Innovate South Texas

The South Texas Business Lawyers

Innovate South Texas is a podcast exploring the gaps, opportunities, and solutions shaping South Texas’ innovation ecosystem. Hosted by attorney Matt Duke, it features thoughtful commentary and occasional conversations focused on how we can better support small and midsize businesses across the region.

  1. Jun 25

    How Alamo Angels Is Transforming the South Texas Startup Ecosystem

    What does it take to build a thriving startup ecosystem? In this episode of Innovate South Texas, host Matt Duke sits down with Sebastian Garzon, Executive Director of the , to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping innovation across South Texas. The conversation covers Alamo Angels' record growth, the increasing flow of venture capital into the region, and why funding alone isn't enough to create successful startups. Matt and Sebastian discuss the critical distinction between small businesses and venture-backed startups, the importance of experienced founders and operators, and how mentorship, exposure, and ecosystem collaboration can accelerate innovation. They also dive into success stories like Nopalera and Darkhive, the growing influence of the Rio Grande Valley, the impact of SpaceX on regional entrepreneurship, and what it will take for South Texas to produce its next generation of high-growth companies. Whether you're a founder, investor, entrepreneur, or community builder, this episode offers an inside look at where the South Texas innovation ecosystem stands today—and where it's headed next. Welcome! (00:00) The Evolution of Alamo Angels (00:25) Weaknesses in the Community - Financing (05:45) Startups vs Small Businesses (08:15) Tech Bloc's Tech Fuel 2026 (11:00) San Antonio's Community of Makers (12:40) Weaknesses in the Community - Lack of Operators (13:45) Highlighting Operators in the City (15:30) Sharing Stories Within Our Community (18:55) The Importance of Exposure (20:18) Lessons from the Spurs Finals Run (23:05) The Flywheel (26:00) Alamo Angel's Impact in The Valley (28:50) Thank You! (36:30)

    37 min

  2. Apr 24

    The State of Innovation in South Texas – Gaps, Opportunities and What's Next

    South Texas has the talent. The ideas. The potential. So where are the gaps? In the first episode of Innovate South Texas, Matt Duke explores the challenges facing our innovation ecosystem—from workforce and funding to founder experience and policy—and why it’s time for more open, solution-focused conversations. This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about starting the dialogue. Introduction: (00:00) The Why: South Texas' Innovation Movement (00:57) The Exciting Momentum – South Texas is Rising (02:54) The Honest Gaps – What We Still Need to Fix (05:54) Why This Podcast Matters Now (13:00)

    14 min
  3. #64 | Five Star Income Tax and Wrestling Official - Cindy Garcia

    06/27/2025

    #64 | Five Star Income Tax and Wrestling Official - Cindy Garcia

    New episode is live! 🎙️🎉 In this episode of South Texas Power Lunch, host Matt Duke sits down with Cindy Garcia—one of only three women NCAA wrestling referees in the nation. Cindy shares her unique perspective as both a tax preparer and a gig economy professional, balancing her time between running Five Star Income Tax and officiating wrestling matches at the local, state, national, and collegiate levels. We dive into the challenges and rewards of working in the gig economy, the tax issues that often catch independent workers off guard, and the unexpected stories that come from life on and off the mat. Whether you're a small business owner, gig worker, or just love a good story—this is one episode you won’t want to miss. #wrestling #ncaa #uil #gigeconomy #entrepreneur #taxprep

    23 min
  4. #63 | VelocityTX - Rene Dominguez

    06/14/2025

    #63 | VelocityTX - Rene Dominguez

    New episode of The South Texas Power Lunch out now! 👏In this episode, host Matt Duke sits down with Rene Dominguez, CEO of VelocityTX (formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation). With a strong background in economic development and a deep commitment to San Antonio, Rene shares how the organization is driving innovation in military medicine, education, workforce development and more. As a board member of VelocityTX himself, Matt offers unique insights into the mission and impact of the organization. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on San Antonio’s past, present, and bold vision for the future. Learn more about VelocityTX here: https://velocitytx.org/ #velocitytx #economicdevelopment #medicine #military #workforce #sanantonio #texas

    33 min
  5. #62 | SCORE San Antonio - Andrew Flippo

    05/29/2025

    #62 | SCORE San Antonio - Andrew Flippo

    New episode of The South Texas Power Lunch is here! Our host, Matt Duke, sits down with Andrew Flippo, entrepreneur and chairman of SCORE San Antonio. Matt and Andrew discuss Andrew's experience in his entrepreneurial journey, resources and offerings that are available to business owners in town, and more!

    29 min
  6. #61 | Japhet Media - Mary Ullmann Japhet

    04/25/2025

    #61 | Japhet Media - Mary Ullmann Japhet

    New episode is now live! 🎉 In this episode, Matt sits down with Mary Ullmann Japhet, founder of Japhet Media LLC, and talks about public relations (PR) for business owners. Matt and Mary dive into the importance of proactively integrating PR into your marketing mix for your business, and what to think about if some things may not go as planned. You won't want to miss Mary's insights!

    37 min

  7. 03/14/2025

    #60 | The South Texas Business Lawyers - Matt Duke and Connor McQuage

    In our 60th episode of The South Texas Power Lunch, host and managing attorney Matt Duke sits down with our new associate Connor McQuage - diving in to their backgrounds and what we do at The South Texas Business Lawyers.  Our mission is to educate, support, and advise every small to medium-sized business owner and startup in South Texas. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

    22 min
  8. #59 | Tabiat - Daniyal Liaqat

    01/02/2025

    #59 | Tabiat - Daniyal Liaqat

    New episode is here! 🎙️ Join us on The South Texas Power Lunch as we dive deep into the groundbreaking journey of Daniyal - CEO and Co-Founder behind Tabiat. What started as PhD research has blossomed into a transformative healthcare innovation, harnessing AI and wearable technology to revolutionize COPD care. 🎙️ In this episode: - The inception of Tabiat from early smartwatch experiments. - Overcoming challenges in healthcare innovation and navigating regulatory landscapes. - State-of-the-art advancements in cough detection, respiratory monitoring, and predictive health models. Discover how Tabiat’s incremental approach is paving the way for a future where - AI-driven insights empower better clinical decisions, saving lives and improving quality of life. Visit https://www.tabiat.care/ to learn more! #SouthTexasPowerLunch #Tabiat #HealthcareInnovation #AIinHealthcare #WearableTech #COPD

    25 min
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About

Innovate South Texas is a podcast exploring the gaps, opportunities, and solutions shaping South Texas’ innovation ecosystem. Hosted by attorney Matt Duke, it features thoughtful commentary and occasional conversations focused on how we can better support small and midsize businesses across the region.

Information

  • Creator
    The South Texas Business Lawyers
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The South Texas Business Lawyers
  • Show Website
    Innovate South Texas