UTRGV hosts successful failures at El Hueso de Fraile

The UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corp. hosted “The Failure Institute” Aug. 30 at El Hueso de Fraile in Brownsville. 

The event is not meant to mock failures but to “tell stories that make us stronger” to encourage local entrepreneurs and community, read a banner on the stage.

One of the night’s “failures” was Jason Medina, CEO and trainer for STX Metal Trades LLC.  

After quitting not one but three jobs, Medina took matters in his own hands and opened a metal trades training center.

After realizing his previous places of employment were not in line with his beliefs, Medina left. 

“Just follow your own vision,” he said.

Medina has been in the business of “making a change” in the community since last year and has had 32 graduates come out of his training center. 

William Brown, founder and CEO of Embedded, said his failure was taking too long in deciding to change his business model.

Brown said the equipment the company was utilizing before was too difficult to work with and expensive.

“Moving over to new technology allowed us to do what we wanted to do,” he said. “I’m glad I learned from that.”

Brown’s biggest advice is to pivot ideas if pivoting is required.

“Don’t be afraid to take a leap or a change if you need to,” he said.