Chapa: 2025 is going to be a transformational year for the RGV Angel Network

WESLACO, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Angel Network says it wants to give back to the community and the way it can do so is by having its members become mentors to tomorrow’s entrepreneurs.

In its own words, RGVAN “facilitates the introduction of entrepreneurs to potential investors through presentations and other mechanisms.” The group consists of individual angel investors interested in “financing privately held companies or ventures typically in an early stage of development.”

RGVAN meets five or six times a year at the offices of UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Innovation & Commercialization in Weslaco. At its most recent meeting the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed the group’s chairman, Oscar Chapa. 

“We are a group of investors that gather together, and we hear the pitches of various different companies, startups, entrepreneurs both here in the U.S. and local startup companies and local entrepreneurs,” Chapa said, explaining the work of RGVAN.

Asking about the importance of RGVAN members “giving back,” Chapa said:

“The way we look at this is, there’s a lot of companies in the Valley. They have a great product. People love their product. But they struggle. They struggle with scaling activity. That’s where we believe that we can come in and help with our expertise, whether it’s in a mentorship or financial act activity, to help these companies scale their production, scale their activity.”

Chapa said RGVAN has found that budding entrepreneurs coming out of university in particular need help.

“They have these ideas. They know how to design that idea on paper, but to then take it to the next level…to take that first step… that’s where we can help. We’ve actually helped a couple of organizations, a couple of entrepreneurs, take that step so that they can get to that next level… the first introduction of their prototypes, then into manufacturing, and then scaling up.”

Asked if RGVAN wants to do even more in this regard, Chapa said: “Absolutely. I think that one of the things that excites us as a group, being able to see a company or an individual with a great idea, helping them with seed activity, money, to start that idea, and then to actually see them flourish and to contribute to the Valley.”

Asked why RGVAN is important to the region, Chapa said:

“Clearly, straight off, it’s giving back to the community. That’s one of the main drivers that we are pushing from the board (of directors), specifically this year. We’ve been in existence for ten years. We are celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and hardly anybody knows that we even exist here in the Valley.

“We’ve gotten to the point now where, I’m seeing 2025 as a transformation year, so that we can actually bring in more investors, bring on more businesses, so we can give back to not only the various companies that come in to pitch what they have to offer, but also to give back to this community and help make the RGV a thriving community from a business aspect.”

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of the Guardian’s in-depth conversation with Rio Grande Valley Angel Network Chairman Oscar Chapa:

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