If you’ve been watching what’s happening in the Rio Grande Valley, you already know: something big is building.
To kick off May, Her Texas rolled through the RGV for RGV Startup Week, and it was more than just a calendar of panels and coffee meetups. It was momentum in real time—business owners connecting, new ideas launched, and women coming together to build what’s next.
Here’s a quick recap of what went down—and what’s coming next (think summer event!).
Photo credit: Daniela Loera
Inside the Room: Conversations That Moved the Valley Forward
We kicked off our RGV experience as part of RGV Startup Week, a region-wide celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the fast-growing business ecosystem in South Texas. From Brownsville to McAllen, the Valley is making it clear: we’re not waiting for opportunity—we’re building it.
Her Texas hosted a full day of programming under the banner This is Her RGV, bringing women across the region together for real conversations, smart strategy, and bold next steps. Here’s a look at what went down:
10:00 AM – POWER: How Women Lead, Navigate Systems & Make Moves That Matter
We opened the day with a dynamic panel featuring powerhouse leaders from across the region. From civic innovation to community organizing, the conversation unpacked how women in the Valley are claiming power, protecting it, and using it to build systems that work for more of us.
Featured Speakers included:
- Linda Ufland, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Commercialization – UTRGV
- Cori Peña, President – Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
- Helen Ramirez, City Manager – City of Brownsville
- Monica Benavides, Secretary of Organization and Political Action – Movimiento Ciudadano
- Astrid Dominguez, Executive Director – Good Neighbor Settlement House
11:00 AM – PROSPERITY: Fund Her Now. Watch Her Multiply.
Led by Her Texas founder Jasmin Brand, this session introduced BankHER, our new funding model for women entrepreneurs in the Valley. We talked openly about money—who gets it, who doesn’t, and how we can build a new path that doesn’t rely on gatekeepers.
1:30 PM – PEACE: Maintaining Balance With Your Health and Body
We hit pause and reset with the Brownsville Wellness Coalition, who led a Mindfulness Moment focused on breathwork, movement, and nutrition as tools for clarity and leadership.
2:00 PM – PIVOT: The Plan Won’t Be Perfect. Do It Anyway.
A candid conversation with four women who’ve made strategic pivots, faced down uncertainty, and kept going anyway.
From legal advocacy to retail to wellness, these founders showed us what resilience really looks like.
Panelists:
Yliana Guzman (Camelia’s Mexican Boutique)
Sonya Ramsey (ZenBuddy)
Natalie Garza (Con Ganas Mija)
Leah Wise (Leah Wise Law Firm)
And then something incredible happened:
Leah, a powerhouse advocate for women, stood up and made the first investment into the BankHER RGV Circle—a founding donation of $5,000 to kickstart the first round of funding for a local woman-owned business.
That’s the kind of leadership we’re talking about.
3:00 PM – PRODUCT: Turn Your Idea Into Something People Pay For
We wrapped with a no-fluff, strategy-packed discussion on what it actually takes to validate and grow a product-based business. These founders broke down the real behind launching something meaningful—and profitable.
Panelists:
Mary Ramirez Soto (Jolie Petite)
Olivette Fisher (Ollie Oats)
Lynda Jaramillo (Frontier Beef Jerky)
Victoria Valenzuela (GirlGang Market)
The consensus? The Valley is ready. And women are leading the charge.
Lunch at Dodici Pizza & Wine
One of our favorite moments? A powerful and intimate lunch at Dodici Pizza + Wine, where we gathered with RGV entrepreneurs, professionals, and creatives to introduce BankHER to the region.
In a space designed for real talk (and really good pizza), we laid out the vision:
BankHER is our new woman-powered investment model, created to move real dollars into the hands of women entrepreneurs. No gatekeeping. No endless pitching. Just direct investment with community at the center.
What’s Next for the RGV
This summer, we’re keeping the momentum going.
✅ We’ll be hosting a Her RGV meetup for all the incredible women we’ve met—and the many more we’ve yet to meet. Stay tuned for the date!
✅ We’ll be selecting the inaugural recipient of the BankHER RGV Circle, using our first investment to fund a local business that’s ready for its next chapter.
✅ And we’ll be growing a regional advisory board made up of women who know this region, believe in its potential, and want to help shape what comes next.
Want to Be Part of It? Here’s How:
📌 Join the Her RGV Advisory Board – If you’re a connector, advocate, or doer in the Valley, we want your voice at the table. Apply now.
🛍️ List Your Business in Buy From Her – Our growing statewide directory of women-owned businesses is designed to drive dollars directly into your brand. If you sell a product, offer a service, or run a storefront, this is where you belong.
💸 Invest in the BankHER RGV Circle – Every woman can be an investor. Whether it’s $50 or $5,000, give what’s meaningful to you. Every dollar goes toward funding a woman entrepreneur right here in the RGV. Our first grants will be issued this summer. Donate now.
