Tag Archives: entrepreneurs

Mujer RGV Unifies, Empowers, Inspires

Mujer RGV celebrates its second anniversary on March 8. It has become a safe space to empower women to believe in themselves and achieve the unimaginable.

Women’s History Month encourages and celebrates the important roles women have had throughout American history. In the Rio Grande Valley, female artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, community leaders, educators and many others have been inspiring and helping to create a stronger, more unified region.   Sirheem Fuentes is one of those women who continues to pave the way for others like her. She realized a couple of years ago that she needed a…

Read More

Boots to Business Reboot Helps Veterans

Boots to Business Reboot is coming to Brownsville Feb. 13, helping veterans via training to pursue business ownership. The two-step training program provides participants with a direction to small business ownership using character, discipline and skills. The training provides an overview of business ownership as a career vocation, and an outline and knowledge on the components of a business plan. Boots to Business Reboot also incorporates a practical exercise in opportunity…

Read More

Getting Started: Resources for Entrepreneurs 

Libraries are an easily overlooked resource with workspaces, wifi and business resources.

Starting a business is one of the most rewarding, but perhaps difficult things you can do. Part of the reason is that there’s an infinite number of ways you can go about it. I always tell would-be entrepreneurs that opportunities are only limited by our imagination. This is great and inspirational, but is usually followed by puzzled looks and questions on how to get started. The answer depends on where…

Read More

Startup? Speak at 1 Million Cups McAllen

1 Million Cups McAllen is currently seeking local startups to present their companies to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs. The group meets the second Wednesday of every month, engaging entrepreneurs in the McAllen community. Each month, 1 Million Cups offers two local startups an opportunity to present. In turn, speakers expand business reach and receive feedback from McAllen city leaders. The program is a simple way to engage entrepreneurs in…

Read More

Turn an Idea Into a Business

Business consultant Michael Wilson meets with a group of aspiring entrepreneurs to discuss how to develop a solid business plan. (VBR)

No matter how good the idea or how big the dream, passion and detailed planning are critical components of starting a new business. That was the message from Michael Wilson, who recently presented one in a series of Small Business Administration workshops dedicated to guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through a process of turning an idea into a viable enterprise. Wilson is chief operating officer of CM Institute of Leadership, a company…

Read More

Squeezing a Profit from Lemons

Soul Sista’s was among the youthful businesses at last year’s Lemonade Day. (Courtesy)

Lemonade stands pop up every year around McAllen as the local chamber seeks to spark an entrepreneurial spirit in the city’s youth. Lemonade Day is held every May as stands set up shop in front of McAllen-area businesses. Lemonade Day is a national event and is held in 65 U.S. cities and 23 states. McAllen’s first Lemonade Day came in 2012, and since then the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has…

Read More

Creating High-Impact Entrepreneurs 

Last month, VBR published an article describing UTRGV’s efforts to create the next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs in the RGV. The piece ends by asking the question of whether or not competitors in this year’s Rafael Munguia UTRGV Business Plan Contest will “become the next great Texas startup.” This got us to thinking about the real impact of our business plan contest as well as other entrepreneurship program initiatives. We…

Read More