eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization

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The UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation have formed a strategic partnership to stimulate economic development and innovation within the region. This collaboration is headquartered at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization, a cutting-edge facility designed to nurture and support local entrepreneurs and startups.

The partnership leverages the university's partners, resources, and research alongside the BCIC's community-focused initiatives to provide comprehensive support for business development. Through coaching and mentoring, programs and workshops, access to funding, and networking opportunities, the eBridge Center serves as a catalyst for transforming innovative ideas into successful enterprises. This alliance not only aims to boost local businesses but also aspires to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will contribute to the long-term economic prosperity of Brownsville and the surrounding areas.

At the eBridge Center, our mission is to help every individual in South Texas unlock their entrepreneurial potential, empowering innovators and driving business growth together.

We believe that the next generation of entrepreneurs needs the right skills and resources to create and sustain jobs, secure capital, and scale their businesses. By focusing on our community's human capital, we aim to commercialize scalable businesses and promote entrepreneurial equity, fostering an open and inclusive ecosystem in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley.

The eBridge Center is a reality thanks to the collaboration between the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center, the City of Brownsville, the United States Economic Development Administration, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, and our many partners.

Our center offers a range of resources, including an InBIA soft landing designation, business incubation programs from UTRGV ECC, a U.S. Patent Trade Resource Center, the Small Business Development Center, the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Nonprofit Resource Center. We also have the Blueprint Lab Prototyping Space for R&D in emerging industries, training facilities for up to 110 people, dedicated desks and private offices, and we host the StartUp Texas Accelerator Program.

Located in downtown Brownsville, TX, the 36,000 sq. ft. facility, now home to the eBridge Center, mirrors the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley. Previously known as La Casa del Nylon, this building served as a center for commerce. Built-in 1967, La Casa del Nylon became a notable site of business activity, embodying the diligent nature of the people who worked there.

Today, this historic building has been reimagined as the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, the largest startup incubator and entrepreneurial resource center in the Rio Grande Valley. Through collaborative efforts, the building was revamped to meet the needs of today’s business world, while maintaining the entrepreneurial essence that has always characterized this building and downtown Brownsville. 

From a U.S. Patent Trade Resource Center to an advanced Prototyping Space, the building is equipped the center with the essential tools to make your vision a potential viable venture. We are devoted to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing them with the skills and resources they need to create jobs, obtain capital, and scale their ventures.

Start on your journey today! Meet the community, and discover The eBridge Center: Schedule Your Exclusive Office Tour Today!

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Amenities
10,000 sq. ft. Collaborative space Elevator access Dedicated desks
15 private offices 60 Seats training room 24 Seats training rooms
Equipped Conference Rooms Community kitchens Private phone booths
Data center Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center Small Business Development Center
Procurement Technical Assistance Center Veterans Business Outreach Center Nonprofit Resource Center

"This is exciting because of what it represents for our city. It represents innovation, it represents going into the future with a different mindset, what we feel our city will be going forward." -Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez, (Rio Grande Guardian)

"eBridge will have two floors. The first floor will house a business incubator, the UTRGV’s Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, and a Brownsville Chamber of Commerce extension office. It possibly may also be the home of office space where private investors can meet with small businesses seeking capital. The second floor will include space where business startups can office temporarily. Young industrial and technical companies can also use areas to use equipment in testing new ideas." -Ricardo Cavazos, Valley Business Report Reporter

"The bridge Center is being developed thanks to a partnership between the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the City of Brownsville, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Economic Development Council, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration, UT-Rio Grande Valley, and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center." -Ron Whitlock, Rio Grande Guardian Reporter

"We are excited about this project. It is going to be a state of the art facility that will enhance technology and entrepreneurship in the Valley. We will be using our own incubation membership to really focus on bringing all the technology available within the building to showcase what some of our members are capable of doing." -Linda Ufland, Entrepreneurship, and Commercialization Center Director (Rio Grande Guardian) 

"The eBridge Center will be a business incubator that provides the next generation of entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to be able to access capital, scale up commercially and create jobs, and help young companies be "better versions of themselves." -Michael Limas, Brownsville Community Improvement Board Chairman (The Brownsville Herald)

"The project is the product of years of collaboration by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, City of Brownsville, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, Lower Rio Grande Valley Economic Development Council, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center. The renovation of the building is made possible through EDA and BCIC grants." -Steve Clark, The Brownsville Herald Reporter

eBridge Center Partner Logos - Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the City of Brownsville, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Economic Development Council, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration, UT-Rio Grande Valley, and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center.