The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce (MLCIC) was established in 2012 at UTEP, with the aim of engaging faculty and student-led research at the intersection of business administration and engineering. The center’s core values focus on supporting multidisciplinary collaborative research to discover unique solutions to business and technology challenges. At the center, students are encouraged to be committed to their community, work collaboratively, and strive for excellence. These practices, along with innovative educational programs, allow the Mike Loya Center to empower UTEP students and faculty to be successful throughout their professional lives and contribute to the university’s objective of serving as a major economic engine in the Paso del Norte region.

LaunchPad builds next-generation companies and careers. We provide proven startup resources, facilitate access to a global network of mentors and advisors, and offer unique virtual and physical convening opportunities so UTEP 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 21st century economy. The Blackstone LaunchPad network makes entrepreneurship accessible and relevant for all college students, regardless of their background, starting point, or future plans.

Studio G is a business accelerator designed specifically for college students who are eager to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into successful startups. Studio G facilitates the exploration of entrepreneurial ideas among college students through the application of the lean methodology.