About this programme
Summer Founders is an 11-week pre-accelerator run by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware. It's built for UD students with early-stage startups, combining startup acceleration with full-time summer work: participants treat the program like a full-time job and get mentorship, advice, and resources to develop their venture.
The program runs on the philosophy that ideas are best treated as liabilities rather than assets, since initial concepts rarely survive execution and market learning unchanged. It's meant to push founders through real customer development, not just planning.
Funding is a monthly stipend rather than a lump-sum grant, and continuation of that stipend depends on satisfactory engagement through the program. Horn Entrepreneurship states plainly that funding sources take no ownership, equity, governance, or control over the resulting venture.
How it works
The 2026 program runs June 1 to August 13, with a break from June 29 to July 3. Kickoff (June 1-2) and Demo Day (August 13) require mandatory in-person attendance regardless of track.
There are two tracks. The in-person track has participants working full-time from the Horn Entrepreneurship Venture Development Center in Newark, Delaware, and pays a higher stipend. The hybrid track only requires in-person attendance for kickoff and Demo Day, and participants otherwise work from a location of their choice, at a lower stipend.
The program is structured like a job: weekday hours (Monday-Friday, 9-5), required sessions, weekly mentoring meetings, progress updates and deliverables, and formal approval needed for time off during active weeks.
Participants keep ownership of any IP they bring into the program. IP developed during the program through customer development and testing is shared equally among team members, unless the team sets up an alternative agreement beforehand. Teams working with University-owned IP must consult the Technology Transfer Office. There are no non-disclosure agreements among students, faculty, mentors, or advisors; the program runs openly.
Participants can optionally enroll in ENTR450/650 (Business Accelerator for New Ventures) for course credit, which carries regular summer tuition.
Who can apply
Open to all University of Delaware students, undergraduate and graduate, enrolled at least half-time and in good standing. Seniors and graduate students who are leaving after the summer may still apply.
Teams of one or more are permitted.
International students on F-1/J-1 visas must consult the Center for Global Programs and Services before accepting a spot, since work authorization rules apply.
How to apply
- Apply online through the 'Working on an idea? We can help' application portal.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort reaches capacity or April 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m., whichever comes first.
- Review the downloadable FAQ & Fact Sheet on the program website for more detail before applying.
Documents you’ll typically need
- FAQ & Fact Sheet (for reference before applying)
Frequently asked
How much is the stipend?
The official page does not state a dollar figure. It confirms stipends are paid monthly, that the in-person track pays more than the hybrid track, and that continuation depends on satisfactory engagement in the program.
What if my living costs exceed the stipend?
No additional funding is available beyond the stipend if your costs run higher; the team collectively decides how to allocate the grant funds it receives.
Do I have to work from Delaware?
Only if you choose the in-person track. The hybrid track lets you work from a location of your choice, except for mandatory in-person attendance at kickoff and Demo Day.
Who owns the IP I develop during the program?
You keep ownership of IP you bring in. IP developed during the program through customer development and testing is shared equally among team members unless you set up a different agreement beforehand.
Can international students participate?
Yes, but F-1/J-1 students must consult the Center for Global Programs and Services before accepting a spot, since it affects their work authorization.
Is the stipend guaranteed for the full 11 weeks?
No. Continued funding depends on satisfactory progress and demonstrated learning throughout the program, not just initial acceptance.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.