San Antonio Business Leaders Mentor Student Entrepreneurs in Startup Challenge
Teams pitch startups to mentors at kickoff event
SAN ANTONIO – Students competing in the 2021 Startup Challenge were introduced during an online kickoff event to the business leaders and industry experts who will serve as mentors throughout the competition.
The Startup Challenge, held each fall semester at the H-E-B School of Business and Administration, allows aspiring student entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop their business plan while competing for $8,000 in startup funding.
Each team is paired with a mentor from the San Antonio community to help guide their progress through the development of a startup. Ten mentors from a range of backgrounds will work with the teams in 2021. Expand the list below to see who will serve as mentors.
Joyce Deuley | Zpryme
Sebastian Garzon | Alamo Angels
Richard Hamilton Mantz | Professor
Robert Scarlett | Venn Foundation
Reynaldo Cano | Cano and Associates
Brad Bowen | Texas Medical Screening
Mario Pastrana | Transferr
James Cox | Professor
Karen L. Weis | IFMSN Professor
During the kickoff event, twelve teams were given 90 seconds to pitch their startup to the mentors. Competition administrators will pair mentors with teams based on their professional experience and areas of expertise.
Some of the startup ideas pitched were a personal branding service for athletes, a spice mix that can help to prevent diabetes, a hair clip that holds thick hair, a fashion line with traditional designs that support indigenous communities from Mexico, among others.
Teams will now work to develop their business plans with help from their mentors and through a series of workshops hosted by the Startup Challenge. The finalists of the challenge will be named at the beginning of November. The Final Presentations for the Startup Challenge will be held December 3 where the winner of the $8,000 will be announced.