Youth Entrepreneurship Summit offers new features for 2018

The Horn Program’s three-day Youth Entrepreneurship Summit returns to University of Delaware in April, bringing together students, educators and supporters from over 45 countries and 26 states — and this year, there are some new features, including opportunities for Delaware high school students to attend for free.

This year’s theme is “A World Made By You” and will feature the Made by You Market, a new event offering items created by young entrepreneurs.

“This is our first year with a market so we’re starting small and seeing how well it’s received,” said Julie Frieswyk, manager of youth programs for Horn. “Some of the featured makers include a young woman from the Republic of Georgia’s handmade goods, a young artist from Germany who hand-paints silk scarves for wall or wearable art, a Diamond Challenge team from Texas with a specialized cutting board system and a young entrepreneur launching his first book. We’ll also have two UD-alumni companies, one who makes jewelry and another who creates day planners.”

In addition to being a place to buy and sell goods, the market will provide a forum for ideas and discussion driven by young entrepreneurial leaders.

“This is truly going to be like a mobile ‘Shark Tank’ of new ideas and products,”  Frieswyk said.

Also featured will be five keynote speakers including Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer and The League app founder Amanda Bradford, workshops by internationally recognized leaders, pop-up innovation challenges, entrepreneur mentoring sessions, panel discussions and, of course, final rounds of the nationally recognized Diamond Challenge, which is entering its sixth season. It’s the renowned youth pitch competition that draws teens to the summit from all over the world.

“The Diamond Challenge engages students from diverse backgrounds and geographies so they can begin to deepen and expand their professional networks at an early age,” said Frieswyk. “Teams in attendance will span the USA and the world, with most other attendees from local and regional high schools.”

To encourage those local attendees, the Horn Program is offering every high school in Delaware five free passes. Educators from schools that have not yet requested passes should contact Frieswyk at julief@udel.edu.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, co-sponsored by Capital One and Paul and Linda McConnell, will take place on April 11–13 at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall. Tickets are $49 for Friday only, $89 for a three-day pass and $139 for a three-day pass plus entry to the gala and awards ceremony on April 12.