Happy Dog is proud to share that we won Hen Hatch, a premier startup competition hosted by Horn Entrepreneurship, a nationally recognized program ranked among the Top 25 entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. by The Princeton Review.
We were also honored to be the only finalist outside of the University of Delaware’s entrepreneurship major, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of our team and demonstrating how mission-driven ideas can thrive across fields of study.
Horn Entrepreneurship is known for supporting founders who combine innovation, purpose, and execution. Being part of that environment has played an important role in shaping Happy Dog as a nonprofit apparel brand built around creativity, community, and impact.
Our pitch team featured our president and founder, Brandon, product manager Kyle, and growth manager Emanuel. With backgrounds in finance, technology, and business strategy, we bring hands-on startup experience to everything we build.
“We create dog-inspired clothing designed to let supporters literally wear their heart on their sleeve,” explained Brandon. “Happy Dog was built with a youth-forward mindset, involving friends from other schools and younger collaborators who can help carry our mission forward.”
“This reflects a larger trend,” added Emanuel. “Younger generations increasingly want to support causes through brands that align with their values, especially in areas like animal welfare.”
“Beyond apparel, volunteerism is a core part of who we are,” Brandon said. “We saw an opportunity to bring meaningful service back into everyday life and build a community centered on action, not just awareness.”