These 10 startups are participating in 2021’s Summer Founders program

This summer marks the sixth Horn Entrepreneurship Summer Founders program at the University of Delaware. Each year, an eclectic cohort of entrepreneurs spend 12 weeks accelerating their early-stage startups, culminating in Summer Founders Demo Day when founders present their ideas. Like last year, 2021’s edition will be held via Zoom, on Aug. 19. Past Summer Founders startups include TheraV, The SEWcial Cafe, AndAgain and last year’s winner, Alchemize Fightwear.

Want to know more about these developing startups at UD? Here’s a list of the 2021 cohort members, with descriptions via Horn Entrepreneurship, to tide you over until the demo event.

• Cybersec Labs founded by Casey Rock, CE ‘22, Computer Science — Identifying fun and realistic education spaces to learn skills, defeat hackers and to keep current with fast-changing technology
• Stemmer founded by Sam Goetz, CE ‘21, Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering — Automated web applications that helps audio engineers organize tracks for mixing
• Spray Less LLC founded by John Mouser, BE ‘21 — Inexpensive solution to painting vehicles
• QuickDress founded by Curtis Aiken III, AS’ 22, Communications — Connecting clothing retailers/brands  to the consumer directly based on the consumer’s style and the retailer’s inventory
• First State Fund founded by Mohammad “Mo” Mahmood, AS ‘23, Entrepreneurship minor
  — Providing Delaware entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed in the state, and to work closely with local startups to reach their fundraising and scaling goals
• SYNO founded by Carlson Cheng, CE ‘23, Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Cognitive Science — Streetwear brand that incorporates Asian themes; users can customize clothes’ visual effects through a Snapchat-like camera
• Next Step Global Healthcare founded by Colton Keetley, BE ‘23, Entrepreneurship — Solving the problem of lower market healthcare providers being able to successfully exit their businesses by creating an investment consortium to consolidate the lower market of assisted living, then looking to leverage that success into larger deals and other growing healthcare verticals
• Safe Smile founded by Domenic Messimo, BE ‘22, Entrepreneurship — A social online platform made specifically for people with special needs to connect, engage, and grow in their communities, and to preserve privacy and security of its users in a safe online space
• Common Grounds founded by Lynn Roberts, CHS ‘23, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology minor — International students have a feeling of displacement due to cultural and communication differences. Common Grounds will act as an intermediate between international and local students by orchestrating fun cultural exchange opportunities
• Grow the Game Southeast founded by Josh Bayer, BE ‘23, Entrepreneurship — Expanding opportunities for lacrosse beyond wealthy suburbs, Grow the Game Southeast will engage youth-at-risk in playing community-based lacrosse with funding, coaching, facilities and meals