The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), in partnership with the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, is now accepting applications for the Startup Texas Accelerator Fall 2025 cohort. The accelerator is designed to help early-stage startups refine their business models, access funding opportunities, and build the connections necessary for growth, right here in Brownsville.
The program focuses on entrepreneurs in high-impact sectors such as cybersecurity, digital health, e-commerce, automation, environmental technology, and other innovation-driven industries. Applicants should have a clear business model and a minimum viable product (MVP) completed or near completion. The accelerator requires a time commitment of 4 to 6 hours per week and is open to founders actively seeking early-stage investment.
Participants gain access to expert-led workshops, personalized mentorship, pitch practice sessions, and networking opportunities with business leaders and fellow entrepreneurs at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization. Founders who successfully complete the accelerator are eligible to apply for BCIC’s Advancement Fund, which provides up to $10,000 in reimbursements for qualified startup expenses.
Since its inception, the Startup Texas Accelerator for Businesses in Emerging Industries has supported notable local founders and startups, such as Oshun Cruz with RewearAI, driving innovation in sustainable fashion; Ethan Atlan with AccuCell Biotechnology, who was recently approved for a grant to grow his venture and pursue federal opportunities; and Rodrigo Burberg with carInspections.io, expanding tech-driven automotive services, among other great startups fueling Brownsville’s entrepreneurial growth.
The Fall 2025 program will run from September through December, concluding with a Pitch Fest where founders will showcase their businesses to a panel of judges, community members, and potential investors.
The application deadline is August 17, 2025.
To apply, visit: https://www.startuptexas.com/emerging-industries
For more information about the Startup Texas Accelerator or the Advancement Fund, visit startuptexas.com.
About the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is a Type B economic development corporation. It is dedicated to driving sustainable economic development, enhancing quality of life, fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting strategic projects, and cultivating partnerships that support Brownsville’s thriving and vibrant community. BCIC operates under four core pillars. The first is Community Development, achieved through initiatives like the BIG Grants, which support the revitalization and preservation of Historical Downtown Brownsville, and the Quality of Life Grants, designed to enhance the community’s well-being. These grants fund projects that create welcoming and inclusive spaces, improve amenities, and promote activities that benefit residents and visitors. The second pillar is Finance Programs, which support local small businesses by providing financial resources to help them start or expand. This, in turn, creates jobs with livable wages, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region. The third pillar is Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where BCIC supports the entrepreneurial journey with incubation, acceleration, and continuous assistance. Lastly, BCIC’s Marketing and Communications efforts drive public engagement by amplifying the impact of programs, fostering community pride, and promoting Brownsville as an attractive hub for living, working, and investing.
For more information, visit www.brownsvillecic.com. For media inquiries, please contact Nelson Amaro, Director of Marketing & Communications, at namaro@brownsvillecic.com
About Startup Texas
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. A collaborative initiative by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the program supports founders across various industries through specialized workshops and networking opportunities. The 12-week program ends with a Demo Day, presenting startups to a broad audience, including potential investors, to foster regional growth and innovation. Startup Texas believes that everyone can be the founder of something great and is committed to developing an open and inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Rio Grande Valley.