Startup Texas is BCIC's accelerator and seed fund at the eBridge Center. Founders train for 12 to 15 weeks with UTRGV's AdvanceUp curriculum, then pitch at a public Demo Day.
70+
startups incubated
in FY 2024–2025
$430K+
in seed funds awarded
in FY 2024–2025
12–15
weeks of training per cohort
3
cohorts in 2027
Impact figures from the BCIC FY 2024–2025 Annual Report.
Dec
9
Wed
Next event
Wednesday, December 9, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St., Brownsville. Free with RSVP. Founders from across the Valley pitch for three awards: Best of Show, Runner-Up and Rising Star.
Startup Texas runs three cohorts in 2027. Each one lasts 12 to 15 weeks, about 2 hours once a week.
Applications open Nov 20
For founders located in, relocating to, or expanding to Brownsville: food, fashion, retail, social impact and nonprofits that create jobs.
Cohort: Jan 19 – Apr 20, 2027
Apply: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Demo Day: RGV Startup Week
Applications open Mar 1
For founders building in emerging sectors such as aerospace, automation, energy, health care and advanced manufacturing.
Cohort: May 3 – Jul 12, 2027
Apply: Mar 1 – Apr 9, 2027
Demo Day: August 2027
Applications open Jul 19
For companies strengthening regional supply chains, logistics and industrial operations.
Cohort: Sep 3 – Dec 7, 2027
Apply: Jul 19 – Aug 16, 2027
Demo Day: December 2027
The accelerator is competitive. Pick the track that fits your startup and apply while its application window is open.
Workshops, mentoring and pitch practice at the eBridge Center, about 2 hours once a week, using UTRGV's AdvanceUp curriculum.
Each cohort ends with a public Demo Day, where startups pitch to the community and a panel of judges.
Main Street Accelerator applications open November 20, 2026. Emerging Industries opens March 1, 2027, and Supply Chain opens July 19, 2027.
Every cohort ends on stage. Watch the pitches, meet the founders and see who won.
60+ companies have come through Startup Texas cohorts, pitch summits and competitions since 2020.
Open a panel for more.
Better access to capital
Startup Texas tackles limited access to capital. Startups get mentoring, workshops and pitch practice, so they leave with funding and the skills to grow.
BCIC and its partners
Startup Texas is an accelerator and seed fund from BCIC, run in partnership with the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.
From a pitch summit to an accelerator
Startup Texas began in 2019, after local entrepreneurs told BCIC they needed modest capital to grow their Brownsville businesses. It started as a pitch summit for early-stage companies located in Brownsville or willing to move there, and grew into an accelerator with cohorts every year. In 2023 it partnered with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station to support projects seeking SBIR/STTR research funding.
Brownsville companies that finish the program
Each track lists who it's for. Seed funding goes to companies that complete the program and are located in Brownsville or willing to move there.
From the FY 2024–2025 annual report
70+ startups incubated and $430K+ in seed funds awarded in FY 2024–2025. Source: BCIC FY 2024–2025 Annual Report.
Not sure which track fits? Talk to the Entrepreneurship & Innovation team.
Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Business Development & Entrepreneurship Officer
