The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, housed at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center, welcomes the 2025 class of Fourth Industrial Revolution Economy Venture Fellows.
The FIRE Fellows Venture Fellowship is a competitive program dedicated to training university students in the Borderplex region in venture capital, strengthening the regional startup ecosystem.
Program officials said that a lack of diversity in venture capital – across gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status – can create a self-perpetuating cycle of inequality. When certain groups are consistently overlooked for funding, they may struggle to gain traction and visibility in the startup world, making it harder for them to succeed and reinforcing the lack of diversity in the industry.
The FIRE Fellows Venture Fellowship is designed to address this gap by training underrepresented students in the Borderplex region and fostering a more inclusive investment culture.
FIRE Venture Fellows participate in a one-semester training and apprenticeship program, during which they gain hands-on experience in investment analysis, venture capital, and startup entrepreneurship. Designed for undergraduate and graduate students from universities in Las Cruces, El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, the fellowship enables participants to apply their knowledge by creating investment memos, developing investment theses, and working within their chosen industry sectors.
The 2025 class of FIRE Venture Fellows includes UTEP students Geronimo Tapia, Daniel Mata and Mario Alberto Quijano; NMSU student Dafne Acosta Flores; and Borderplex region students Roly Saldivar, Rodolfo Valdez, Analy Rodriguez, Jocelyn Acosta and Andrew Vergara.
These fellows come from diverse academic backgrounds including accounting, finance, computer science and marketing, and bring a range of internship experiences, education levels and career aspirations.
Venture capital deals require extensive analysis, research and due diligence. By learning how to evaluate potential investments and assess risk, FIRE Fellows develop critical thinking and analytical skills that can be applied to various business contexts.
"The caliber of applicants this year reflects the deep talent pool in our region. These fellows have the potential to make a meaningful impact in venture capital, startups, and innovation. I'm eager to guide them through this journey and help them unlock their full potential," said Beto Pallares, FIRE Fellows lead instructor and experienced venture capitalist.
"This fellowship is a testament to the growing collaboration across the Borderplex region. We are excited to continue developing programs that not only serve our local ecosystem but also build a strong foundation for the next generation of investors," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center. "The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship has long supported initiatives that cultivate entrepreneurial talent, and now we are expanding our reach by equipping future investors with the skills to drive economic growth and innovation."
The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship is committed to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial environment by empowering diverse communities to engage in entrepreneurship, improving access to early-stage investment opportunities, and inspiring students to develop innovative products and services for the commercial market.
For more information about the FIRE Venture Fellows, contact Murguia at
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/fire-venture-fellows-welcome-nmsu--utep-students-to-2025-cohort/s/b749b15d-81ac-4261-9a25-9d114a312158
