Startup Texas Pitch Fest in Brownsville set for next week

The Startup Texas Pitch Fest is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 6, at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in Brownsville, giving local entrepreneurs yet another opportunity to strut their stuff.

The event, put on by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation in partnership with the University of Texas Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, will showcase local business creativity and innovation as entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas live to a panel of judges.

The event likewise will feature networking with investors, business leaders, and community members; local food and music; and a community choice award based on attendees’ vote for the best pitch of the evening.

Nathan Burkhart, BCIC vice president of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said the Feb. 6 Pitch Fest is a departure from previous pitch competitions, in that now everyone who completes the newly redesigned Startup Texas Accelerator program is eligible for “advancement funding to pursue patents, develop prototypes and scale their businesses right here in Brownsville.”

“Unlike previous programs, where funding was distributed as cash prizes, we’ve invested more resources into the accelerator itself, thanks to funding from the U.S. (Economic Development Administration), to ensure graduates have the tools and opportunities to thrive,” he said. “The eBridge Center is where ideas turn into action, and Pitch Fest highlights the tangible progress we’re making to foster innovation and build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Brownsville.”

EDA awarded BCIC a $1.2 million grant in November 2023 to expand Startup Texas over three years. The graduates presenting at the Feb. 6 event are the first cohort to complete the new and improved program, according to BCIC.

Admission to the Startup Texas Pitch Fest is free, though registration is required. To register, go to sutpitchfest25.eventbrite.com.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the upcoming Emerging Industries accelerator cohort has been extended to Saturday, according to BCIC. For more information go to startuptexas.com or follow @startuptexas on social media (@startuptexasofficial on Facebook).

“This is your opportunity to join a 15-week, in-person program at the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville, designed to help startups and small businesses in tech, health care, green energy, aerospace and other innovative industries grow and scale,” BCIC said.

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