BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) announced the winner of the 2022 StartUp Texas Pitch Summit following the closing of its first in-person event on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
Jaime Diez, CEO of Valley Tire Recycling took home the grand prize of $25,000 in funding for their venture. They beat out eight other very highly qualified competitors.
“It was our third pitch summit but our very first summit held in-person,” said Nathan Burkhart, Small Business Development Director for BCIC. “It was great to showcase our local entrepreneurs, as well as our international and out-of-state companies utilizing our soft landing, incubation, and resources that make up our programming at the eBridge Center.”
The event included a well-respected judging panel composed of last year’s StartUp Texas winner, Keeisi Caballero, Physicist, Entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of Permittivity; David Ortiz, Executive Director for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC); Rolando Gonzalez, Owner of Team Logic IT Rio Grande Valley; and Griselda Munoz, Sr. Human Resources Manager from Creative Liquid Holdings.
“BCIC’s mission is to enhance quality of life through innovative & equitable economic development initiatives. One of those initiatives is to promote an open and inclusive ecosystem for all entrepreneurs, big or small” said Cori Pena, BCIC President/CEO. “This pitch summit is for those starting new business ventures or expanding their business. We could not have done this summit without the collaboration of our UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center partners. This was truly a team effort and it showed last Thursday night.”
STARTUP TEXAS PITCH SUMMIT 2022 WINNER:
Valley Tire Recycling – Brownsville, TX
Converting end-of-life tires into reusable raw materials for various industries and manufacturers, while creating sustainable products through collection, remediation, and recycling services.
STARTUP TEXAS PITCH SUMMIT 2022 FINALISTS:
Aetherworks, LLC – Brownsville, TX
Utilizing direct air carbon capture technology to reduce the total C02 emissions on earth, as well as directly serve mid-size and large indoor farms.
Eido Innova – Chihuahua, MX
Utilizing patented technology, developers of a glucose measurement device for diabetic patients.
Embedded – Brownsville, TX
Creators of fitted bedsheets using wireless RFID technology to create a comfortable, non- invasive solution for elderly patient monitoring.
iAG Technologies – Brownsville, TX
Developers of efficient systems that allow for high crop yields and quality output for sustainable micro farming.
iBed by APYCO – Mexico City, MX
Creators of innovative platform technology and new therapeutic systems for elderly patients.
SilverWarp – New Jersey, USA
Disrupters in the Moto-E Racing world, creating an all-electric race-ready motorcycle that pushes the limits of generative design, additive manufacturing, and rider performance.
TXQ Rubs – Brownsville, TX
Creators of superior seasonings and rubs specialized for individual proteins, representing the flavors and traditions of every unique region in Texas.
WITBA – Mexico City, MX
Developers of high quality, sustainable, zero CO2 emission, steam cleaning technology solutions for oil wells at 10x the rate of existing industry leaders.
For more information regarding this press release or any other resources related to entrepreneurship in the RGV, please contact Michelle Lopez, BCIC Director of Development and Communications, at (956) 243-4084 or by email at mlopez@bcic.us.
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