San Antonio Business Leaders Mentor Student Entrepreneurs in Startup Challenge

October 1, 2021

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.

Learn More About the Startup Challenge