Five Midland Businesses to Receive $500,000 in Startup Funding

Winners of the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge to be announced on March 2

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Midland Development Corporation and the University of Texas Permian Basin are set to reveal the winners of the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge, a competition that will award $500,000 in startup funding to five local businesses.

Why it matters

The Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge is a key initiative to support small business growth and entrepreneurship in the Midland community. The funding provided to the winners can help these businesses get off the ground or expand their operations, contributing to the overall economic development of the region.

The details

The annual challenge is funded by the Midland Development Corp. and hosted by the University of Texas Permian Basin. After three rounds of competition, five finalists were selected from over 200 participating businesses to receive a share of the $500,000 in prize funding. The judges for the challenge are a panel of five local business leaders who volunteer their time and expertise.

  • The Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge began in September 2025 and is a six-month business boot camp.
  • The winners will be announced and presented with checks on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Midland Development Corp.

The organization that funds the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge.

University of Texas Permian Basin

The host of the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge.

CC Serrato

The program coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin's Office of Innovation & Commercialization.

Brad Bullock

The chairman of the Midland Development Corp. board.

Lori Blong

The mayor of Midland, Texas.

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What they’re saying

“The challenge is one of my favorite things to do at UTPB. I've done this for six years.”

— CC Serrato, Program coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin's Office of Innovation & Commercialization (mrt.com)

“The judges continue to do an excellent job in their roles. It's in the hands of five prominent judges known in the community who take this seriously.”

— CC Serrato, Program coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin's Office of Innovation & Commercialization (mrt.com)

“One of our all-stars is The Birth Center. When it came through, it was just an idea, and when they won $100,000, it catapulted them to where they are now — a major success.”

— CC Serrato, Program coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin's Office of Innovation & Commercialization (mrt.com)

What’s next

The five winning businesses will receive their $500,000 in startup funding at a ceremony on March 2, 2026, where they will be presented with checks by Brad Bullock, the chairman of the Midland Development Corp. board, and Mayor Lori Blong.

The takeaway

The Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge is a valuable program that supports small business growth and entrepreneurship in the Midland community. The $500,000 in startup funding awarded to the five winning businesses can help them get off the ground or expand their operations, contributing to the overall economic development of the region.