Leading the Way: STTE Ventures and Its Role in Fostering Entrepreneurship in the Borderplex

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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.

The Southwest Startup Showdown

To address this, we’re proud to present the Southwest Startup Showdown on November 8th at the Starlight Event Center in El Paso. This is our annual end-of-year event that brings together high school, collegiate, and early-stage entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to pitch their groundbreaking ideas to investors, business leaders, and the wider community.

At STTE, we’ve been working hard throughout the year to cultivate startups and help them scale, tackling the Startup Drought head-on.

Highlights of the Event

One of the highlights of the Southwest Startup Showdown will be the 2nd Annual Microsoft Collegiate Cup, featuring top teams from universities such as UTEP, NMSU, UNM, Texas Tech, and Colorado State University. These teams will pitch their most innovative ideas and compete for the top prize.

The Showdown will also showcase cutting-edge technologies across multiple industries. You’ll see innovations like technology designed to enhance crop growth on Earth and in space, custom-designed mobile saunas and ice baths used by NFL players and university athletic programs, automated platforms that empower cross-border suppliers with access to capital, and even a portable power solution that combines the endurance of a power plant with the mobility of a battery.

Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Venture Unknown

Join Us

This event is an essential opportunity for business professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and community leaders who want to witness the next wave of innovation coming from the Borderplex region.

The Southwest Startup Showdown is more than just a pitch competition—it’s part of our broader mission at STTE to build a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem and reverse the Startup Drought in the Borderplex.

Join us on November 8th and be part of the solution in creating a thriving, innovative future for the Borderplex.

STTE Ventures Impact Report

Welcome to the STTE Ventures Impact Report, a detailed narrative of our journey, achievements, and the significant impact we’ve made in the startup ecosystem. This report is not just a collection of numbers and statistics; it’s a story of innovation, growth, and economic transformation.

This report is a reflection of our commitment, showcasing:

The Program Process: Delve into the unique approach of STTE Ventures, where mentorship, resources, and community support come together to guide startups from their nascent stages to market success.
Startup Performance Highlights: Discover the remarkable achievements of our startups. This year, we identified 12 new customer segments, a testament to our program’s ability to uncover and capitalize on market opportunities.
Fundraising and Revenue: Our startups collectively fundraised $855 million, demonstrating the confidence of investors in our vision and approach. Additionally, we achieved $150 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), underscoring the sustainable and growing nature of our ventures.
Job Creation and Economic Impact: The creation of 19 new jobs is a direct indicator of our program’s positive influence on employment. More so, our startups have generated a staggering $1.6 million in economic impact.

In conclusion, it’s with immense pride we announce that the STTE Ventures program has achieved a remarkable 13X economic return. This figure not only represents our financial success but also the broader economic benefit we bring to communities and in.

KLAMATH Community College | KCC Economic Impact Study