Hen Hatch Startup Funding Competition 2023
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Hen Hatch is the University of Delaware's premier startup funding competition. It provides students with the opportunity to make connections and collect feedback on their ideas while competing for startup funding awards and in-kind business services totaling over $50,000.

All University of Delaware undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time are eligible to apply. Students must be in good standing and enrolled at least half-time to be eligible. Only team members with a UD affiliation will be allowed to present during the semifinal and final rounds of the competition; other team members may participate in Q & A.

When filling out your application, we will ask whether you are pre- or post-revenue. Revenue, for the purpose of this competition, is defined as consideration provided by a customer for value created by the startup as well as an equity investment. Revenue does NOT include grants, donations, prizes, awards, stipends, or sweat equity.

Deadlines

September 20 Applications close  

Application qualifications:

The general application period begins August 15 at 12:00 AM. Complete Submissions by September 20, 2023, at 11:59 PM

Semifinalists are announced September 29th

Three Rounds to Determine Award Winners

  1. Preliminary round: Participants submit a 3-5 page business concept for evaluation by seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. 
  2. Semifinal round: Participants who are judged to have submitted one of the most promising business concepts iwill present a 7-minute pitch and answer questions from entrepreneurs and investors. Semi-Final rounds will take place on October 20th
  3. Final round: Participants who are judged to have submitted one of the 5 most promising business concepts in each track present a 7-minute pitch and answer questions from entrepreneurs and investors in front of a live audience on November 16, 2023, other semi-finalists will be invited to present their concepts from a table in the innovation showcase.

For any questions/comments/concerns, please email: hornhenhatch@udel.edu

Guidelines for Business Concept Submissions and Presentations

The best preliminary round business concept submissions will tell a compelling story that provides:

  1. A profile of the typical customer
  2. A concise statement of the customer's problem(s) or unmet need(s)
  3. A description of the product or service developed or will be developed to solve the customer's problem(s)
  4. An answer to the question of "why will customers choose your solution over alternate solutions or competitors (i.e., what is your unique value proposition)?"
  5.  An understanding of the business's basic economics (product selling price, unit cost, and your basic revenue model)
  6. An overview of your team's relevant experiences, skills and resources
  7. Any evidence you've collected to validate your claims about the problem, customer, solution, unique value proposition, and revenue model

For the semifinal and final rounds, you will also need to enhance your story by addressing the level of market traction you’ve gained to date, the size of the market, how you will get your product to market (channels), what costs will be incurred in so doing, one-year and three to five-year financial projections, how much money you’re seeking from investors, and how you plan to spend any investor funds being sought.

Rules and Disclaimers

  1. Preliminary round submissions are strictly limited to a cover page plus five additional pages, including any tables, figures, or appendix. If a submission exceeds the page limit, only its first five pages will be evaluated. Submissions must maintain one-inch margins and use a 12-point, uncondensed font.
  2. Semifinal and final presentations will be strictly limited to 7 minutes. These presentations will also include a Q&A session with judges of up to 5 minutes. Additional details regarding the presentations will be provided to semifinalists.
  3. All University of Delaware undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at least half time are eligible to apply. Students must be in good standing and enrolled at least half time to be eligible. Only team members with a UD affiliation will be allowed to present during the semifinal and final rounds of the competition; other team members may participate in Q&A.
  4. Only business concepts that have not been presented during the finals of previous Hen Hatch competitions will be considered.
  5. The Director of the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship shall be the arbiter of all rules and rule clarifications. The Director reserves the right to disqualify any participants who violate these rules or the spirit of the competition.
  6. Disclaimers:
    • External judges provide valuable input into the finalist selection and award process; however, the Horn Program maintains full discretion over the selection process and all funding and in-kind service awards associated with the competition, including award amounts, terms and conditions.
    • Hen Hatch includes open session presentations and external review of business concept submissions. Participation is voluntary, and as such, participants are responsible for determining whether to disclose proprietary or sensitive information in their submissions and presentations. The University of Delaware assumes no liability for accidental or voluntary disclosures of proprietary information or intellectual property

For any questions/comments/concerns, please email: hornhenhatch@udel.edu