Texas Border Business
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) spotlighted the Rio Grande Valley’s next wave of entrepreneurs during the InnovationTX Demo Day Pitch Competition. The event took place Friday, June 26, 2026 at the McAllen Creative Incubator and was followed that evening by a candid panel discussion, “How 2 Break a Business,” at the Old Church.
“It’s the first time that we’re doing Demo Day,” Jorge Sanchez, McAllen Chamber of Commerce senior vice president of small business and innovation said prior to the event. “It’s the culmination of an eight-week program that teaches entrepreneurs how to identify their customer base, how to connect to it, and how to sell to it. We have had seven different cohorts this year.”
Check out the gallery below for more photos of InnovationTX. All images courtesy of McAllen Chamber of Commerce
More than 20 InnovationTX graduates showcased their products and services throughout the day, with eight presenting in a head-to-head pitch competition — delivered in English and Spanish, for a combined prize pool of up to $15,000. Concepts ranged from technology that streamlines international trade to a medical therapy device, and even a bakery designed exclusively for pets.
The day also included the UTRGV Business Resource Showcase, connecting attendees with organizations such as the Small Business Administration, SCORE, the Small Business Development Center and other partners offering mentorship and tools for business development.
Elizabeth Suarez, President and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and MEDC, said the day truly reflected the program’s purpose, “Every successful business begins with an idea, but behind every idea is a person willing to take a risk. Programs like Innovation Texas and Demo Days exist to make sure those entrepreneurs don’t have to take that journey alone.”
Suarez also credits the City of McAllen’s investment and partnership with the McAllen Chamber, supporting the mission to walk alongside entrepreneurs providing insight, education, and resources that help turn great ideas into thriving businesses. Demo Day celebrates that journey and the next generation of Valley businesses that will create jobs, strengthen families, and shape the future of our region.
Prior to announcing the pitch competition winners, Mayor Javier Villalobos offered words of encouragement to all the participants, “You may win, you may not win, but in life… I’ve realized that as long as you’re in the game you have a chance.”
First place winner, Oshun Cruz, CrossFlip LLC, received $8,000; 2nd place, Carlos Ramirez, Manifiq, Co. received $5,000; and, 3rd place recipient, Marcia Trujillo, FurBaby Bakery, received $2,000.
Suarez shared the broader impact of programs like InnovationTX and Demo Days, “We’ve seen what happens when our community invests in people. Lamar Jones transformed an idea into Jank BBQ Sauce, now sold across Texas. Reyna Landa built a small family venture into Karla’s Boutique, creating opportunities that have impacted generations. Those stories remind us that entrepreneurship isn’t just economic development, it’s community development.”
McAllen City Manager Isaac J. Tawil, addressing program supporters, noted the program’s measurable return on the city’s investment. Of the 83 entrepreneurs who completed Innova5onTX, 25 were launch-ready and five had already formed new businesses in McAllen. The program delivered more than
$174,000 in business education and professional consulting, much of it donated by local business leaders, for an estimated total economic impact of nearly $680,000.
“When you combine that investment with the business activity generated by these new companies, the estimated economic impact is nearly $680,000. That is a strong return on a relatively modest public investment,” Tawil said. “For the City of McAllen, this is a straightforward decision. When a program produces measurable results, creates new businesses, and strengthens the local economy, it is exactly the kind of investment we should be making.”
InnovationTX Demo Day was sponsored by: City of McAllen; Tori Pollo Palenque; Zoho; Palenque Grill; Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP; Taco Palenque; Lorena Cas5llo, CPA; WILD 104; and Davila & Associates, Inc.
Evening Session: “How to Break a Business”
Demo Day continued into the evening with “How to Break a Business,” a candid, aver-hours conversation moderated by Mayor Villalobos followed by an open-mic Q&A. The session featured local entrepreneurs Joshua Howard of Brand Geniuz and Salvador Torres of Satori who shared business failures, missed opportuni5es, and the lessons that shape stronger entrepreneurs.
“Demo Day shows you what it looks like when an idea works,” Sanchez said. “‘How to Break a Business’ shows you what it looks like when it doesn’t — and that’s just as valuable. The entrepreneurs who learn from someone else’s missteps are the ones who avoid repeating them.”
Missed It This Year?
Organizers say this year’s Demo Day was just the beginning. The McAllen Chamber and MEDC are already planning an expanded version of the event for 2027, with room for more entrepreneurs, more sessions, and a bigger audience. Those who missed this year’s showcase are encouraged to stay tuned to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s social media platforms for updates on next year’s event and other entrepreneurship opportunities throughout the year.
