Startup Unidos and Techstars will host the 1st ever edition of Startup Weekend Borderlands USA-MEX: Online (https://bit.ly/31Owsw4) this weekend event aims to be a one-of-a-kind bilingual, binational platform bringing together 100+ USA-MEX borderlands business folks, hardware hackers, web and mobile developers, along with designers and startup enthusiast of all stripes to create new, innovative products and businesses as creative solutions to problems disproportionately facing the borderlands communities pre and post pandemic. The online event will take place on Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2020 with the pitch presentations starting at 5pm MST AZ on Sunday.
Startup Weekend Borderlands USA-MEX Online 2020: is led by an experienced group of USA-MEX borderlands entrepreneurs and aspiring youth dedicated to helping other borderlands citizens turn ideas into reality. Since 2017, as a team partnered with Techstars they’ve helped over 500 borderlands entrepreneurs pursue their dreams. This unique platform will be curated to represent the entire borderline; the international border separates Mexico and the United States, extending from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. The Mexico–United States border is the most frequently crossed border in the world.
Startup Unidos has spearheaded the first bilingual and binational events in partnership with global and national partners like Techstars and Kapor Center since 2017. Each event leading up to this scale has been a huge success, garnering relationships from all across the region. At each of four previous binational efforts, community members from all over the Arizona-Sonora region engaged in themed Startup Weekend events each curated with a cross-border flare; Startup Weekend Ambos Nogales (2017), Startup Weekend Latinx In Tech (2018, 2019), Startup Weekend Sustainability Nogales (2019).
“Participating in Startup Weekend is one of the best ways to support the USA / MEX innovation ecosystem.” says Startup Unidos, Founder and CEO, Stephanie Bermudez who has led and organized all binational Startup Weekend efforts. “By building off previous Startup Weekend programs, we will be broadening offerings, building capacity, expanding areas of influence to support emerging entrepreneurs and promoting growing business within borderland communities.”
With the buy-in from the USA/MEX Borderlands community and through demonstrated impact, the experienced team is uniquely positioned to create practical and sustaining opportunities and solutions to the compounding issues that the borderlands are faced with.
According to Pew Research, some of the nation’s largest Hispanic populations are in the four states that border Mexico – California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. In fact, the two states with the most Hispanics, California (15.6 million) and Texas (11.5 million), alone account for 45% of the nation’s Hispanic population. Together, the four border states were home to 50% of U.S. Hispanics in 2019.
Register below:
Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekend Borderlands 2020 will culminate on Sunday night with a demo and presentations.
Participants create working startups during the event and have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals outside of their daily networks. All teams hear talks by industry leaders and receive valuable feedback from local entrepreneurs. The weekend is centered around action, innovation, and education.
Whether you are looking for feedback on an idea, a co-founder, specific skill sets, or a team to help you execute, Startup Weekend Borderlands 2020 is the perfect environment in which to test your idea and take the first steps towards launching your own startup.
Contact events@startupunidos.com for sponsorship opportunities.
