Southwest Startup Showdown
A dynamic startup pitch event showcasing the best emerging startups and products in the Southwest region.
Sponsors
Agenda at a Glance
9:00 AM - High School Pitches
Sponsored by Trellis Foundation
Explore the imaginative creations of local high school students, who honed their skills using Unicorn Academy and Startosphere AI tools to shine in the competition.
9:45 AM - Collegiate Cup Pitches
Sponsored by Microsoft
Get ready to witness fierce battles of innovation at the 2nd Annual Collegiate Cup as top universities like Colorado State, NMSU, and UTEP vie for victory.
11:00 AM - Open AI Hackathon & VentureTeams
Sponsored by The City of El Paso Economic Development, Microsoft and El Paso Electric Foundation
Discover the exciting outcomes of STTE's nurturing of new startups from OpenAI Industry Hackathons, our AI Accelerator and our Ventures Program over the past year. Watch as these innovations prepare to take the world by storm.
12:00 PM - Would You Rather Lunch
Sponsored by El Paso Labs
Ever wondered what makes a venture capitalist tick? Join us for an interactive lunch, where you’ll play an exciting game of "Would You Rather" with some of the top VCs in attendance! This isn’t just a game—it’s a unique opportunity to get inside the minds of investors and discover what they prioritize when evaluating startups. Get ready to ask bold questions, spark insightful conversations, and walk away with insider tips—all while having a blast.
1:20 PM - Startup Showdown: Frontier Innovation Takes the Stage
Presented by STTE Foundation
Prepare to be amazed! We're thrilled to showcase some of the Southwest's most pioneering early-stage startups, ready to share their visions and disrupt the status quo. Get ready for a front-row seat to the future of innovation.
3:00 - 5:00 PM - Awards & Mixer
Get ready to celebrate, connect and inspire with a fantastic wrap-up with Founders, Funders and Friends. No Opportunity Wasted!
Powering Startup Growth
At the Southwest Startup Showdown, we're thrilled to connect startups with a lineup of top investment firms and support organizations. This critical access to capital component will fuel the growth of our region's most promising entrepreneurs. If you are an investor and want to attend, please email us at [email protected]
2nd Annual Microsoft Southwest Collegiate Cup
9:45 AM
- Cleen (UTEP): An app that scans product barcodes to provide consumers with clear, detailed information about potentially harmful ingredients, helping them make safer choices.
- Cracked Gaming (Colorado State University): A free-to-play gaming platform offering high-stakes tournaments and real cash rewards through interactive ads, enhancing both gamer engagement and advertiser reach.
- Curiosity Spark (UTEP): An immersive, gamified learning platform designed to make education engaging and accessible, particularly for underserved communities.
- Errun (NMSU): An app that matches users with side hustles based on their preferences and experience, simplifying the process of finding and starting side jobs.
- Frontierless Cash (UTEP): A blockchain-based remittance service that offers low-cost, near-instant money transfers for Mexican migrants in the US, with multiple cash-out options and AI-driven security.
- Project Maldonado (NMSU): A company developing customizable 3D-printed orthopedic medical devices tailored to individual patient needs, aiming to improve fit, recovery time, and reduce medical costs.
- Space-CRYO (UTEP): A project focused on manufacturing durable metal components in space using controlled freezing of alloys, aiming to revolutionize space-based manufacturing and reduce dependency on Earth for supplies.
Open AI Hackathon & Venture Pitches
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
- BorderFlow: BorderFlow optimizes cross-border logistics with IoT and AI, focusing on fleet management, emission tracking, and predictive analytics for the El Paso-Juarez region.
- Charge Assist: Charge Assist develops EV infrastructure and technician training programs to support the growing demand for electric vehicle charging stations.
- IMDR: IMDR offers a secure, AI-powered personal health record management system that facilitates seamless data sharing and integration with health information exchanges.
- Chuco Relic: Chuco Relic celebrates Fronterizo culture through unique apparel and products crafted by local artists, supporting the creative talent of the El Paso-Juarez region.
- Trisum Saunas: Trisum Saunas provides custom-designed mobile saunas and ice baths, promoting physical and mental health through heat and cold shock therapy.
Early Stage Startups
1:20 PM
- Aurum transforms waste into valuable resources, focusing on biochar and sustainable solutions that address waste management, water conservation, and contaminant removal.
- Biomedical Music Solutions (BMS) uses music to enhance physical therapy, improving mobility and balance through personalized, predictive interventions.
- REM is a wearable technology company revolutionizing health monitoring and home automation with sleek, intuitive devices that track wellness, optimize energy, and seamlessly control smart home systems.
- Hamperapp provides on-demand laundry and dry cleaning services through a mobile app, catering to residential, commercial, and government clients with seamless scheduling and tracking.
- Jale App bridges the gap in the construction industry by connecting skilled workers with companies, creating meaningful employment opportunities and strengthening the local workforce.
- JobFlow combines AI with hiring insights to improve job search outcomes, offering resume enhancements and skill-gap analysis to optimize applications and boost job-seeking success.
- SupplyPay automates financial tools for exporters and importers, integrating directly with tax databases to streamline business growth and enhance trade relationships.
- VB SCHOOLS Test Prep offers affordable, culturally competent test preparation for underserved students, enhancing access to high-quality resources and support for the ACT and SAT.
Southwest Startup Showdown: A Call to Reverse the Borderplex Startup Drought
At STTE Foundation, we are deeply rooted in the Borderplex region—El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, and Las Cruces—a dynamic, bilingual community rich with potential. With a population that’s predominantly Latino, this region holds immense promise for innovation and economic growth. However, we’re facing two critical challenges: the well-known Brain Drain, and a less-discussed but equally pressing issue, the Startup Drought.
While the Brain Drain pulls talented professionals away in search of better-paying opportunities in larger tech markets, the Startup Drought is forcing our local entrepreneurs and innovators to relocate to ecosystems with more robust mentorship, capital, and investor networks. This stifles the growth of homegrown startups and undermines the development of a strong entrepreneurial economy in the Borderplex.
AI Your Idea
STTE Foundation is thrilled to introduce the latest evolution of Startosphere™. This platform is uniquely designed to transform ideas into reality through our advanced AI-powered business model canvas. Try it out for free.
Sponsors: Powering the Future of Tech
Microsoft
Driving innovation and empowering startups.
El Paso City
Connecting startups with cutting-edge technology.
Sun Cruces Angels
Providing financial support and expertise.
STTE Foundation
Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
Contact Us: Get Involved
Startup Showdown Location
Starlight Event Center
6650 Continental Dr
El Paso, TX 79925
STTE's 2023 Dia de los Muertos Recap Video
STTE's 2022 El Paso Pitch Recap Video
AI Gallery
