Brownsville, TX – The Rio Grande Valley is once again set to shine as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, as the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville hosts the Texas Venture Fest, a statewide event that brings together the entrepreneurial spirit of Texas. Organized by the Texas Venture Alliance, this second edition of the Texas Venture Fest will take place on October 3rd, 2024, from 5-8 p.m., showcasing the Rio Grande Valley’s growing startup ecosystem alongside 11 other Texas cities.
The Texas Venture Fest (formerly known as the Texas Venture Crawl) began as a statewide event in 2023 in 15 venues across 10 Texas cities. Now in 2024, the event will take place in more than 18 venues statewide in 12 cities, including Brownsville, making it a signature event for entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders looking to connect, collaborate, and elevate Texas startups.
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, and the RGV Chapter of Alamo Angels are joining forces to represent the Rio Grande Valley at this year’s Texas Venture Fest, amplifying the region’s role in Texas's startup ecosystem. The event will showcase innovation and provide a lively environment with great food, drinks, and ample networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders. The popular "Frontera Founders" panel will also return, featuring entrepreneurs from across the RGV as they share their experiences, challenges, and insights into building successful businesses in the region.
Texas Venture Fest Organizer & Texas Venture Newsletter Editor, CS Freeland, emphasized the unique nature of this event: “The folks hosting Texas Venture Fest in their city are co-creating a very unique type of phenomenon that only our state has. Not only are these Texas leaders gathering the innovation community in their region, they also provide a new and special experience connecting their city or regions into the statewide network. It’s a broad spectrum of professionals, industries, investment stages, experience, firms, and of course new geographic backgrounds—all working toward the same goal to level up their ecosystem of startup support. I hope each city checks out and connects with the other cities as well! It’s a proud, Texas-sized moment for our state!”
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation’s Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Nathan Burkhart, shared his excitement about the city’s participation in this unique event. “We're thrilled to host Texas Venture Fest on the border by the sea in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, showcasing the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that defines our region. With key partners like UTRGV’s Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville is the perfect venue to bring together innovators, investors, and visionaries alike. We can't wait to welcome our local startups and meet new founders as we celebrate with live music, food and drink, and so much more!"
Attendees at Texas Venture Fest will also have the opportunity to participate in the newly introduced Texan’s Choice Awards, a People’s Choice-style initiative where they can vote for their favorite investor, startup, and community leader. This community-driven aspect ensures that every region, including Brownsville, has a voice in celebrating the innovation and leadership shaping the future of Texas.
For more information on how to participate in the Texas Venture Fest, RSVP through the following link: https://lu.ma/texas-venture-fest-rio-grande-valley-2024
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@bcic.us.
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