After a two year hiatus, two events focused on technology startups are back on the calendar this month.
Tech Bloc, the San Antonio nonprofit focused on fostering the local tech industry, is hosting a pitch competition, Tech Fuel, and a speaker series called Tech Day. Resurrecting the events is part of the planned approach of new Tech Bloc CEO and former mayoral candidate Beto Altamirano.
Tech Bloc officially formed in 2015 after rideshare companies Uber and Lyft considered leaving the San Antonio market. Local tech industry heads rallied to keep those services in the area.
Bexar County has funded Tech Fuel since its first version in 2015. The contest ran consistently from 2019 to 2024, though events were paused last year amidst a leadership change at the organization. Bexar County resumed its support this year. On March 10, Bexar County Commissioners approved $200,000 in funding for Tech Fuel in 2026.
The pitch competition will be hosted at University of Texas at San Antonio’s downtown San Pedro I building on April 20. Startups and innovators will have a chance to pitch their ideas for a shot at thousands of dollars. On April 21, the free Tech Day event will include founders, CEOs and officers from the local tech and business community speaking on panels at Port San Antonio’s Boeing Center.
Commissioners approve funding
Last month, Bexar County Commissioners Court unanimously approved funding for the events. Half of the $200,000 will go to prizes, with the winner getting $50,000, second place getting $20,000 and third place receiving $10,000. An honorable mention prize is available for $7,500.
Altamirano said more than 80 applicants entered the contest. They were whittled to 25 semifinalists and now five finalists who will appear at Tech Fuel. Each finalist wins $2,500.
The other $100,000 in county funding goes to workshops, programming and event preparation, Altamirano told county commissioners.
Those commissioners supported the funding unanimously, even conservative commissioner Grant Moody (Pct. 3), who asked Altamirano to look at private donors to augment public funding for the event.
“There’s an important role for Bexar County to play in all this in terms of setting the stage and creating a fertile environment for businesses to flourish here,” Moody said at a Commissioners Court meeting on March 10. “I’m happy to support this.”
Altamirano said in a text message that Tech Bloc had received around $50,000 for the event from other sponsors in the private sector. He also said that startups that win money at Tech Fuel have gone on to secure more funding.
The competition has received $700,000 in funding from Bexar County since its inception, he said. Participants have gone on to raise $12.3 million in capital, Altamirano said, bringing investment and jobs to Bexar County.
Past winners
Tech Bloc lists finalists and winners since 2019 on its website. 2021 finalist Astroport operates out of Port San Antonio and is working on a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Roman Sandoval, founder of Allosense, a 2020 finalist, serves on Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ Economic Security Advisory Group.
Of the 30 former finalists, 16 are still active, two have successfully exited and sold their companies and 12 are marked as inactive.
Many applicants are in the early stages of their startup or business, Altamirano said, and aren’t looking for larger shares
The events did not take place in 2025 amidst a leadership transition at Tech Bloc, Altamirano said. Ileana Gonzalez left that role in May 2025. Altamirano, who finished third in the last mayoral election and is CEO and founder of Irys Technologies, took the position in September 2025.
He maintains his position at Irys while leading Tech Bloc.
New CEO, new goals
Altamirano said continuing to host Tech Day and Tech Fuel are part of his three-pronged approach for promoting San Antonio’s Tech industry.
He wants to foster direct investment in local startups and businesses, through both pitch competitions and facilitating connections to investors. Altamirano also plans to highlight San Antonio’s economic strengths — Tech Bloc is cohosting a panel series focused on San Antonio’s salient industries, like cybersecurity, manufacturing and biosciences.
Altamirano’s third objective is to promote Artificial Intelligence literacy among San Antonio residents through educational opportunities. He hopes to collaborate with local school districts to create a program for community members he said, but that is still in the works.
