This year’s RGV Startup Week is taking place across the Rio Grande Valley

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The year’s RGV Startup Week is fanning out across the Rio Grande Valley.

Last year, the program focused solely on Brownsville. This year it will also take in Harlingen, Weslaco, Pharr, and McAllen. Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages will be the title sponsors.

Touted as the region’s premier entrepreneurship event, the 2025 RGV Startup Week will run from April 25 to May 2.

Throughout the week, attendees can participate in pitch competitions, networking mixers, student showcases, workshops, and roundtable discussions, all designed to foster innovation, connectivity, and cross-sector collaboration across the Rio Grande Valley. Most events are free to attend, though registration is required at www.rgvstartup.com.

Organizers of the event held a press conference on Thursday to explain how the program is expanding. And while the venues have grown, the purpose remains the same.

“This conference is really where innovation needs opportunity in the heart of the RGV,” said Nathan Burkhart, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation for Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC). 

“It’s about celebrating our region’s creative energy, spotlighting missionary founders and showcasing exactly what we are all doing as one region, fueling the next wave of economic growth here in the United States.”

Here is a video recording of the press conference:

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A panel of VIPs explained different aspects of the program. The panel consisted of Orlando Campos, CEO of Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, Cori Peña, CEO  and president of BCIC, Linda Ufland Romo, director of entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization at UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, and Ron Garza, associate vice president for workforce and economic development at UTRGV.

Campos said: “This is the first time we are part of this event, but it certainly won’t be the last time. This is a big event. It’s momentous in helping to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Entrepreneurs are not created; they are born. They have an innate fire within them, so events such as this help to cultivate that fire and create stronger businesses within our region.”

Peña said: “This year, RGV Startup Week is expanding our footprint, our programming, and our impact across six cities. We’re proud that Brownsville continues to be the driving force in making this happen. On Monday, we begin with a very special inaugural event at the TSC Performing Arts Center: a fireside chat with Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, someone who represents the kind of binational leadership that defines our region.”

Ufland Romo said: “Last year, we were able to host here in Brownsville, and this year we’re also hosting in McAllen with our 2 Million Cups event in collaboration with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. We’re also launching our E-Commerce Express series with the McAllen Chamber. We’re very excited that those applications will open next Monday.”

Perez said: “We are excited to join this powerful regional effort that brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders from across the valley. Pharr is proud to be the hub for transport, trade, and cross-border commerce, with one of the most important ports of entry in the U.S. We see firsthand the global connections that drive opportunities. That is why our programming on Thursday, May 1st, will focus on helping businesses understand how to tap into international markets, navigate trade, and build cross-border partnerships.”

Garza said: “RGV Startup Week really started with Brownsville and BCIC being the catalyst of what I see as the next generation of entrepreneurial support in the Rio Grande Valle. For many years, communities all across the region supported our entrepreneurial spirit and small business development support, but what eBridge has done has become a front door for entrepreneurial support. It takes a lot of work.”

Rodrigo Gómez, director of sales and operations of the south area for Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwestern Beverages, was not part of the panel but he did speak from the podium. He said:

“At Arca Continental, we’re incredibly proud to be the title sponsors of this event because we believe in the power of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community. As a company with deep roots in the region, we recognize that thriving local businesses create thriving communities. That’s why we’re committed to supporting the bold entrepreneurs and visionaries shaping the future of the RGV.Innovation and community have always been at the heart of everything we do, just like these incredible startups are reimagining industries and pushing boundaries. At ACCSB, we are constantly evolving, finding new ways to serve our customers, protect our environment, and invest in the future.”

Here are full details of the program:

Weekend of April 25–27 | Harlingen

The series kicks off with a three-day Startup Bootcamp, powered by VelocityTX and Methodist Healthcare Ministries, held at the TSTC Welcome Center in Harlingen. This intensive training brings together early-stage entrepreneurs for hands-on learning in business fundamentals and startup acceleration, making it the perfect launchpad for a week focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. Limited spots are available. Register through this link.

Monday, April 28 | Brownsville 

Following the bootcamp, the spotlight shifts to Brownsville for a fireside chat featuring Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico. The conversation will be moderated by Berenice Garcia, regional reporter for The Texas Tribune, and will explore the broader forces shaping entrepreneurship along the U.S.–Mexico border.

The event takes place at 10 a.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center. A light breakfast will be provided. While RGV Startup Week registration is free, this premier session requires an additional ticket that can be purchased through: https://chatwithfox.eventbrite.com.

Later that evening, the eBridge Center will host a pair of Signature Sessions, including talks by Jean Claude Tissot, President of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, and Irving A. Perez, Senior Apparel Designer at Adidas.

The day will close with The Failure Institute Vol. 4, presented by UTRGV ECC, at Pluton Brewery. This unfiltered and impactful session invites experienced business owners to share candid stories of setbacks and resilience, offering valuable insights to current and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Tuesday, April 29 | Brownsville 

Brownsville continues to host Tuesday’s programming with two premiere events at the eBridge Center. The day begins with Insights Unplugged, a special edition of the eBridge Talks panel series, focused on Social Media & Influencers, exploring the intersection of digital presence, branding, and business growth.

That evening, the “2 Minutes for $2,000” Open Pitch Competition, sponsored by Supply Pay, will make its debut. It is important to note that Supply Pay is a graduate of the eBridge program. Supply Pay has raised over $20 million in capital and is now giving back by supporting early-stage founders through this high-energy pitch competition.

Wednesday, April 30 | McAllen & Weslaco

The energy shifts to McAllen and Weslaco on Wednesday. The day begins with a “2 Million Cups” event, a regional twist on the classic 1 Million Cups format, co-hosted by McAllen and Brownsville in partnership with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.

Following this, a highly requested E-Commerce Express workshop will provide actionable strategies for scaling online businesses. The evening wraps in Weslaco with a Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase at the UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization, celebrating the next generation of business leaders.

Thursday, May 1 | Pharr + Mission 

Thursday focuses on international trade, logistics, and cross-border commerce. The Pharr Global Business Hub and the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED) will host sessions tailored to global entrepreneurs, including discussions on trade strategies and logistics operations.

The day also marks the inauguration of the USPTO Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) in Mission, with lunch sponsored by Harmony Insurance. The PTRC will offer vital resources for innovators seeking to protect their intellectual property and expand their global reach.

Friday, May 2 | Brownsville

RGV Startup Week returns to Brownsville to close out the week with a full day of flagship events at the eBridge Center.

HER Texas returns with a powerful series of sessions and tools aimed at supporting women-owned businesses in the RGV, building on the overwhelming success of last year’s programming.

To echo the importance of IP in business development, Harmony Insurance is also proudly sponsoring the lunch and official inauguration of Brownsville’s own USPTO Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC). The launch will be followed by expert-led sessions from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Finally, the week concludes with the Frontera Leadership Institute Demo Day, where young innovators and changemakers will showcase the skills gained through leadership and product management training—and pitch the business ideas they’ve developed throughout the program.

More sessions and things to know

In addition to the flagship events, dozens of panels, sessions, and pop-up experiences will be happening throughout the week across all six cities. The full agenda is still being finalized, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP now at www.rgvstartup.com to receive updates and reserve their spot for featured sessions.

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