BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce congratulates members Daniel Pizaña and Erika Mazzola, co-founders of Noah’s Ark LLC, for earning Community Choice and First Runner-Up honors at the Startup Texas Pitch Feston Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization.

Noah’s Ark LLC is an integrated pet care platform designed to support lost pet recovery, wellness guidance, and community connections. Pizaña presented the company during the live pitch competition, where founders from the Emerging Industries program pitched to a panel of judges and an audience that selected the Community Choice winner.

“Seeing our chamber members take the stage, share their vision, and be recognized for their innovation makes us proud,” said Armando Villarreal, Director of Membership & Events at the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “The success of Noah’s Ark LLC reflects the entrepreneurial talent we have in the Valley, and it’s exciting to see them representing our community on such an important platform.”

Startup Texas Pitch Fest, powered by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), featured eight innovative startups that completed the AdvanceUp Accelerator curriculum facilitated by the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (UTRGV ECC). The event included fast-paced presentations, local food, music, networking, and community awards.

Other participants included:

·         Chariot 360 presented by Rigoberto Lozano: An upright, eco-friendly mobility device for accessibility, warehouses, and security.

·         DiaBuddy presented by Alan Salinas: An all-in-one app that simplifies diabetes tracking, reporting, and care organization.

·         Dot presented by Esteban Zavala: Shuttle tracking without hardware using drivers’ phones as live GPS with rider app integration.

·         Fast Port LLC presented by Steve Perez: An AI receptionist for small businesses handling calls, appointments, payments, and follow-up.

·         Shape Cards presented by Sebastian Melendez: Digital business cards with QR and wallet integration for error-free sharing.

·         Space Ocean Corp presented by Paul Mamakos: Water logistics for space exploration, enabling in-space sourcing and refueling.

·         Urban Plants presented by Douglas Best: Vertical growing systems using worm casting fertilizer, inclusive workforce training, and low water needs.

Startup Texas will host its second pitch night Thursday, Sept. 11, also at the eBridge Center.