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TBrownsville Community Improvement Corporation announced that StartUp Texas is now accepting applications for spring 2025 students in the Emerging Industries Accelerator program.
Brownsville-based StartUp Texas was founded in 2019 with the goal of providing capital, mentorship and other resources to entrepreneurs in a variety of industries to help them grow their businesses. This is a partnership between BCIC, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
According to BCIC, the Emerging Industries Program is a 12- to 15-week program aimed at supporting the growth of early-stage startups in technology, manufacturing, healthcare, materials science, aerospace, green energy, and other emerging industries. This is a face-to-face course.
“This program provides practical support through expert mentoring, resources, and customized guidance,” the economic development agency said.
Applications will be accepted until January 18th, and the accelerator program will run from January 28th to May 1st.
BCIC said it partnered with UTRGV ECC to implement the university’s AdvanceUp Accelerator Curriculum. It is an immersive program designed to give startups the tools and connections they need to grow faster and “integrate into the Rio Grande Valley’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
The Emerging Industries Accelerator Program is open to Valley-based commercial companies and eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization incubator members with developed business models and “minimum viable products.” Participants must commit to spending at least 4-6 hours per week on program requirements and be active in building relationships within the Brownsville and Valley startup community.
Start-ups are encouraged to apply for media exposure, access to potential customers and investors, and selected business teams will receive personalized pitch coaching and feedback from industry experts. .
Eligible “founders” will be notified by January 20th whether they can join the program. Participants will meet weekly at the eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St. in Brownsville, for “professional workshops, mentorship sessions, pitch practice, and more,” according to BCIC.
The program concludes with a Demo Day during RGV Startup Week. At Demo Day, each startup pitches their company to the community and a panel of judges.
BCIC is a “Type B” economic development corporation supported by a quarter-cent city sales and use tax and requires at least 50% of its funding from the City of Brownsville to go toward projects that improve quality of life. is required.
The organization’s main areas of focus include community development through the BIG Grants program, which supports downtown redevelopment, and BCIC quality of life grants. Another area of focus includes financial programs that provide local small businesses with capital to get off the ground or expand.
Finally, BCIC’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship “supports the entrepreneurial journey” through incubation and acceleration resources and long-term support.
Startup Texas, which falls into the third category, is a “competitive, intensive program designed to help companies scale effectively, better assess market research, and fine-tune financial forecasts. “It’s a 15-week program. You’ll be a fellow founder in the community while also building valuable connections with local business leaders and businesses,” the organization says.
To apply for the StartUp Texas Emerging Industries Accelerator program, visit www.bit.ly/SUT2025. Web addresses are case sensitive.
