WRITER: Alejandro Najera-Acosta, 575-646-2025, a_najera@nmsu.edu
The Success Through Technology Education Foundation (STTE) and Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center successfully completed its STTE Ventures Sprint for tech startups from El Paso.
STTE, funded by the City of El Paso Economic Development, launched Ventures Sprint as one of the latest initiatives within the STTE Ventures ecosystem, aimed at supporting and boosting El Paso-based startups. This accelerator program serves as a valuable addition to the array of resources and opportunities available to entrepreneurs, including the chance to present their ideas during the upcoming annual Capital Dia de Los Muertos Startup Event.
The STTE Ventures Sprint, tailored to assist tech startup founders in navigating technology market validation, customer discovery, and product-market fit, reached notable milestones. It effectively enabled promising startups to take substantial steps towards commercialization of their technologies.
Over the course of six weeks, the startups received invaluable guidance from a diverse group of mentors and industry experts. These experienced professionals provided hands-on assistance by sharing their knowledge and viewpoints, helping the startups refine their business models canvas and presentation materials and guiding them through the specific challenges of introducing technology-driven innovations.
“Empowering early-stage entrepreneurs through the refinement of their Business Model Canvas is not just a strategy; it’s the heartbeat of innovation,” said Kathryn Hansen, director of Arrowhead Center and the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. “Equipping them with the right tools at this crucial juncture ensures they are poised for success in their startup journey, aligning their vision with market realities.”
STTE Ventures Sprint established a dynamic environment where participants engaged with experienced entrepreneurs, forged connections with advisors, and nurtured relationships with potential investors. This setting empowered them to accelerate their journey towards success in the tech industry.
“The STTE Ventures Sprint is a major catalyst for startup growth in our region. Whether you’re in the ideation phase or if you’re already seeing traction with customers, this sprint will clarify how you think about your business and refine your plans for future growth. The instruction and mentorship provided create a rigorous but supportive environment in which you can examine the nuts and bolts of your business concept. It’s a sprint, not a marathon – expect an intensely productive experience that prepares you for the challenges and possibilities of building a new company from scratch,” said Jack Loveridge, founder of Panoculum.
“The STTE Ventures Sprint has effectively doubled our growth within the specified timeframe," said Marco Vallelo, co-founder of Aizen Flow.
For more information about TechSprint, contact Murguia at cmurguia@nmsu.edu.
For more information about STTE Ventures, contact Gamez at maximo@acemate.io or visit https://sttefoundation.org/ventures/.
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PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Jack Loveridge, founder of Panoculum, and Marco Vallejo and JaQuan Bryant, co-founders of Aizen Flow, were among the El Paso participants in the STTE Ventures Sprint organized by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, and hosted at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center. (Courtesy photos)