Rio Grande Guardian news story spurs panel discussion at RGV Startup Week

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A news story in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service about whether certain regional organizations should be collapsed for the greater good has spurred a panel discussion at next week’s eagerly anticipated RGV Startup Week.

Adam Gonzalez, CEO of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, and Daniel Silva, president of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, will explain why their respective organizations are relevant and how they are leading the charge for regional unity. 

With the event being billed as a “fireside chat,” Gonzalez and Silva will appear on a panel titled Insights Unplugged-RGV Edition at RGV Startup Week. Their discussion will take place at the eBridge on Tuesday, May 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

RGV Startup Week is being hosted by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.

“We invited Adam and Daniel to come in and talk about the work of their organizations after reading that news story in the Rio Grande Guardian,” said Nathan Burkhart, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at BCIC

The possibility of various regional entities in the Valley being collapsed was discussed at a Zoom meeting hosted Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. Rolando Pablos, former leader of the Borderplex Alliance, spoke at about various economic development groups in El Paso being collapsed in order for Borderplex to flourish and serve El Paso, Texas, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. During the same Zoom meeting, COSTEP’s Gonzalez said there was no need for the Valley to adopt the Borderplex model. 

Click here to read the story.

About RGV Startup Week

---

RGV Startup Week kicks off this Friday at the eBridge Center with the bulk of events taking place May 6 thru May 10.

Nathan Burkhart, Nathan Burkhart, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Brownsville Community Improvements Corporation.

“RGV Startup Week is the Rio Grande Valley’s annual entrepreneurial celebration, offering a whole week of educational workshops, networking opportunities, and hands-on resources. It’s a dynamic showcase of the Valley’s unique culture and entrepreneurial spirit, providing a platform for aspiring and established business owners to learn, connect, and grow,” BCIC’s Burkhart said.

“The event unites the entrepreneurial spirits of the region, showcasing local talent and fostering a sense of regional unity and pride. Taking place this year at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, in the heart of Historic Downtown Brownsville.”

Here are some of the top events slated to take place during the weeklong festivities:

2024 RGV SW Kickoff: Puro 956 Startup Week!

Opening event with Keynote David Fonseca, CEO of Jockey Ventures and former CEO of Velocity.TX in San Antonio

Monday, May 6; 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Insights Unplugged – RGV Edition

A Fireside Chat with Daniel Silva (RGV Partnership) and Adam Gonzalez (COSTEP)

Tuesday, May 7; 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Special Announcement: Alamo Angels – eBridge Center Partnership

The First Expansion Chapter of the Alamo Angels Investment Group to the RGV

Tuesday, May 7; 2:00 PM  – 3:00 PM

Startup Texas Quality of Life Ventures Competition

Tuesday, May 7; 5:00 PM  – 8:00 PM

This is Texas: Strategies I’ve Learned Building Community In Texas

Featuring: Jasmin Brand | Moderator | Her Texas

Connie Leon | Houston Latina Collaborative

Natalie Garza | Con Ganas Mija

TK Tunchez | Frida Friday ATX

Thursday, May 9; 3:00 PM  – 4:00 PM

BCIC’s Burkhart said his group is honored to have both sponsors and speakers from San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Pharr, McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Harlingen, South Padre, and everywhere in between descending on Brownsville for RGV Startup Week.

“This inaugural festival empowers aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners with educational events, interactive experiences, and actionable resources. Free and accessible to all, RGV Startup Week aims to unify and showcase the entrepreneurial talent of the region, promoting a sense of regional unity and pride,” Burkhart said.

“The event’s lineup includes an open pitch competition, bilingual business workshops and leans heavily on the eBridge Center’s for Business & Commercialization startup-focused programs and resources.”

Burkhart said the best part of all is that the event is free and open to the general public, with breakfast and lunch provided to all attendees.

“With its prime location adjacent to higher education institutions and the U.S.-Mexico border and set against the backdrop of Downtown Brownsville’s revitalization, the eBridge Center emerges as a beacon of opportunity and potential for entrepreneurs at every level,” Burkhart said. “This inaugural event is a milestone for our region, inviting participation across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. It’s an opportunity to witness and be part of an unprecedented wave of innovation and collaboration.”

Burkhart said events such as RGV Startup Week was exactly what BCIC envisioned when developing the eBridge Center.

“We have over 60-plus sessions and activities, and up to 80-plus hours of valuable content that aims to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, cultivating regional exchange and showcasing the entrepreneurship for which the Rio Grande Valley should be widely known for. By drawing together entrepreneurs, visionaries, and community supporters across the RGV, together we set the stage for shared prosperity and collaborative success,” Burkhart added.

The post Rio Grande Guardian news story spurs panel discussion at RGV Startup Week appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.