The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) announces that StartUp Texas is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 cohort of its Emerging Industries Accelerator Program, a competitive 12-15 week program happening in person in Brownsville, Texas, designed to help early-stage startups in tech, manufacturing, healthcare, materials science, aerospace, green energy, and other emerging industries scale and grow. The program offers hands-on support through expert mentorship, resources, and tailored guidance. Applications are open from January 18, 2025, with the program running from January 28 to May 1, 2025.
BCIC has partnered with the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) to implement their AdvanceUp Accelerator Curriculum on StartUp Texas. This immersive program equips startups with the necessary tools and connections to accelerate their growth and integrate into the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Rio Grande Valley.
The program is open to for-profit companies and eBridge Center Incubator Members in the Rio Grande Valley with a developed business model and a minimum viable product (MVP). Founders must commit to dedicating at least 4-6 hours per week to program requirements and actively engage in building relationships within the Brownsville and RGV startup community.
Spring 2025 Cohort - Important Dates:
Application Deadline: January 18, 2025
Qualified Startups Notified: January 20, 2025
Program Length: January 28 - May 1, 2025
Demo Day: Thursday, May 1, 2025, at RGV Startup Week*
*Subject to Change
The StartUp Texas team and key eBridge Center stakeholders will review applications and select no more than 10 promising companies for the cohort. Interviews may be conducted to assess program fit. Throughout the program, selected founders will participate in specialized workshops, mentorship sessions, pitch practices, and more at the eBridge Center. Interested startups can apply online and save their progress to resume later. For more information and application details, visit https://www.startuptexas.com/emerging-industries
About StartUp Texas
StartUp Texas, established in 2019, is a dynamic accelerator program based in Brownsville that provides entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and resources to scale their operations. A collaborative initiative by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the program supports founders across various industries through specialized workshops and networking opportunities. The 12-week program ends with a Demo Day, presenting startups to a broad audience, including potential investors, to foster regional growth and innovation. StartUp Texas believes that everyone can be the founder of something great and is committed to developing an open and inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Rio Grande Valley.
About the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is a Type B economic development corporation. It is dedicated to driving sustainable economic development, enhancing quality of life, fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting strategic projects, and cultivating partnerships that support Brownsville’s thriving and vibrant community. BCIC operates under three core pillars. The first is Community Development, achieved through initiatives like the BIG Grants, which support the revitalization and preservation of Historical Downtown Brownsville, and the Quality of Life Grants, designed to enhance the community’s well-being. These grants fund projects that create welcoming and inclusive spaces, improve amenities, and promote activities that benefit both residents and visitors. The second pillar is Finance Programs, which support local small businesses by providing financial resources to help them start or expand. This, in turn, creates jobs with livable wages, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region. The third pillar is Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where BCIC supports the entrepreneurial journey with incubation, acceleration, and continuous assistance.
For more information visit www.brownsvillecic.com. For media inquiries, please contact Nelson Amaro, Director of Marketing & Communications, at namaro@brownsvillecic.com
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