Burkhart name-drops Richard Branson in promotion of RGV-based Supply Pay

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Nathan Burkhart, vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation at Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, name-dropped English business magnate Richard Branson in order to promote a new fintech company based in Weslaco.

Appearing on KURV 710 News Talk, Burkhart said Supply Pay was “with Richard Branson back in March seeking funding and pitching to billionaires.”

This is correct. William Steele, the co-founder of Supply Pay, told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service that he was invited to Branson’s private island in the Caribbean to connect with potential investors. While there, Steele, played and won a game of chess against Branson!

Supply Pay was named startup of the year at the recent Texas Venture Gala and Forum in Austin. The venture was hosted by Texas Venture Alliance.

Burkhart got to brag about Supply Pay when he appeared on KURV’s Valley Morning News show. The show’s host, Sergio Sanchez asked Burkhart to tell listeners about the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization.

The eBridge Center is the largest startup incubator and entrepreneurial resource center in the Rio Grande Valley,” Burkhart said. “A lot of people think you’ve got to be a tech company, or a startup, to get some assistance. But any sort of company that you can think of, food entrepreneurship, medical, healthcare, we want to help you create the best version of your own business.”

Burkhart said almost all the programs at eBridge are provided at no charge.

“The incubation there is provided by UTRGV. The programs are sponsored by BCIC and sometimes with partners like Texas A&M. And our resources are open to everybody in the entire Rio Grande Valley.”

Burkhart then touted Supply Pay.

“One of the best success stories we have is Supply Pay. They’re an incubator member here out of the eBridge Center, but their home base is in Weslaco. A partner of theirs is in McAllen. One of their developers is here in Brownsville. So they are truly a Valley-wide company,” Burkhart said.

“They were just with Richard Branson, back in March, seeking funding and pitching to billionaires. That’s kind of the pathway that an individual can take by getting that assistance here at the eBridge Center.”

Sanchez asked for the name of the company. “Supply Pay,” Burkhart responded. “What do they do?” Sanchez asked.

“They’re a FinTech company. They do invoice factoring for farmers in Latin America. They’ve been really, really successful,” Burkhart replied. 

“I think they’re only about a year and a half old, and they’re already scaled to such great lengths that they have about 12 or 15 people hired. It’s a really great success story, but it shows what’s capable of happening here in the Rio Grande Valley because of our startup incubator at eBridge.”

Sanchez was impressed.

“My goodness, so many great stories developing. Hook me up, man. I’d love to interview them,” he told Burkhart.

Steele gave his very first interview about Supply Pay to the Guardian through a video podcast earlier this month. The Guardian also featured Steele’s remarks when he appeared on a panel at the recent 2025 South Texas Summit in San Antonio.

In the Guardian podcast, Steele recalls his meeting with Branson, and gives an in-depth explanation of Supply Pay’s business model. Here is the podcast:

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