UIW HEBSBA Startup Challenge Competition
2025 H-E-B School of Business & Administration (HEBSBA) Startup Challenge Competition
The UIW HEBSBA Startup Challenge Final Competition is organized by Dr. Jose Moreno and Dr. Teresa Harrison, co-directors of the Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship.
For more information, visit the Startup Challenge Registration page.
Investing in Student Entrepreneurs at UIW
The Startup Challenge at the H-E-B School of Business and Administration invests in the entrepreneurial aspirations of students at the University of the Incarnate Word.
The 13-week competition, held each fall semester, allows students to develop a business model from idea to actualization. The winning team are awarded seed money.
Cultivating Big Ideas
The theme for the Fall 2025 Startup Competition was "Sustainable Solutions for a Better Future." We looked for students with new and creative solutions to real-world problems that support economic growth. This competition is specifically looking for ideas that:
- Solve social problems on a global scale (health care, healthy food, electricity).
- Offer value and wealth creation for people living below the poverty line in the U.S. and abroad.
- Explore international or cross-border opportunities.
- Offer and sell products/services to businesses rather than individual consumers.
- Align with one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Big ideas require a wide knowledge base. That is why the Startup Challenge encourages participants to build their teams with students with diverse areas of expertise. Marketing students teamed with engineering, or pharmacy students paired with communication arts – these teams can achieve more together than they could as individuals.
2025 Startup Challenge Results
The final presentations for the 2025 UIW Startup Challenge Competition was Wednesday, Nov. 19. Each team had four minutes to present followed by brief Q&A by the judges.
First Place - Brewtique | Rhual Aranzabal Gonzalez & Alejandra Padilla Huerta (UIW Mexico City Campus)
Mission: "Our objective is to bring cold brew in a simple, fun, ready to go portable way to people’s busy lifestyle that keeps you energized regardless of any stress you have while promotion eco-friendly habits for the future."
Mentor: Professor Francisco Javier Torres
Second Place - VoltMind | Alfred Brizuela Kevin, Fatima Hernandez Ramirez, Jose Lopez Hernandez, Daniel Rojas Gamino (UIW Bajio Campus)
Mission: "VoltMind’s mission is to optimize the way businesses consume and store energy through intelligent algorithms that extend battery life, reduce power waste, and lower operational costs. By using energy more efficiently, we enable companies to redirect saved resources toward high-demand operations, fostering growth, resilience, and a more sustainable energy future."
Mentor: Professor Maria Fernanda Matamoros Huerta
Third Place - Pawsitive | Jesus Anguiano Juarez, Carson Day, Abigail Wilson (UIW Broadway - HEBSBA)
Mission: "To create all-natural healthy dog treats that bring joy to pets while empowering individuals with disabilities through inclusive employment."
Mentor: Sara Crawford (Correa Crawford & Associates)
Other Finalists
Mosi | Kaissling Marmolejo, Yesenia Castro Manriquez, Dianett Garcia (UIW Broadway - HEBSBA):
Mission: "Creating a change in the world."
Mentor: Brianne Pargas (USAA)
Chillwear | Teegan Roach, Michal Kantorski, Ethan Maleisich, Konrad Eberlein (UIW Broadway - HEBSBA)
Mission: "Design innovative cooling apparel that enhances comfort, safety, and performance for athletes and workers."
Mentor: Alejandro Londoño Avila (ProColombia)
Showers2Go - Arianna Chavis, Mariah Figueroa (UIW Broadway - HEBSBA)
Mission: "To give people a clean start and a clear mind so they can move forward — confidently and ready."
Mentor: LeKishan Bateman (ABC Healthcare Revenue Consulting and Auditing)
2025 Startup Challenge Judges
Maria Camila Castellanos, an international business expert with over a decade of experience linking Latin America to global markets. She has driven bilateral operations exceeding $85 million across sectors like agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, fashion, technology and creative industries. Her notable achievements include creating the supply chain for Colombia's first luxury river cruise with AmaWaterways, generating $300,000 per trip, and empowering local communities. She developed two regional benchmark methodologies for export, investment and tourism promotion. Recognized by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as a top Hispanic Leader in 2024 for her inclusive strategies that help advance SMEs, women and Afro-descended communities through economic diplomacy.
Adres Felipe Rodriguez is a corporate strategist and communicator with over 15 years of experience in innovation, international trade and business leadership. He has driven growth, mergers and acquisitions, and introduced disruptive solutions in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and health, including cyber defense in smart cities in Latin America. Holding an MBA in innovation and a master's in corporate communication for financial markets, he blends strategic vision with practical execution. Former CMO of Grupo Estyma, he strengthened infrastructure competitiveness and collaborated with organizations like the IDB and VaxThera, creating risk management models, resilient supply chains and internationalization programs for over 200 companies.
Raymond Juarez, a San Antonio native and Highlands High School graduate, earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in organizational development from the University of the Incarnate Word. He currently serves as a Vice President in Citi Private Bank's Enterprise Risk Management Department, where he navigates the complex regulatory environment of the financial industry and mentors emerging professionals. He contributes to shaping the financial services landscape.
Care Companion | 2024
Olivia Shadick, Gregory McNeal and Rosalia Tokunaga won the 2024 Startup Challenge. Their project stood out for its thoughtful and practical approach to urgent care through technology, earning them the highest recognition from the judges.
2Hydro Hero | 2023
Jazmin Contreras Corona, Hector Campos De Anda and Angelo Navarrete Pérez from the UIW Campus Bajio in Irapuato, Mexico won the 2023 Startup Challenge. 2Hydro Hero is A solution that promotes sustainability in cities and communities. It is focused on an efficient irrigation system to preserve water.
Wellbing | 2022
Bruno Fernandez, Regina Garza Falcon and Luis Aaron Jimenez won first place and $8,000 in seed money in the 2022 Startup Challenge. Wellbing is a multi-sided digital farmers' marketplace that allows community members living in food desert areas to access locally sourced food products in a simple, effective, and affordable way.
Medeux | 2021
LU'UM | 2020
Valeria Ramos Curiel, Diana Jazmin Casas Del Angel and Santiago Meza – a team of students from UIW Campus Bajío in Mexico – won first place and $10,000 in the 2020 Startup Challenge. LU'UM transforms recycled rubber material from car tires and shoe soles into a flooring product for use in a myriad of applications, including schools, gyms and restaurants.
Journey Poles | 2019
Noah Silvas and Yolanda Martinez won first place in the 2019 Startup Challenge for their startup known as Journey Poles, which manufactures unique and colorful IV poles for use in children’s hospitals and health care facilities.
Sinzuca Chocolates | 2018
Mohammed Al-Nasser, Yolanda Martinez, Matthew Silvas and Noah Silvas took home first place in the 2018 Startup Challenge with Sinzuca Chocolates – a health-conscious chocolate product infused with superfoods.
Professional Mentoring
Each team is assigned a mentor to serve as a professional source of feedback and advice throughout the challenge. Mentors are local business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals in their respective fields.
The mentor relationship is vital to the success of each team. Each mentor will share a practical point of view on the team's business idea based on his or her experience and knowledge. Each team will be assigned a mentor by challenge administrators based on the expertise of each mentor as it relates to the team's business idea.
In addition to professional mentors, the faculty of the H-E-B School of Business and Administration provides guidance to students as they work to develop their business models. Workshops are held throughout the competition to allow participants to learn design-thinking skills including brainstorming, team building, networking and business model innovation.