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BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Entrepreneurs in Brownsville no longer have to worry about access to capital being a barrier.

That is according to the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), which runs the StartUp Texas Accelerator and Seed Fund.\\xa0

This program has been investing in Brownsville community small businesses since 2020.

This is how the most recent program worked. Local entrepreneurs in the food and service-related industries joined the StartUp Texas Quality of Life cohort in May. The participants completed a ten-week rigorous accelerator program overseen by UT-Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center. At the end of the course they showcased their business during a Demo Day event, with the chance to win up to $40,000 to assist in scaling their venture.

Last week\\u2019s Demo Day was held, for the first time, at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization. It drew a big crowd.

How did it go? Brilliantly, according to Cori Pe\\xf1a, president and CEO of BCIC. She posted this review on Facebook:

\\u201cThanks, y\\u2019all, for supporting startups on the border, by the sea, and beyond!

\\u201cFirst and foremost, a massive shout-out to everyone who honored us with their presence at the StartUp Texas Quality of Life Ventures 2023 Demo Day. The energy in a full house is unbeatable, and the entrepreneurs on stage felt the buzz of your excitement and support!\\xa0

\\u201cOur hearts are full of gratitude, and it wouldn\\u2019t have been such a fantastic night without our incredible sponsors, Ruby Red Hospitality and The Mitte Foundation.

\\u201cBig applause for our winners:\\xa0 TXQ RUBS - $40,000 in seed funding. F10 Casting - $20,000 in seed funding. La Pale Frozen Fruit Bar -\\xa0 $10,000 in seed funding.

\\u201cYou've proven that hard work, passion, and innovation are the foundations for success."

Here is an audio recording from the recent Demo Day. It features, in order of appearance, Brownsville entrepreneur Steve Perez, BCIC board member Traci Wickett, BCIC\\u2019s Pe\\xf1a, BCIC director of business development Nathan Burkhart, BCIC director of marketing and communications Nelson I. Amaro, and UTRGV\\u2019s director of entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization, Linda Ufland Romo.

Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.