Lerner Opens Doors Of New Venture Development Center
Last week, the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business celebrated the opening of a brand new building for the program’s Venture Development Center (VDC). The VDC was previously located at 196 S. College Ave on the University of Delaware’s Newark Campus. The new VDC is at 132 E. Delaware Ave.
The Venture Development Center was developed to serve as a business hatchery and learning space for entrepreneurial students. The center also aims to develop market-based solutions to social problems, and to drive innovation for established companies. The expanded VDC will be the new home of UD entrepreneurs, but its organizers also hope to create connections between students, faculty, alumni, and the broader entrepreneurial community. The center will be open from 9 AM and 5PM for student entrepreneurs working on projects, and students who have operating businesses or well-developed business concepts can access the center at any time of the day or night.
The president of the University of Delaware’s Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club), Ben Rapkin, expressed excitement about the new center. Rapkin said: “I look forward to meeting business partners and clients in the co-working spaces, hearing from experienced entrepreneurs at the Free Lunch Friday events and exploring new ideas on the inspiration wall.”
The expansion and relocation of the VDC was made possible by Charles W. Horn and his wife, Patricia, as part of the Horn Initiative. Charles Horn is a 1975 alumnus of the University of Delaware.
“The Horn family is honored and delighted to see the realization of the new Venture Development Center as the focal point of the Horn Program in Entrepreneurship,” said Horn. “Our vision to see UD lead a resurgence in entrepreneurship for the next generation of business leaders is off to a great start as the curriculum offerings have greatly expanded and engagement with the community has exceeded our expectations.”
