Techquila Podcast

JJ Childress & Erik Pavia

TECHQUILA IS A NEW SHOW DISCUSSING TECHNOLOGY FROM THE BORDER.GUESTS INCLUDE INNOVATORS USING TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE CHANGE ON THE BORDER, LATINX AND HISPANIC PIONEERS IN TECH, AND TECH VETERANS FROM BORDER REGIONS.TECHQUILA IS HOSTED BY JJ CHILDRESS AND ERIK PAVIA IN EL PASO, TEXAS.

Episodes

  1. Ricardo Mora: Fostering Innovation in Ciudad Juarez

    21/01/2021

    Ricardo Mora: Fostering Innovation in Ciudad Juarez

    Ricardo “Ricky” Mora was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He is an entrepreneurship evangelist, pioneer and has launched over 10 startups, ranging from telecomm, investment funds, IT services, FabLabs, and restaurants.  Ricky transformed the former U.S. Consulate in Juarez into the a Silicon Valley styled innovation park spread across a 1.8 acres.  It has tailor-made programs for the manufacturing industry, entrepreneurs and companies. It is a certified incubator by Mexico’s National Institute for the Entrepreneurship (INADEM) and includes an early investment venture capital fund as well as a Fab Lab.  The Technology Hub is also part of TechSpark’s signature project in El Paso and Juarez as the lead partner in The Bridge Accelerator.   The Bridge Accelerator Program was launched in the summer of 2019 with the goal of expanding connections between local supplier companies and manufacturers/maquiladoras in the Paso del Norte region. The Juarez – El Paso region has one of the largest concentrations of manufacturing output in North America. However, according to data from SIDE and COPARMEX, only 2% of current suppliers contributing to the region’s $39 billion USD manufacturing supply chain are locally based. To date, The Bridge has graduated 33 companies through 3 cohorts, and help secure $8,370,000 in new purchase orders, generate $780,000 in equity investment opportunities, and create over 150 jobs. Ricky also serves as the Fund Manager for Saba Investments. Technology Hub: https://t-hub.mx/en The Bridge Accelerator: https://tb-xl.com

    48 min
  2. Cathy Chen: Democratizing Technology With Fab Lab El Paso

    08/12/2020

    Cathy Chen: Democratizing Technology With Fab Lab El Paso

    In this episode Erik and JJ connect with Cathy Chen, Executive Director of Fab Lab El Paso. We learn about her and her husband's journey founding a STEM focused nonprofit in a community that was significantly underserved with the number of digital skilling opportunities available prior to Fab Lab's  launch.  Cathy also shares her experience as a first generation immigrant and touches on the gender and cultural gaps that persist in the STEM fields. Cathy Chen is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Fab Lab El Paso: a digital design, fabrication, and education space. Driven by her passion in advocating for the socialization and democratization of technology, she aspires to combine community-led, user-driven, and service-based model with creative innovation. Cathy champions the Maker Movement and works closely with designers, engineers, developers, and educators to execute high impact programs for the border community. In 2016, she was named STEM Educator of the Year by Chevron. In 2019, she received Innovation Award from Pioneer 21. In 2020, she received funding from Tribeca Film Institute IF/Then to produce a documentary short on a student DIY prosthesis story in El Paso, Texas. She studied Literature at Duke University and KMD Masters at Keio University in Tokyo. She also completed a Certificate of Readiness from Harvard Business School. Cathy is a native of New York City, currently residing in El Paso, Texas.” You can learn more about Fab Lab El Paso at https://fablabelpaso.org/ or follow them on Instagram: @fablabep

    1h 12m

About

TECHQUILA IS A NEW SHOW DISCUSSING TECHNOLOGY FROM THE BORDER.GUESTS INCLUDE INNOVATORS USING TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE CHANGE ON THE BORDER, LATINX AND HISPANIC PIONEERS IN TECH, AND TECH VETERANS FROM BORDER REGIONS.TECHQUILA IS HOSTED BY JJ CHILDRESS AND ERIK PAVIA IN EL PASO, TEXAS.