Startup Week 2025:
Upcoming Events
Jr. Leadership
For nearly five decades, Leadership El Paso has shaped the professionals and civic leaders who drive this city forward. Our Class 47 community project carries that legacy one generation further: we are working to bring back Junior Leadership El Paso, a program that gave high school students across El Paso County a year-long immersion in leadership, civic engagement, and community service. The program ran for 17 successful cohorts before being paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has not returned since. We intend to change that.
Life in Business: Preparing for the Unexpected
An educational workshop designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners think beyond day-to-day operations and consider an important question: What happens to your business when life doesn't go according to plan?
Texas Venture Fest
The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star founders. The Texas Venture Fest is a day of networking and programming highlighting the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. More than 15 cities simultaneously host this statewide phenomenon, across our small towns and the nation's biggest metropoles, 3,500+ Texans gather to help innovation flourish.
The Complete Shield: Full Spectrum of Business Fraud and Scams
Learn how to identify blue and white collar fraud and business scams.
BBB of El Paso in partnership with the County Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspector, and the EPPD- Financial Crimes Unit is pleased to invite you to learn more about blue and white collar fraud and business scams: Don’t be a victim!
Think & Drink Special Edition: Startup Week
Join the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation and the El Paso Innovation Hub for Think & Drink, a lively trivia night bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators, students, and community members for an evening of fun and friendly competition.
SocoBA Golden Hour Inauguration Tour
Join us for our golden hour journey through some of our local hot spots. Begin the evening at bodega Loya and enjoy a beautiful sunset. Afterwards, cross the street to Wine Down for wine tasting, and end the night at Three Missions Brewery. You can walk or drive to each location, we hope to welcome you to Socorro!
Jumpstarting Your Business Online Presence
Want to make it easier for customers to find your business online? This hands-on workshop is designed for beginners and covers the essentials of building your online presence. Learn how to get your business listed on Google and Apple Maps, create and manage social media content, and understand the key metrics that help you measure success.
Mission Amplified: GOV Grants For Tech Startups (SBIR 101)
Access one of the largest sources of startup funding, without giving up equity. Learn how SBIR grants work, how to identify the right opportunities, what reviewers look for, and how to position your idea into a competitive proposal you can actually act on.
Harvest to Basket Farm Tour
Each stop is an opportunity to meet the people behind your food, understand their process, and support local in a real, intentional way.
Star Is Born Gala
Star Is Born Gala is the Business One-Stop Shop’s (BOSS) inaugural signature fundraising event, celebrating the entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders who are shaping the future of El Paso’s economy.
This unforgettable evening will bring together business owners, corporate leaders, elected officials, and community partners to recognize the resilience, creativity, and determination of the small businesses that fuel our local economy. Through inspiring stories, special recognitions, and meaningful connections, we will shine a spotlight on the individuals and organizations making a lasting impact across our region.
More than a celebration, A Star Is Born is an investment in El Paso’s entrepreneurial future. Proceeds from the gala will support BOSS’s nonprofit initiatives, expanding access to business education, mentorship, technical assistance, and resources that help entrepreneurs start, grow, and succeed.
Whether you attend as a guest, become a sponsor, or support the mission in another way, you are helping create opportunities for the next generation of local businesses. Together, we’ll celebrate today’s success stories while empowering tomorrow’s rising stars.
Attire: Red Carpet Glamour
Dress to impress! Black tie is optional. Formal gowns, cocktail dresses, or suits are encouraged as we celebrate El Paso’s brightest stars.
Skills Link Series 2026
Skills Link Series connects the new digital era with employability skills, industry certifications, and networking. September's topic will introduce participants to the use of A.I. for Professional Communication.
Reduce Your Risk, Protect Your Future SBA Mitigation Information Session
This session is designed to help SBA borrowers understand how disaster loans support recovery and long-term resilience. The SBA mitigation loan option allows eligible borrowers to request up to 20% of their verified physical loss from their initial physical loan to fund property improvements intended to reduce future damage.
Lunch & Learn in 30 Minutes
A 30-minute session designed to help individuals build real, usable skills for your business fast.
Cost: $10 per person
Women in Business Breakfast
Join the Women in Business Breakfast hosted by the El Paso Chamber and hear from Diana Apodaca, Deputy Manager of the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Investigative Support Center, whose remarkable career spans more than three decades in local and federal law enforcement. From serving as a Dallas Police Officer to leading DEA investigations along the U.S.-Mexico border, overseeing intelligence operations, and directing fentanyl overdose response efforts, Diana has built a legacy of leadership in one of the nation's most demanding professions.
MCA 20th Anniversary Open House
Join the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation as we celebrate 20 years of innovation, collaboration, and community impact at our 20th Anniversary Open House!
Explore the Cardwell Collaborative through guided tours, meet the MCA Foundation team, and discover the programs and initiatives advancing health, STEM education, entrepreneurship, and economic development across our region.
Hear remarks from President and CEO Carlos Ortega, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate this exciting milestone with fellow community members, partners, and supporters.
Building Downtown: Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, and Impact with Nahum Avila
Join the first session of the semester's Miner Entrepreneurship Talks featuring Nahum Avila, a prominent El Paso entrepreneur, real estate developer, and proud UTEP alumnus. In this fireside chat, Nahum will share his entrepreneurial journey, offering insights into real estate development, hospitality, and experiential branding.
Lunch & Learn in 30 Minutes
A 30-minute session designed to help individuals build real, usable skills for your business fast.
Cost: $10 per person
Get Money, Save Money TWC Skills for Small Business Grant
DON’T LEAVE MONEY on the TABLE!
Learn how the TWC Skills for Small Business Grant and El Paso Water’s Commercial Rebate Program can put money back into your business, strengthen your operations, and help you grow your small business.
GAFC: Investor Academy
A 5-session investor academy program designed to build knowledge, confidence, and community among El Paso-area individuals who want to learn how angel investing drives innovation and economic growth.
Lunch & Learn in 30 Minutes
A 30-minute session designed to help individuals build real, usable skills for your business fast.
Cost: $10 per person
Lunch & Learn in 30 Minutes
A 30-minute session designed to help individuals build real, usable skills for your business fast.
Cost: $10 per person
2026 Border Health Innovation Summit
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Border Health Innovation Summit, where leaders in healthcare, research, entrepreneurship, and technology come together to shape the future of health innovation in our region.
AI Digital Marketing Skills Camp - PM Path
In four-day camp, participants ages 18–24 will explore AI-powered marketing through topics including: social media strategy, graphic design, web development and email marketing, while building a brand and creating a digital portfolio.
Cost: $40 (Tuition reimbursed for first 10 to complete camp )
AI Digital Marketing Skills Camp - AM Path
In four-day camp, participants ages 18–24 will explore AI-powered marketing through topics including: social media strategy, graphic design, web development and email marketing, while building a brand and creating a digital portfolio.
Cost: $40 (Tuition reimbursed for first 10 to complete camp )
AI Digital Marketing Skills Camp - PM Path
In four-day camp, participants ages 18–24 will explore AI-powered marketing through topics including: social media strategy, graphic design, web development and email marketing, while building a brand and creating a digital portfolio.
Cost: $40 (Tuition reimbursed for first 10 to complete camp )
AI Digital Marketing Skills Camp - AM Path
In four-day camp, participants ages 18–24 will explore AI-powered marketing through topics including: social media strategy, graphic design, web development and email marketing, while building a brand and creating a digital portfolio.
Cost: $40 (Tuition reimbursed for first 10 to complete camp )
AI Digital Marketing Skills Camp - PM Path
In four-day camp, participants ages 18–24 will explore AI-powered marketing through topics including: social media strategy, graphic design, web development and email marketing, while building a brand and creating a digital portfolio.
Cost: $40 (Tuition reimbursed for first 10 to complete camp )