Jan. 7—The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation announced that StartUp Texas has begun accepting applications for the Spring 2025 cohort of its Emerging Industries Accelerator Program.
Brownsville-based StartUp Texas was established in 2019 to provide entrepreneurs in various industries with capital, mentorship and other resources to help them scale up their businesses. It is a partnership among BCIC, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC), and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment station.
The Emerging Industries program is an in-person, 12-15 week course aimed at helping grow early-stage start-up companies in technology, manufacturing, health care, materials science, aerospace, green energy and other emerging industries, according to BCIC.
“The program offers hands-on support through expert mentorship, resources and tailored guidance,” said the economic development organization.
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 18 and the accelerator program will run from Jan. 28 to May 1.
BCIC said it has partnered with UTRGV ECC to implement the university’s AdvanceUp Accelerator Curriculum, an immersive program designed to give start-ups the tools and connections necessary to grow faster and “integrate into the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Rio Grande Valley.”
The Emerging Industries Accelerator Program is open to for-profit companies and eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization incubator members based in the Valley that have a developed business model and a “minimum viable product.” Participants must commit to dedicating no less than four to six hours per week to program requirements and actively work to building relationships within start-up community in the Brownsville and the Valley.
Start-up companies are encouraged to apply for a shot at media exposure, potential clients and access to investors, while selected business teams will receive personalized pitch coaching and feedback from industry specialists.
Qualified “founders” will be notified by Jan. 20 whether they’ve been accepted to the program. Participants will meet weekly at the eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St., Brownsville, for “specialized workshops, mentorship sessions, pitch practices and more,” according to BCIC.
The program ends with Demo Day, to be held during RGV Startup Week in which each start-up company will pitch their company to the community and a panel of judges.
BCIC is a “Type B” economic development corporation supported by a quarter-cent city sales and use tax, mandated by the city of Brownsville to commit at least 50% of its funding to projects enhancing quality of life.
The organization’s main focus areas include community development, such as through its BIG Grants program supporting downtown redevelopment, plus BCIC’s quality-of-life grants. Another focus area involves finance programs that provide local small businesses with financial resources to get off the ground and/or expand.
Finally, BCIC’s innovation and entrepreneurship focus “supports the entrepreneurial journey” via incubation and acceleration resources plus long-term assistance.
Startup Texas, which falls into the third category, is a “highly competitive, intensive 15-week program designed to help companies effectively scale, properly evaluate market research (and) fine tune financial projections, all while creating valuable connections with local business leaders and fellow founders in the community,” according to the organization.
To apply for the StartUp Texas Emerging Industries Accelerator Program, go to www.bit.ly/SUT2025. The web address is case-sensitive.
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