The Hill Country Venture Fest has announced Frontera Healthcare Network as its fourth Gold-tier sponsor, joining Hill Country Telephone Cooperative (HCTC), Central Texas Electric Cooperative (CTEC), and Texas Regional Bank. These sponsors will back the festival's October 1, 2026 student pitch night at the Odeon Theater in Mason, each contributing at the $1,000 Gold-tier level.
This year's sponsor lineup reflects the essential services that shape rural Hill Country life: healthcare, telecommunications, electricity, and banking. Frontera Healthcare Network adds a regional healthcare presence, while HCTC, CTEC, and Texas Regional Bank represent infrastructure that supports homes, schools, farms, and small businesses. For the festival, this diversity is intentional. The event is designed not merely as a competition but as a public affirmation that student ideas belong alongside established local institutions.
Katie Milton Jordan, a festival organizer, emphasized the significance of this broad support: "When a bank, a co-op, a telephone company, and now a healthcare group all say yes to the same room of kids, that tells you something about what this community values."
The festival, named the 2025 Texas Venture Fest of the Year by the Texas Venture Alliance, remains free for students and families, thanks to sponsor contributions. Additional sponsorships are still available at various levels, from Community Partner ($250) to Presenting ($2,000). Details are available at hillcountryventurefest.com.
By securing this diverse group of sponsors, the festival reinforces its mission to connect rural students with the organizations that sustain their communities, ensuring that young entrepreneurs feel seen and supported by the region's key players.
