Alumni with a business idea or a startup can explore various avenues to secure funding. Some local sources of funding include:

• Pitch Competitions
  • Aggie Shark Tank is a pitch competition offering a unique platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas. It's an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from experienced investors and potentially secure funding to kickstart your business. Participating in Aggie Shark Tank provides exposure, validation for your business idea, potential funding, and valuable networking opportunities. For more information: https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/studio-g/aggie-shark-tank/ 
• Angels Investors
  • Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs Texas Chapter serves the broader Southwest region by providing a venue in which Stanford alumni investors and regional startup founders share and discuss entrepreneurship on equal footing. They host regular startup pitch events and educational seminars to facilitate advising and mentorship as well as investment. Founders need not be Stanford alumni or affiliates to benefit from their network and ten percent of their investors may also hail from outside the alumni community.  For more information: https://www.stanfordangels.org/
  • SunCruces Angels is an angel investor network that provides educational content, business expertise, and capital introductions for entrepreneurs in the regional ecosystem, supporting the development of local talent and startups through mentoring and networking opportunities. For more information: https://www.suncrucesangels.org/
• Local Venture Capital firms
  • Borderplex Community Capital is a Community Development Loan Fund dedicated to fostering economic growth in the El Paso and West Texas region. We provide essential loans to impactful organizations that may not meet traditional lenders' criteria, focusing on supporting nonprofits and small businesses in low-income neighborhoods. For more information: https://borderplexcommunitycapital.org/ 
  • Audaz Capital is an investment firm specializing in capital-efficient startups across sectors like energy tech, water tech, and supply chain/logistics, fostering innovation and sustainable growth.For more information: https://audaz.capital/#thesis 
  • No Border Ventures (NBV) is an agnostic venture capital firm focused on Seed and Pre-Seed stage funding for resilient founders in the Southwest+Mountain region and Latin America. NBV aims to break barriers in venture capital by providing a platform for innovative investments and supporting entrepreneurs in their growth journey. For more information: https://noborderventures.com/
  • ECOTONE FUND is an early-stage venture capital fund based in El Paso, Texas, bridging global founders with assets and opportunities in the El Paso region, fostering value creation and relationships for entrepreneurs worldwide. For more information: https://www.ecotonefund.com/

• University Career Center
  • Alumni looking for talent to hire can utilize the University Career Center’s resources for employers. The Career Center acts as a direct link between UTEP students and potential employers by assisting employers with recruitment activities. Employers or their representatives must register with UTEP's University Career Center via Handshake and adhere to recruitment policies and regulations. For more information contact the University Career Center or refer to their website: https://www.utep.edu/student-affairs/careers/employers/ 
• MLCIC Startup Internship/Job Postings 
  • If you are a small business or startup looking to hire talent and would like for us to promote your job or internship posting on our website please contact gariosibane@miners.utep.edu. Include any information you would like to share about the role and a link to the job posting in the email.

• The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce offers a variety of learning opportunities for students looking to learn about entrepreneurship and related fields. For upcoming events and workshops refer to the Events tab.
• Studio G is a specialized business accelerator for college students and alumni passionate about entrepreneurship. It offers a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and resources essential for launching and growing successful startups. For more information refer to the Studio G tab. To sign up to become a member visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScftEnajfukpSnLkPVT2pJSmIiIyi8wIuvyLHLH2_x0tQmr0w/viewform 
• Pioneers21 encourages startups to transform ideas into sustainable businesses, playing a vital role in the region's emerging economy. With a mission to inspire and incubate businesses and entrepreneurs, P21 provides mentorship, training, and valuable connections to support their growth and success. Some of their programs include:
  1. Business Incubator
  2. Venture Mentoring Service
  3. Innovation Workshops 

For more information and an exhaustive list of their programs and events visit: https://pioneers21.org/ 

• The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) Paso del Norte provides support to companies regarding quality issues, supply chain, etc. TMAC gives solutions to have the competitive edge, discover financial opportunities and grow your business. For more information: https://www.utep.edu/engineering/tmac/
• The Medical Center of the Americas Foundation (MCA) is a hub for health care and biomedical innovation in the Paso del Norte region. Centered around the 440-acre campus in El Paso, Texas, MCA fosters a "life sciences ecosystem," including education, training, and commercialization of biomedical advancements, to meet the region's health care needs through collaboration and innovation. To learn more about the initiatives they offer to help entrepreneurs visit: https://mcamericas.org/what-we-do/startup-incubation--acceleration
• Bessel.co is a driving force behind teams that are creating innovative medtech solutions. They are experts in developing medical devices and additive manufacturing, and in rapid innovation through design thinking and agile teamwork. For more information: https://www.bessel.co/
• SunCruces Angels is an angel investor network that provides educational content, business expertise, and capital introductions for entrepreneurs in the regional ecosystem, supporting the development of local talent and startups through mentoring and networking opportunities. For more information: https://www.suncrucesangels.org/
• 1 Million Cups (1MC) offers entrepreneurs a supportive community with coaching from experienced organizers. Entrepreneurs can present their businesses to diverse audiences, gather feedback, and potentially gain exposure to new markets. The platform also provides opportunities for local, regional, or national media coverage, regardless of location or business stage. For more information: https://www.1millioncups.com/s/

• Studio G is a specialized business accelerator for college students and alumni passionate about entrepreneurship. It offers a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and resources essential for launching and growing successful startups. For more information refer to the Studio G tab. To sign up to become a member visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScftEnajfukpSnLkPVT2pJSmIiIyi8wIuvyLHLH2_x0tQmr0w/viewform
• One is a co-working office and event space that fosters collaboration and inspiration among creatives, startups, entrepreneurs, and established businesses. For a list of plans: https://workatoneone.com/
• The Station Urban Offices provide flexible Class-A office space in Downtown El Paso, offering turn-key solutions such as private offices, single desks, virtual offices, and prestigious business addresses for entrepreneurs seeking the best and most adaptable workspace options. For more information:  https://thestationep.com/
• Working Capitol's shared workspace in downtown El Paso that provides flexible office space, co-working plans, and productivity-based amenities for businesses and employees seeking a professional and focused work environment.For more information: https://workcapitol.com/
• Cruces Creatives is a non-profit makerspace providing tools, training, and community for creating a wide range of projects. They offer access to 3D printers, CAD manufacturing tools like CNC and laser, wood and bicycle shops, textile and audio-visual labs, electronics facilities, a kids' room, and more. For more information: https://crucescreatives.org/
• CoWork Oasis is an innovation community in the Paso del Norte region, offering prime business amenities and resources for entrepreneurs. Founded by native El Pasoans and backed by local investors, it provides an environment conducive to creativity and action, inspiring individuals to implement big ideas effectively. For more information: https://coworkoasis.wordpress.com/
• Fab Lab El Paso offers community access to digital fabrication tools, workforce training, and prototype development services. Their engineers and designers assist with custom design, fabrication, and small-batch production using rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing technologies. For more information: https://fablabelpaso.org/

Current students with a business idea or a startup can explore various avenues to secure funding. Some local sources of funding include:

• Pitch Competitions
  • The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce hosts pitch competitions throughout the spring and fall semesters that offer cash prizes to top competitors to fund their ideas or businesses. Competitions are open to current UTEP students only. Check our website and social media for upcoming events. 
  • Aggie Shark Tank is a pitch competition offering a unique platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas. It's an opportunity to receive valuable feedback from experienced investors and potentially secure funding to kickstart your business. Participating in Aggie Shark Tank provides exposure, validation for your business idea, potential funding, and valuable networking opportunities. For more information: https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/studio-g/aggie-shark-tank/
• Angels Investors 
  • Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs Texas Chapter serves the broader Southwest region by providing a venue in which Stanford alumni investors and regional startup founders share and discuss entrepreneurship on equal footing. They host regular startup pitch events and educational seminars to facilitate advising and mentorship as well as investment. Founders need not be Stanford alumni or affiliates to benefit from their network and ten percent of their investors may also hail from outside the alumni community.  For more information: https://www.stanfordangels.org/
  • SunCruces Angels is an angel investor network that provides educational content, business expertise, and capital introductions for entrepreneurs in the regional ecosystem, supporting the development of local talent and startups through mentoring and networking opportunities. For more information: https://www.suncrucesangels.org/
• Local Venture Capital firms
  • Borderplex Community Capital is a Community Development Loan Fund dedicated to fostering economic growth in the El Paso and West Texas region. We provide essential loans to impactful organizations that may not meet traditional lenders' criteria, focusing on supporting nonprofits and small businesses in low-income neighborhoods. For more information: https://borderplexcommunitycapital.org/
  • Audaz Capital  is an investment firm specializing in capital-efficient startups across sectors like energy tech, water tech, and supply chain/logistics, fostering innovation and sustainable growth.For more information: https://audaz.capital/#thesis
  • No Border Ventures (NBV) is an agnostic venture capital firm focused on Seed and Pre-Seed stage funding for resilient founders in the Southwest+Mountain region and Latin America. NBV aims to break barriers in venture capital by providing a platform for innovative investments and supporting entrepreneurs in their growth journey. For more information: https://noborderventures.com/
  • ECOTONE FUND is an early-stage venture capital fund based in El Paso, Texas, bridging global founders with assets and opportunities in the El Paso region, fostering value creation and relationships for entrepreneurs worldwide. For more information: https://www.ecotonefund.com/

• The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce offers a variety of learning opportunities for students looking to learn about entrepreneurship and related fields. For upcoming events and workshops refer to the Events tab.
• Studio G is a specialized business accelerator for college students and alumni passionate about entrepreneurship. It offers a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and resources essential for launching and growing successful startups. For more information refer to the Studio G tab. To sign up to become a member visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScftEnajfukpSnLkPVT2pJSmIiIyi8wIuvyLHLH2_x0tQmr0w/viewform 
• The FIRE Venture Fellowship is a program for undergraduate and graduate students from NMSU and UTEP, offering a one-semester apprenticeship focused on investment, venture capital, and startup entrepreneurship. Participants learn through hands-on experience, creating investment memos, developing investment theses, and working within their chosen industrial sectors. For more information: https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/fire-fellows/

• Pioneers21 encourages startups to transform ideas into sustainable businesses, playing a vital role in the region's emerging economy. With a mission to inspire and incubate businesses and entrepreneurs, P21 provides mentorship, training, and valuable connections to support their growth and success. Some of their programs include:  
  1. Business Incubator
  2. Venture Mentoring Service
  3. Innovation Workshops 

• STTE Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 2018 in the Southwest Texas Borderplex Region dedicated to developing and deploying entrepreneurship and STEAM-based educational programs. Their mission is to accelerate economic development by empowering students and adults with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation sectors. They offer a variety of programs and events including: 
  • STTE Ventures
  • El Paso Pitch Startup Competition
  • Dia De Los Muertos Pitch Competition

For more information and an exhaustive list of their programs and events visit: https://sttefoundation.org/

• The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) Paso del Norte provides support to companies regarding quality issues, supply chain, etc. TMAC gives solutions to have the competitive edge, discover financial opportunities and grow your business. For more information: https://www.utep.edu/engineering/tmac/
• The Medical Center of the Americas Foundation (MCA) is a hub for health care and biomedical innovation in the Paso del Norte region. Centered around the 440-acre campus in El Paso, Texas, MCA fosters a "life sciences ecosystem," including education, training, and commercialization of biomedical advancements, to meet the region's health care needs through collaboration and innovation. To learn more about the initiatives they offer to help entrepreneurs visit:https://mcamericas.org/what-we-do/startup-incubation--acceleration
• Bessel.co is a driving force behind teams that are creating innovative medtech solutions. They are experts in developing medical devices and additive manufacturing, and in rapid innovation through design thinking and agile teamwork. For more information: https://www.bessel.co/
• SunCruces Angels is an angel investor network that provides educational content, business expertise, and capital introductions for entrepreneurs in the regional ecosystem, supporting the development of local talent and startups through mentoring and networking opportunities. For more information: https://www.suncrucesangels.org/
• 1 Million Cups (1MC) offers entrepreneurs a supportive community with coaching from experienced organizers. Entrepreneurs can present their businesses to diverse audiences, gather feedback, and potentially gain exposure to new markets. The platform also provides opportunities for local, regional, or national media coverage, regardless of location or business stage. For more information: https://www.1millioncups.com/s/

• University Career Center
  • Alumni looking for talent to hire can utilize the University Career Center’s resources for employers. The Career Center acts as a direct link between UTEP students and potential employers by assisting employers with recruitment activities. Employers or their representatives must register with UTEP's University Career Center via Handshake and adhere to recruitment policies and regulations. For more information contact the University Career Center or refer to their website: https://www.utep.edu/student-affairs/careers/employers/ 
• MLCIC Startup Job Postings 
  • If you are a small business or startup looking to hire talent and would like for us to promote your job or internship posting on our website please contact gariosibane@miners.utep.edu. Include any information you would like to share about the role and a link to the job posting in your email.

• Studio G is a specialized business accelerator for college students and alumni passionate about entrepreneurship. It offers a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and resources essential for launching and growing successful startups. For more information refer to the Studio G tab. To sign up to become a member visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScftEnajfukpSnLkPVT2pJSmIiIyi8wIuvyLHLH2_x0tQmr0w/viewform 
• The GAIA makerspace at UTEP offers a variety of technologies and methodologies that students can utilize in their development of new ideas. For more information on the resources GAIA provides visit: https://www.utep.edu/technologysupport/learning-environments/gaia.html
• One is a co-working office and event space that fosters collaboration and inspiration among creatives, startups, entrepreneurs, and established businesses. For a list of plans: https://workatoneone.com/
• The Station Urban Offices provide flexible Class-A office space in Downtown El Paso, offering turn-key solutions such as private offices, single desks, virtual offices, and prestigious business addresses for entrepreneurs seeking the best and most adaptable workspace options. For more information:  https://thestationep.com/
• Working Capitol's shared workspace in downtown El Paso that provides flexible office space, co-working plans, and productivity-based amenities for businesses and employees seeking a professional and focused work environment.For more information: https://workcapitol.com/
• Cruces Creatives is a non-profit makerspace providing tools, training, and community for creating a wide range of projects. They offer access to 3D printers, CAD manufacturing tools like CNC and laser, wood and bicycle shops, textile and audio-visual labs, electronics facilities, a kids' room, and more. For more information: https://crucescreatives.org/
• CoWork Oasis is an innovation community in the Paso del Norte region, offering prime business amenities and resources for entrepreneurs. Founded by native El Pasoans and backed by local investors, it provides an environment conducive to creativity and action, inspiring individuals to implement big ideas effectively. For more information: https://coworkoasis.wordpress.com/
• Fab Lab El Paso offers community access to digital fabrication tools, workforce training, and prototype development services. Their engineers and designers assist with custom design, fabrication, and small-batch production using rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing technologies. For more information: https://fablabelpaso.org/