As we approach the 10th Anniversary Reinventing Delaware Dinner on November 21, this year marks a pivotal moment for the program. Scott Malfitano, Vice President of Corporation Service Company (CSC) and founder of the Reinventing Delaware initiative, recently announced his decision to step down from the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation (PDFF) board after 20 years of dedicated service. While Malfitano’s transition reflects a new chapter, Reinventing Delaware remains as strong and impactful as ever, continuing its mission to foster innovative ideas that shape Delaware’s future.

Originally envisioned as a tribute to Delaware’s former Governor Pete du Pont—who catalyzed economic transformation in the state—Reinventing Delaware brings together a diverse group of leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members with a shared mission: to generate ideas that create jobs, drive economic growth, and improve quality of life in Delaware.


“You’ve got all walks of life here, and that’s one of the exciting things,” Malfitano explains. “A real microcosm of Delawareans trying to make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”


Inspired by his early work with Governor du Pont, Malfitano wanted to keep Delaware moving forward. His vision was to create an event where each invitee brings an idea to make Delaware a better place in exchange for a seat at the table. That idea is their ticket to an evening filled with collaboration, energy, and the chance to compete for mentorship and potential funding.

For Malfitano, the event is not only about honoring Governor du Pont’s legacy but also about ensuring Delaware continues to be a place that fosters innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. It attracts everyone, from CEOs of billion-dollar corporations to individuals striving to make a difference. For anyone attending, it’s a chance to connect and create an impact. Whether an idea wins or not, participants leave with a business plan, networking opportunities, and often a newfound drive to bring their ideas to life.

How Ideas Become Reality: The Reinventing Delaware Process

The Reinventing Delaware Dinner is where the program kicks off annually, with a robust, multi-stage, and detailed evaluation process. 

Each year, around 100 participants are invited to the Reinventing Delaware dinner, where they must come prepared with their best ideas. A panel reviews and vets these ideas and selects a top set of concepts, which are then shared with the audience.

At the event, participants gather in tables of ten, and each table votes on the most compelling idea. Table representatives present these ideas, with just three minutes each to win over the room. Attendees then examine the ideas and vote to select their choices as the top ideas. After the event, a committee reviews all 100 ideas presented until the top ideas are chosen to move to the next stages.

Ideas that make it to the development process stage receive coaching, mentorship, and assistance with formulating a plan for actualizing them, as well as other valuable resources.

Finally, the top idea(s) are celebrated at the Pete du Pont Freedom Foundation Award event, where the winning concept is announced, earning its originator a shot at the resources and mentorship needed to turn their idea into reality. And, as Malfitano explains, because Delawareans never run out of great ideas, the following year’s process kicks off almost immediately.

Success Stories from Reinventing Delaware: Diverse Paths to Entrepreneurial Achievement

Some of the most successful concepts birthed from Reinventing Delaware have gone on to make a lasting impact on the state. Initiatives like Zip Code Wilmington, a software coding school, and Intern Delaware, a talent-building program, continue to thrive and serve as shining examples of how the event transforms ideas into sustainable programs. Other notable ideas, like Pay for Success—an outcomes-based funding model—showcase the event’s commitment to inventive solutions that address community needs without creating dependence on government resources.

One of Malfitano’s own contributions, Move2Delaware, exemplifies the breadth of ideas sparked by Reinventing Delaware. Taking inspiration from successful relocation programs in cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma, the concept incentivizes entrepreneurs and skilled professionals to relocate to Dover, ultimately aiming to boost homeownership and community engagement. While the program didn’t secure the top title, it underscored the diversity and depth of ideas that Reinventing Delaware inspires.

Celebrating A New Winner in 2024: Toivoa, Championed by Laura Randa

At the 2024 Pete du Pont Freedom Award event in October PDFF recognized three Reinventing Delaware finalists who competed for Top Idea of the Year and announced this year’s winner: Toivoa, Championed by Laura Randa.

Toivoa breaks down barriers to mental health care for the over seventy million individuals in America with disabilities. With a mission to expand access to digital therapy services and provide inclusive mental health solutions to this underserved community, Toivoa’s platform is innovative in its approach to mental health and accessibility.

In addition to Toivoa, we honored two other finalists who competed for the Top Idea of the Year:

  • Kerriann Otaño, VP of Engagement at OperaDelaware, envisions an artist hub to make Delaware a thriving center for opera, boosting cultural and economic growth.
  • William Repetto, CEO of Repetto Writing Solutions, aims to enhance federal grant funding for Delaware companies, driving business innovation and growth.

A Look Back at the 2023 Reinventing Delaware Winner

The 2023 Reinventing Delaware winner, Clean Hydrogen—incorporated as First State Hydrogen—emerged with a bold vision for Delaware’s clean energy future. Led by Andrew Cottone, President and CEO of chemistry CDMO Adesis, this project is pioneering Delaware’s first wind-sourced hydrogen electrolysis plant, positioning the state as a leader in sustainable energy solutions. With a focus on generating clean energy for the Delmarva region, First State Hydrogen aims to create thousands of jobs and drive substantial economic growth.

Since earning the competition’s top title and a $15,000 grand prize, Cottone’s initiative has made impressive strides. His team has expanded, early studies and system designs have been completed, land for future sites has been secured, and the project is quickly proving the potential of Delaware’s green energy sector.

Speaking on his progress so far, Cottone said, “I think it’s a paradigm shift. We’re bringing an entrepreneurial edge to show that not only can you do it here, but you could be extremely profitable and create a new job. It’s a Pete du Pont moment. We’re standing at the precipice like he was in 1981, when he and his administration launched the Financial Services Act, creating all those jobs and reinventing the industry. That’s what this can mean.”

Other Alumni from Reinventing Delaware:

Zip Code Wilmington: Championed by Ben du Pont and led by Desa Burton, Zip Code Wilmington’s program prepares its students to become highly qualified and trained technology talent, while connecting students with corporate partners throughout the program.

Pay for Success: Pay for Success is a way for the private sector to invest in community improvement and have the governmenthave government reimburse the investor with a return, only if the improvement comes to fruition.

The Warehouse: Reinventing Delaware was a launchpad for The Warehouse, a community space in Northeast Wilmington designed for teens by teens. Led by CEO Logan Herring, The Warehouse equips young people with skills, mentorship, and opportunities to make a positive difference in the world.

Spotlight DE: Championed by Allison Levine, Spotlight DE is a nonprofit newsroom that works with existing media to increase government oversight and access to information on how policy affects Delawareans, with a particular focus on underserved areas. 

Intern Delaware: Intern Delaware partners with companies to create meaningful summer internships that showcase Delaware as an ideal place to live and work. Founded by Scott Malfitano, the program is dedicated to retaining talent and building Delaware’s future workforce. Intern Delaware is now the flagship program of The Partnership, Inc., the workforce development affiliate of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. 

Zero Homelessness: Championed by Jeffrey Ronald and Judson Malone of the Springboard Collective Inc., Zero Homelessness aims to address homelessness by providing sustainable housing communities in Delaware.

Delaware Creative Economy: Championed by Angela Wagner, Esq., this idea envisions a creative economy in Delaware that would attract film production and other creative industries. Modeled after Georgia’s success, it aims to create stable jobs and retain local talent.

TRIC Robotics: Championed by Adam Stager, this venture applies robotics and UV-C light technology to control pests in agriculture, reducing reliance on harmful pesticides and supporting sustainable farming.

NERDs Ending the Technological Divide! (NEDRiT NOW): Championed by Markevis Gideon, this initiative uses retrofitted ambulances and unmanned kiosks to teach tech entrepreneurship, create jobs, and provide free computers to underserved communities in Delaware.

Wilmington Greenbox: Championed by Jason Aviles, this initiative aims to reduce crime and improve food access by training at-risk teens to operate pop-up markets that provide fresh produce and healthy goods to communities.

Wilminvest: Wilminvest buys and renovates houses, ultimately renting them to families in unstable housing situations while being connected to the social services they need for the duration of their stay.

Support PDFF and Reinventing Delaware Initiative

Although Malfitano has stepped down from the board, he envisions expanding the Reinventing Delaware model to other cities, such as Nashville and Philadelphia, where a similar spirit of entrepreneurship could thrive. He believes Reinventing Delaware could go beyond the state’s borders, creating a framework for idea generation and economic development that other communities could adapt. 

In the past two years, we’ve introduced our program to the HBCU community in partnership with Delaware State University’s Annual HBCU Philanthropy Symposium through the HBCU Innovative Solutions Initiative. This initiative leverages the Reinventing Delaware process to create a framework for idea generation, uniting HBCU thought leaders, stakeholders, and allies to develop transformative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing HBCUs nationwide.

At our annual Reinventing Delaware Dinner on November 21, we’ll start the process all over again, and we can’t wait to see what innovative ideas our guests bring to the table this year.

If you’d like to show your support for PDFF, we invite you to visit our donation page. Sponsorship opportunities for the 10th Anniversary Reinventing Delaware Dinner and the 2025 program are also available. For more information, contact Stephanie Johnnie at [email protected].

Your support helps invest strategic, practical resources to position businesses for success — ultimately creating jobs and improving our community.