UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center recognized

Honor highlights eBridge Center’s initiatives and programs

By Victoria Brito Morales

The UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) earned the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Award of Excellence in the Engaged University category, recognizing its eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in partnership with the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC).

The prestigious award acknowledges the ECC’s eBridge network, dedicated to economic development, innovation and community collaboration through various programs and initiatives.

“The UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center plays a vital role in Brownsville and the lower Rio Grande Valley by empowering local entrepreneurs and fostering innovation and collaboration through the eBridge network,” said Veronica Gonzales, senior vice president of Governmental and Community Relations. “The team’s dedication to community progress makes it deserving of the UEDA Award.”

The ECC, which operates under the UTRGV Office of Workforce and Economic Development in the Division of Governmental and Community Relations, calls the eBridge Center home since its opening in March 2023.

“We are deeply honored to receive the national Award of Excellence from the University Economic Development Association,” said Linda Ufland, ECC director. “This recognition highlights the transformative impact of our eBridge partnership and the dedication of UTRGV, our partners, mentors, students and staff. Together, we are driving innovation and economic development in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Cori Peña, president and CEO of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), said that this award is a testament to the strength of collaboration and the shared commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem between UTRGV and the BCIC.

“We are grateful to work in partnership with UTRGV,” Peña said. “This partnership and the resulting projects have received recognition from multiple international organizations, emphasizing the impact of our joint efforts. Through the eBridge Center, we are creating opportunities that uplift our entire community, and we are proud to celebrate yet another accolade alongside our partners.”

Key programs offered through the ECC eBridge collaboration include:

• Business Incubation program
• Open Space program
• SoftLanding Global Pad
• Kauffman FastTrac
• 1 Million Cups
• The Failure Institute
• AdvanceUp Accelerator curriculum
• RGV Startup Week
• Startup Bootcamp

The Kauffman FastTrac program equips entrepreneurs with essential skills, insights, tools and resources to start and grow their businesses. The UTRGV branch alone has helped launch more than 100 businesses and create more than 250 jobs from its 400-plus graduates. Since February 2023, the 1 Million Cups program has attracted 1,624 attendees, while the Failure Institute has seen 143 participants, and the AdvanceUp Accelerator program has graduated 52 individuals as part of the Startup Texas Accelerator program in partnership with BCIC.

Located in downtown Brownsville, the eBridge Center was established in association with UTRGV, BCIC, the City of Brownsville, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Economic Development Council and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support the economic development of South Texas with a focus on scalable businesses.

An ”entrepreneurial bridge” for startups and legacy businesses to grow and commercialize their services or products on a larger scale, the eBridge Center assists in diverse business-related areas, from business incubation to acceleration and entrepreneurship development.

The UEDA award highlights institutions that excel in initiatives connecting three key pillars – Talent, Innovation and Place – encompassing a comprehensive approach to economic development, promoting collaboration with surrounding communities and addressing regional challenges.

• Talent: Focuses on the broad spectrum of knowledge transfer activities through which universities educate and develop human capital. This includes lifelong learning, degree and non-degree programs, experiential education, discovery-based learning and curriculum alignment with industry needs.
• Innovation: Goes beyond basic research to encompass knowledge transfer and application in ways that benefit society. This category covers basic research, applied and translational research and development, industry-contracted research, cooperative extension services and technology transfer.
• Place: Involves the diverse ways institutions contribute to creating competitive, attractive communities where people want to live, work and engage in civic life. It addresses community health, education, environment, housing, safety and entertainment needs and includes the role of campuses and research parks in community development.

For more information about the UTRGV ECC eBridge partnership and its programs, visit www.utrgv.edu/ecc/.