BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation has announced the results of its StartUp Innovation Competition, awarding a total of $77,500 to six innovative startups.
StartUp Texas, established in 2019, is a dynamic accelerator program based in Brownsville that provides entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, and resources to scale their operations.
Organizers said this year’s event demonstrated that innovation and opportunity abound in Brownsville, with a community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of research and business development.
The event was held on September 12, 2024, at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville and marked the culmination of an intensive 10-week accelerator program aimed at fostering entrepreneurship in Brownsville.
The competition is a collaboration between BCIC, UT-Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
The competition showcased the following winners:
First Place: ($40,000): AccuCell Biotechnology . Ethan Atlan's venture develops in-vitro devices that biomimic human tissues, leveraging NASA technology to potentially revolutionize drug discovery and reduce animal testing.
Second Place: ($20,000): Heroica Technologies. Led by Stephanie Pazos, this company advances photonics research, focusing on improving photonic integrated circuits and optical communication systems.
Third Place: ($10,000): The Partnership Institute. Douglas Best's initiative creates engaging, high-quality distance equitable learning experiences and addresses bilingual and education needs.
Three startups received Honorable Mentions, each awarded $2,500:
Sensapath (Javier Becerril): Developing AI-powered assistive technology for the visually impaired.
MerLion Advisory Group (Arnie Tyler): Specializing in marine technology using unmanned systems for maritime safety and ecosystem monitoring.
Career Bridge (Eloy Garza): Connecting students, educators, and businesses to create real-world learning experiences.
Cori Peña, president & CEO of BCIC, said the idea is to equip entrepreneurs with commercialization potential with comprehensive preparation to apply for federal research and research and development grants.
"The success of these startups highlights the innovative talent within our city," Peña said. "Over the last 3 years, programs like StartUp Texas have demonstrated how vital they are for fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic growth in Brownsville.”
Linda Ufland, director of entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization at UTRGV ECC, said the event celebrated advancements in research and development technologies.
“The passion and creativity shown by these entrepreneurs exemplify the growing strength of Brownsville’s startup community,” Ufland said. “We are building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, and today’s competition proves that we are headed in the right direction.”
Nathan Burkhart, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at BCIC said the success of this year's competition builds on the program's growing momentum. He pointed out it was recognized nationally with the Gold Rank Award in the Entrepreneurship category at the 2021 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference.
"We are immensely proud of the entrepreneurs who participated in this program," Burkhart said. “Their dedication and innovative ideas exemplify the unique, loud, and unstoppable spirit that thrives in our community.”
Competition winner Atlan, of AccuCell Biotechnology, said: “After spending months working toward this goal, everything came together perfectly at the end. This win means so much to me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my friends, family, and the opportunity provided by UTRGV, Startup Texas, BCIC and Anáhuac Mayab University.”
Competition runner-up Pazos, president of Heroixa Technologies, said: “Startup Texas allowed us to see possibilities with our technology that we hadn’t previously considered. It pushed us to think beyond the technical aspects of the business.”
Since its launch, the StartUp Innovation Competition has awarded over $577,500 to 29 businesses across all cohorts, promoting entrepreneurship and boosting economic growth in Brownsville.
