Rio Tech Fund Logo The Rio Tech Fund, Inc. was established to help bridge the gaps that inhibit entrepreneurial growth in the Rio Grande Valley region.

The goal of the Rio Tech Fund is to:

  • Import Early-Stage capital to the Rio Grande regional economy
  • Stimulate technology-based private investment from existing regional resources
  • Coordinate and support local sources of capital

The Rio Tech Fund accomplishes this goal by operating the Rio Grande RCIC and organizing a network of private "angel" investors. This network is a private investment group comprised of South Texas angel investors and high net-worth individuals. The Rio Tech Fund works directly with entrepreneurs and early stage companies to make qualified referrals to Rio Tech Fund's local, regional, national, and international network of venture capital funds and other private investors.

Rio Grande RCIC

Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization

The Rio Tech Fund, Inc. houses the Rio Grande Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization (RCIC).

The RCIC acts as the regional agent for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) Committee to identify, evaluate and provide matching funding for new technology projects with the aim of increasing cooperation between industrial, financial, and academic entities, and of creating new commercial entities based on those technologies to establish new technical industry sectors in the region. The Rio Tech Fund/RCIC will make recommendations to the state governing board for the ETF, which will make final decisions on awards.

Companies interested in applying for a Commercialization Award should click on "Apply for Funding".