The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation’s third annual StartUp Texas Pitch Summit is now open and accepting applications. The event will be the first ever in-person version since the program began in March of 2020.
The Startup Texas Pitch Summit is a live event where early-stage companies pitch their product/service to industry experts, venture capitalists, and high profile journalists. This spring, the winning pitch will not only receive $25,000 in startup financing, but they will also get mentorship and support from Brownsville’s eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization.
BCIC’s Director of Small Business Development Nathan Burkhart, encourages participation in this program. He says this competition provides an excellent opportunity to sharpen pitching skills.
“We want to showcase the best Brownsville and RGV Entrepreneurs we can, as well as let them gain experience for future pitches and meetings with investors,” says Burkhart. “This event is not only for locals. We’ve had companies from Boston, Monterrey and even Mexico City seeking to expand in our region, participate in our Pitch Summit.”
Highlighting Valley Entrepreneurial Spirit
The seed fund program is part of BCIC’s ongoing efforts to foster a sustainable entrepreneurial culture and ecosystem in Brownsville and the surrounding Rio Grande Valley.
BCIC’s President and CEO Josh Mejia says the organization encourages these types of competitions because it creates an economic empowerment that expands business options and results in positive consequences for the community.
“This is a terrific opportunity for entrepreneurs to present to industry experts and investors; it’s an opportunity to see how the business works and what enhancements can be made to their service or product in order to compete in their respective markets,” said Mejia. “We also get a chance to highlight the amazing ventures we have down here, committed to growing in Brownsville and the RGV.”
The program provides $25,000 in seed funding to enterprises that are attempting to commercialize a product or idea. The funds were established to encourage private investment in businesses with rapid growth prospects.
“We believe in the capacity of our community’s human capital,” says Mejia. “When city leaders and entrepreneurs work together, they can create communities with vibrant local economies where startups and small businesses flourish.”
Qualifying applicants will compete in-person and virtually for the third annual StartUp Texas Pitch Summit on June 1, for $25,000. The StartUp Texas application window will close on May 13.