EL PASO, Texas — Technology Hub, in Juárez, and El Paso’s Pioneers 21 business incubator, in partnership with Microsoft TechSpark and the regional business community, are proud to announce that applications for the third cohort of The Bridge Accelerator – Binational Supplier Development Program are now being accepted through September 14, 2020.

The Bridge Accelerator is the world’s first bi-national business accelerator program. Businesses that are looking for ways to grow and innovate in the Paso del Norte region which service the manufacturing industry on the Mexico-U.S. border are encouraged to apply now.

Apply by September 14, 2020! http://tb-xl.com/

The Bridge Accelerator – Binational Supplier Development Program is a rigorous 12-week training program designed for existing Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) from El Paso and Ciudad Juárez looking to grow and innovate their business practices. The 12-week training program includes a business model canvas applied to manufacturing suppliers, workshops, working groups, panels and networking events. For the first time, new Bridge Accelerator participants will take part in the program virtually due to COVID-19. The program will culminate in The Bridge Accelerator Demo Day, where participants will showcase their pitches to industry executives and compete for seed funding.

“So far The Bridge Accelerator has created $4 million in sales and 108 new jobs created here in the Borderplex region,” said co-founder Ricardo Mora. “The Spring 2020 cohort conducted 29 one-on-one interviews during Demo Day and raised $770,000 in sales and 38 new jobs. We think the new cohort can be just as successful, if not more, with the new virtual program we’ve created for this latest edition. All of the companies who have been involved in the Bridge Accelerator to date have gained valuable tools and experience that will see them through more success in the future.”

After completion of the program, businesses will leave with an understanding of the unique requirements of the manufacturing industry and binational business culture, identify the relationship between innovation and the supply chain, identify models and intellectual property connection, market strategies and funding. SMEs from the Borderplex region which have been in business for at least two years are eligible to apply.

About The Bridge Accelerator

The Bridge Accelerator is a binational innovation training program that seeks to expand the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as suppliers of large manufacturers in the Paso del Norte region. The Bridge Accelerator program was created through a partnership between Technology HUB in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, the Pioneers21 business incubator and hub, and Fundación Axcel.
The Bridge Accelerator is made possible through support from Microsoft and sponsors, including TECMA Group, Transtelco, the City of El Paso, the Chihuahua Department of Innovation and Economic Development, the City of Juarez, the Hunt Family Foundation, Arrowhead Center FIX at NMSU, WestStar Bank, Seisa Medical, High Desert Capital, CIDER, Fideapech, the Borderplex Alliance, Ciudad Juárez Economic Development (DECJ), Detroit Axle and others.