William Brown Named Future Texas Business Legend
UTRGV Student William Brown Named a Future Texas Business Legend, Awarded $15,000 at the 2022 Texas Business Hall of Fame Awards
(November 7, 2022) RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – William Brown, UTRGV student and founder of local startup Embedded, was recognized as a Future Texas Business Legend at the Texas Business Hall of Fame’s Annual Induction Dinner.
“It was so exciting to see so many young entrepreneurs at the Texas Business Hall of Fame,” said LAURIE SIMMONS, Director of the UTRGV Center for Innovation & Commercialization. “We are so proud of William for receiving such a distinguished award. He is an excellent example of the entrepreneurial spirit and potential that can be found at UTRGV.”
This accomplishment comes only a few months after after Brown and his Embedded, Inc. co-founder Leo Martinez took home first place and a $5,000 prize in the 2022 Rafael Munguia Business Plan Competition, hosted by the UTRGV Center for Innovation & Commercialization, a Blackstone LaunchPad.
“The Rafael Munguia Business Plan Competition was well-organized and allowed us to have access to a great set of mentors that helped us along the way,” said Brown. “We here at Embedded are happy that we were able to secure $5,000 in funding from this pitch and we are excited to begin the development of our prototype with the funding. Finally, we'd like to thank Expanding Frontiers for all the help that they have provided us through mentors, lab space, and many other resources to help us move forward with our startup.”
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
The Texas Business Hall of Fame is now accepting applications for the 2023 Future Texas Business Legends Awards. Recipients are awarded a $15,000 prize and invited to become permanent and active members of the Hall of Fame network. Applications are due February 15 and can be submitted at texasbusiness.org.
Also accepting applications is the UTRGV Center for Innovation & Commercialization, for the 2023 Rafael Munguia Business Plan Competition. Selected finalists will submit business plans and execute a final pitch of their business to compete for up to $5,000 in prize money to put toward their ventures. Business plans and pitches will be evaluated by a panel of judges comprised of local business leaders and experienced entrepreneurs.
“Through our center and our competitions, we hope to help the next generation of entrepreneurs turn great ideas into great businesses,” Simmons said. “No matter what ultimately happens with the business ideas, we hope the experience and knowledge gained through the competition will be of benefit to the students long after the event.”
The 2023 Rafael Munguia Business Plan Competition is open to both UTRGV students and members of the Rio Grande Valley community at large. Applications are due at 5:00 p.m. on February 17 and can be submitted on StartupTree here.
ABOUT BLACKSTONE LAUNCHPAD
The Blackstone LaunchPad network makes entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills accessible and relevant for all college students to help them build thriving companies and careers. We work with higher-ed institutions to deliver proven startup resources, facilitate access to a global network of mentors and advisors, and offer unique virtual and physical convening opportunities so thousands of diverse college students can go further, faster. Students learn by doing, gaining knowledge and critical skills to help them succeed as a founder or contributor to the innovation economy. LaunchPad’s ever-expanding network encompasses campuses with predominantly underrepresented populations.
ABOUT THE TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION
The Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation was created in 1982 by a small group of Texas business men and women to focus awareness on the positive achievements made by outstanding business leaders and to honor their contributions to their community and state. In addition to recognizing six transformational business leaders each year, the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation awards forty $15,000 prizes in both the higher education and veteran community to those who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurial aspirations and excellence.