RGV STARTUP WEEK ANNOUNCES SUPPLY PAY AS TITLE SPONSOR AND UNVEILS 2026 PREMIERE EVENT LINEUP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RGV STARTUP WEEK ANNOUNCES SUPPLY PAY AS TITLE SPONSOR AND UNVEILS 2026 PREMIERE EVENT LINEUP
The RGV-born fintech company takes stage as title sponsor after rising through the BCIC and UTRGV ECC entrepreneurship pipeline; flagship events span keynotes, pitch competitions, panels, and emerging leader showcases across the week
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — April 7, 2026 — RGV Startup Week, the Rio Grande Valley's premier celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation, announced Supply Pay as the title sponsor of its 2026 edition. The announcement comes alongside the release of the event's premiere lineup, which features six flagship programs scheduled across the week of April 24 through May 2, with events hosted in Brownsville and partner cities throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Supply Pay, the Weslaco-based fintech company, was built through the entrepreneurship pipeline created by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC). Co-founder William Steele first joined the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in Brownsville as an incubator member and later participated in the Startup Texas Accelerator, a joint initiative of BCIC and UTRGV ECC. Through connections provided within that ecosystem, Steele met co-founder Jorge Ayala, and together they launched Supply Pay.
Since then, Supply Pay has grown into one of the fastest-moving startups in the Rio Grande Valley, building an AI-driven platform that streamlines cross-border trade finance for importers and exporters, with a focus on the U.S.-Mexico fresh produce corridor. The company has secured access to more than $100 million in lending capacity, won first place at the FreedomFest national pitch competition, earned the top startup award at the Texas Venture Gala and Forum, and in January 2026 became the first RGV-based startup to pitch at the Alamo Angels Rio Grande Valley chapter since the chapter's founding at the eBridge Center in 2024.
In 2025, Supply Pay sponsored the debut of the "2 Minutes for $2,000" Open Pitch Competition during RGV Startup Week. For 2026, the company's commitment expands to title sponsorship, reinforcing a cycle of investment in the community and programs that helped launch the company.
2026 Premiere Events
RGV Startup Week 2026 will feature six premiere events anchoring the week's programming:
Keynote: Ramón Soler Mallet, Commercial Director of Dr. Simi USA Monday, April 27 | 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. | eBridge Center, Brownsville Soler Mallet leads the U.S. expansion of one of Latin America's most recognizable brands. With more than 25 years of experience building global consumer brands, including leadership roles at Krispy Kreme Mexico, Taco Holding, and Grupo Axo, his keynote will explore how bold ideas cross borders, how community-first businesses create lasting loyalty, and what the Valley's entrepreneurs can learn from one of the most unexpected viral brand stories in global retail. Attendance is free. RSVP required at bcic.us/simi.
Insights Unplugged Tuesday, April 28 | 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. | eBridge Center, Brownsville A special edition of the eBridge Talks panel series, Insights Unplugged brings together industry leaders for a moderated conversation followed by audience Q&A. Previous editions have featured topics ranging from social media and influencer strategy to space industry development, drawing speakers from NASA, the Greater Brownsville EDC, and other regional and national organizations.
Youth Panel Tuesday, April 28 | 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. | eBridge Center, Brownsville This year's Youth Panel, titled "What Is and Is NOT Helping Young People Achieve Their Dreams and Thrive in Our Community," is a candid conversation with young leaders and students about education, career paths, and entrepreneurship. The panel centers on the voices of youth, offering a platform for the next generation to speak openly about the barriers and opportunities they see in the Rio Grande Valley.
2 Minutes for $2,000 Open Pitch Competition Tuesday, April 28 | 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. | eBridge Center, Brownsville Returning for its second year, this high-energy pitch competition gives entrepreneurs two minutes to present their business idea to a live audience, which votes to award $2,000 in funding. In its 2025 debut, 17 entrepreneurs took the stage. The competition is open to founders at any stage and demonstrates how community support can propel ideas forward.
Startup Texas Pitch Fest Wednesday, April 29 | Evening (Time TBA) | eBridge Center, Brownsville Startups completing the Startup Texas Emerging Industries Accelerator program take the stage to pitch in front of investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders. The accelerator, a joint initiative of BCIC and UTRGV ECC, is an intensive program focused on scalability and commercialization for tech, software development, and light manufacturing companies. Startup Texas Pitch Fest is where ideas meet capital, feedback, and opportunity.
Frontera Leadership Institute Demo Day Thursday, April 30 | 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. | eBridge Center, Brownsville The culmination of the Frontera Leadership Institute (FLI), a program sponsored by BCIC that equips emerging leaders ages 18 to 26 with skills in technology, product development, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The 2026 cohort has been building community-centered projects since January, and Demo Day is their opportunity to pitch those ideas in front of a live audience and panel of judges. FLI is free and open to the community.
More premiere events will be announced in the coming days. In addition, dozens of panels, workshops, networking sessions, and community-driven programming will be held throughout the week across Brownsville and partner cities.
All educational events are free to attend, but registration is required at rgvstartup.com.
Sponsor and Organizer Perspectives
"As a company with deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley, Supply Pay is honored to stand as a Title Sponsor for RGV Startup Week. We are proud to invest in this thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the community that is actively building the businesses of the future." — William Steele, CEO and Co-Founder, Supply Pay
"William walked into the eBridge Center as an incubator member. Now his company is the title sponsor of the biggest entrepreneurship event in the Valley. Supply Pay grew here, raised capital here, and is now putting money back into the next generation of founders. We built this ecosystem for exactly that reason, and BCIC will keep building it." — Cori Peña, President & CEO, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
"Every premiere event on this year's schedule ties back to a program that UTRGV ECC and BCIC built together. The Startup Texas Accelerator feeds into Pitch Fest. The Frontera Leadership Institute leads to Demo Day. Insights Unplugged grew out of eBridge Talks. That is three years of building together, and watching our participants take that stage is why we do this work." — Linda Ufland, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Commercialization, UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center
About RGV Startup Week
Now in its third edition, RGV Startup Week is the Rio Grande Valley's annual celebration of entrepreneurship, bringing together students, early-stage founders, established companies, investors, and ecosystem partners for a full week of keynotes, workshops, pitch competitions, and community activities. The 2025 edition drew 1,850 registrants, featured 168 speakers, delivered 123 hours of programming, and generated 3.56 million content views. RGV Startup Week is co-organized by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) in collaboration with the UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center (ECC). For more information and to RSVP, visit rgvstartup.com.
About Supply Pay
Supply Pay is a fintech company headquartered in Weslaco, Texas, that is transforming cross-border trade through an AI-driven order orchestration platform. The platform connects importers, customs brokers, sellers, and logistics companies in a single system, replacing fragmented communication channels and reducing errors at port crossings. Supply Pay also provides trade financing and liquidity solutions that allow businesses across the supply chain to get paid faster. Co-founded by William Steele and Jorge Ayala, Supply Pay launched out of the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization and the Startup Texas Accelerator program in Brownsville, a joint initiative of BCIC and UTRGV ECC. The company has since secured access to more than $100 million in lending capacity, won first place at the FreedomFest national pitch competition, and earned top honors at the Texas Venture Gala and Forum. Supply Pay operates across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.
About Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC)
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is a Type B economic development corporation. It is dedicated to driving sustainable economic development, enhancing quality of life, fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting strategic projects, and cultivating partnerships that support Brownsville's thriving and vibrant community. BCIC operates under four core pillars. The first is Community Development, achieved through initiatives like the BIG Grants, which support the revitalization and preservation of Historical Downtown Brownsville, and the Quality of Life Grants, designed to enhance the community's well-being. These grants fund projects that create welcoming and inclusive spaces, improve amenities, and promote activities that benefit residents and visitors. The second pillar is Finance Programs, which support local small businesses by providing financial resources to help them start or expand. This, in turn, creates jobs with livable wages, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region. The third pillar is Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where BCIC supports the entrepreneurial journey with incubation, acceleration, and continuous assistance. Lastly, BCIC's Marketing and Communications efforts drive public engagement by amplifying the impact of programs, fostering community pride, and promoting Brownsville as an attractive hub for living, working, and investing. For more information, visit www.brownsvillecic.com.
For media inquiries, please contact Nelson I. Amaro at namaro@brownsvillecic.com or (956) 538-1910