Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), in collaboration with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (UTRGV ECC), announced that RGV Startup Week 2026 will take place April 24 through May 1, 2026, with events hosted in Brownsville and partner cities across the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2025, RGV Startup Week delivered 123 hours of activities and reached 403,172 unique accounts on social media. RGV Startup Week content generated 3.56 million views, and attendees streamed 40,000 minutes of video throughout the week.
“This being our third RGV Startup Week, the momentum is undeniable,” said Cori Peña, CEO and President of BCIC. “Last year alone, we welcomed more than 1,800 registrants and reached hundreds of thousands of people online. That level of engagement tells us founders and small businesses across the Valley are looking for connection, visibility, and practical support. Our goal for 2026 is to build on that reach and deliver even more value through strong partners and sponsors who believe in this ecosystem.”
Speaker applications for RGV Startup Week 2026 are now open. Proposed sessions may include talks, workshops, panels, and interactive learning formats that support entrepreneurs at every stage. The last day to apply to speak is Jan. 20, 2026. Apply here: https://bit.ly/speakrgvsw26
“Those numbers are only possible because of the speakers and people behind the programming,” said Linda Ufland, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Commercialization at UTRGV ECC. “With more than 160 speakers and 95 sessions in our last edition, RGV Startup Week has grown into a truly diverse learning experience. Opening the call for speakers in our region is how we ensure the content stays relevant, honest, and useful for entrepreneurs at every stage.”
RGV Startup Week offers sponsorship opportunities across multiple levels, as well as single-session and in-kind sponsorship options. Sponsors support regional entrepreneurship programming while placing their brand in front of a fast-growing audience throughout the week. Volunteer opportunities and additional participation pathways will be announced soon.
Information source: BCIC
