bet the farm on the rgv tech community
DESCRIPTION
Presented on Sept. 22nd Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization at UTPA. A presentation for young entrepreneurs to inform and inspire to connect and create their local community. Living and succeeding in the RGV has been a lonesome and dangerous venture. The road ahead continuous to be tumultuous but there are positive economic indicators and positive enrichment from private and public sectors.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community
Olmo MaldonadoV.P. CTO GMG Agency, LLC
![Page 2: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Who?
Born in MexicoRaised in McAllenI.B. Lamar Academy Alpha ClassUTSA B.S. Electrical EngineerUCLA M.S. Electrical Engineer
![Page 3: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Who?
Ex-Googler, Frontend Software Engineer Picasa Web Albums (now Google Photos)
MooTools DeveloperC.T.O. / V.P. of GMG Agency, LLC
www.gmgagency.com
![Page 4: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Who?
Tech Tuesdays & Code#RGV FounderRGV Tech Startup Community Activist(Social) EntrepreneurHomebrewer
www.codergv.com
![Page 5: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Survey
How many of you are ...MarketingSalesAdministrationUndecidedEntrepreneurs
![Page 6: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
What is an Entrepreneur?
My answer: a brutally honest,stubborn,inquisitive,oppotunity seeker,workaholic, and
aims to make millions or more in many ventures.
![Page 7: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Survey
How many of you are dying to leave the valley?
![Page 8: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Survey
Of those that want to leave; do you want to leave because ...
There are no jobsThe culture sucksThere's no money (VCs, Grants)
Any other reasons?
![Page 9: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Some unfortunate factsAbout the RGV
![Page 10: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Valley earning consists of
60.6% Public, Health, Retail, Construction
SOURCE: Bureau of Economic Analysis
~13.3% Prof. Services~10.1% “Other”
![Page 11: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Growth?Brownsville
McAllen
![Page 12: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Poorest in the Nation
#3 Starr County#12 Willacy County
#22 Hidalgo#60 Cameron
![Page 13: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Education
Only 58.3% of Hidalgo County residents 25 years and over are high school graduates or higher
And only 15.1% of Hidalgo County residents 25 years and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Survey.
![Page 14: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Bachelor Degrees
Ranked 98th out of 100 based on the proportion of residents with a bachelor’s
degree.
![Page 15: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
What happened to us?
Focused (dependency) on retailBrain drain
Age Demographics
AgeRGV
2000 (%)RGV
2010 (%)San
Antonio (%)
0-19 38.2 37.3 28.1
20-34 22.2 20.2 24.98
35-54 23.5 23.9 26.27
55-64 6.6 8.7 9.92
65+ 9.5 9.9 10.73
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
![Page 16: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Any good news?About the RGV
![Page 17: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
We’re still growing … in 2010
CityPopulation
Increase (%)Relative
Hidalgo 67.3 +43.0
Mission 51.9 +20.2
Edinburg 49.9 +25.1
Pharr 41.9 +17.6
McAllen 24.3 0.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010
![Page 18: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Expected Population of Hidalgo County in 2020
Source: Texas State Data Center, Population Projections, 0.5 Scenario.
1 million or more
![Page 19: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Current GDP of Hidalgo County
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
$13.8 Billion
![Page 20: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
High School Dropout is Now Only
Hidalgo County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2011-2015
11.8% in 2009
![Page 21: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Low Cost of Living
U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 American Community Survey
Harlingen #1McAllen #3
![Page 22: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Let’s Compare Cost of Living
City 1 Bedroom Apt.
McAllen $708.33
San Antonio $862.50
Austin $1,332.81
Palo Alto $2,500.00
San Francisco $2,720.06
Source: Numbeo.com
McA
llen
San F
ranc
isco
Almost 4x lower cost of living
![Page 23: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Higher Education Enrollment
Hidalgo County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2011-2015
UTPA +44%STC +146%
![Page 24: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
UTPA Engineering Graduations
Hidalgo County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2011-2015
Doubled2004 and 2008
![Page 25: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Bottomline:A watershed in RGV’s history.
![Page 26: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Trends
Focus on education, and reducing brain drain.
More community and cultural diversity.
See: Palm Fest, Jardin del Arte, Indian Festival
![Page 27: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Trends
Cities investing in entrepreneurs. See: Ruby Red Ventures, McAllen I&E, more soon™
Private investors and firms looking within the RGV for diversifying their portfolios.
![Page 28: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Trends
Older generation focusing on passing down the torch. See: Leadership McAllen
Review your city’s advisory boards. Most have vacancies.
![Page 29: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Opportunities
Educational technology and training of teachers
Create your own interest groups/festivals and communities.
![Page 30: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Opportunities
Be part of think tanks or participate in Business Plan competitions.
Get involved in (tech) startups and take risks with other people’s money.
![Page 31: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Opportunities
Medical software, e-medicine, e-commerce
Find disrupted industries, and help them cope with changes or evolve.
![Page 32: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
What will you commit?What’s stopping you?
![Page 33: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
My personal commitment
In 2013, I made a 25 year commitment that renews every 25 years.
To create, cultivate, and empower our local tech community.
![Page 34: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Every last TuesdaySCNE 2.102
Starts 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM
Tech Tuesdays, Code#RGV, and ...
www.codergv.com
Every 1st and 3rd ThursdayMcAllen Incubator7:00 PM until bust
![Page 35: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
What have I learned?
![Page 36: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
1. There’s a lot of Tech in the RGV
![Page 37: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
2. You’re not alone
![Page 38: Bet the Farm on the RGV Tech Community](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022042816/558e97221a28abcf538b466a/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
3. The RGV is your oyster.