
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Reminders
Summer Founders
Get an email before a director-verified deadline for this program, this school, or this state. The program never sees your address.
Student experiences · Read or add a note
Student notes
Summer Founders
No posts yet.
Application and Timing
Applications for 2026 were rolling until the cohort filled or April 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Program dates are June 1 through August 13, 2026.
Participants
UD students enrolled at least half time and in good standing, from any college. Seniors and graduate students who will not be enrolled during the summer may still apply. The homepage also says the cohort includes recent graduates. Teams of one are allowed.
Funding and Equity
Participants receive a monthly stipend. The page says stipend amounts vary and that the in-person track pays more than the virtual track. Dollar amounts are not published. The funding section says donors do not, and UD does not, take ownership or equity, and that they have no governance or control. No additional funding beyond the Summer Founders grant is offered. Funding depends on satisfactory progress.
Recent Activity
The Horn homepage, captured October 8, 2026, says eleven teams had been selected for the 2026 cohort. The program page still describes Demo Day as August 13, 2026.
Known Startups or Winners
The homepage names Darian Elmendorf and Polaris Pathways. Alumni stories name Relay Manufacturing, founded by Rich Hayburn (class of 2020), and Brame, built by Annabelle Brame (class of 2024). The eleven 2026 teams are not named in the captured text.
Research gaps & things to verify
Verification Gaps
The stipend dollar amount and the names of the 2026 teams.
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
Official Summer Founders page and the Horn homepage cohort note.
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Summer Founders at University of Delaware.
2 sources
