South Texas has the talent. The ideas. The potential.

So where are the gaps?

In the first episode of Innovate South Texas, Matt Duke explores the challenges facing our innovation ecosystem—from workforce and funding to founder experience and policy—and why it’s time for more open, solution-focused conversations.

This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about starting the dialogue.

Introduction: (00:00)

The Why: South Texas' Innovation Movement (00:57)

The Exciting Momentum – South Texas is Rising (02:54)

The Honest Gaps – What We Still Need to Fix (05:54)

Why This Podcast Matters Now (13:00)

New episode is live! 🎙️🎉

In this episode of South Texas Power Lunch, host Matt Duke sits down with Cindy Garcia—one of only three women NCAA wrestling referees in the nation. Cindy shares her unique perspective as both a tax preparer and a gig economy professional, balancing her time between running Five Star Income Tax and officiating wrestling matches at the local, state, national, and collegiate levels.

We dive into the challenges and rewards of working in the gig economy, the tax issues that often catch independent workers off guard, and the unexpected stories that come from life on and off the mat. Whether you're a small business owner, gig worker, or just love a good story—this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

#wrestling #ncaa #uil #gigeconomy #entrepreneur #taxprep 

New episode of The South Texas Power Lunch out now! 👏In this episode, host Matt Duke sits down with Rene Dominguez, CEO of VelocityTX (formerly known as the Texas Research & Technology Foundation). With a strong background in economic development and a deep commitment to San Antonio, Rene shares how the organization is driving innovation in military medicine, education, workforce development and more.

As a board member of VelocityTX himself, Matt offers unique insights into the mission and impact of the organization.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on San Antonio’s past, present, and bold vision for the future.

Learn more about VelocityTX here: https://velocitytx.org/

#velocitytx #economicdevelopment #medicine #military #workforce #sanantonio #texas 

New episode of The South Texas Power Lunch is here!

Our host, Matt Duke, sits down with Andrew Flippo, entrepreneur and chairman of SCORE San Antonio. Matt and Andrew discuss Andrew's experience in his entrepreneurial journey, resources and offerings that are available to business owners in town, and more! 

New episode is now live! 🎉

In this episode, Matt sits down with Mary Ullmann Japhet, founder of Japhet Media LLC, and talks about public relations (PR) for business owners.

Matt and Mary dive into the importance of proactively integrating PR into your marketing mix for your business, and what to think about if some things may not go as planned.

You won't want to miss Mary's insights!

In our 60th episode of The South Texas Power Lunch, host and managing attorney Matt Duke sits down with our new associate Connor McQuage - diving in to their backgrounds and what we do at The South Texas Business Lawyers. 

Our mission is to educate, support, and advise every small to medium-sized business owner and startup in South Texas. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

New episode is here! 🎙️

Join us on The South Texas Power Lunch as we dive deep into the groundbreaking journey of Daniyal - CEO and Co-Founder behind Tabiat. What started as PhD research has blossomed into a transformative healthcare innovation, harnessing AI and wearable technology to revolutionize COPD care.

🎙️ In this episode:

- The inception of Tabiat from early smartwatch experiments.

- Overcoming challenges in healthcare innovation and navigating regulatory landscapes.

- State-of-the-art advancements in cough detection, respiratory monitoring, and predictive health models.

Discover how Tabiat’s incremental approach is paving the way for a future where - AI-driven insights empower better clinical decisions, saving lives and improving quality of life.

Visit https://www.tabiat.care/ to learn more!

#SouthTexasPowerLunch #Tabiat #HealthcareInnovation #AIinHealthcare #WearableTech #COPD

Our new episode is finally here! 🎉🎙️

Our new episode is now live! 🎙️

In this inspiring episode of The South Texas Power Lunch, we sit down with the CEO and founder Shireen Abdullah of Yumlish, a health-tech startup focused on culturally affirming, tech-enabled diabetes prevention programs. Driven by her personal health challenges and frustration with generic dietary advice, she shares how her journey led to the creation of a solution tailored for underrepresented communities.

Discover how Yumlish bridges the gap in diabetes prevention by leveraging text-based and web solutions—ensuring accessibility for low-income populations disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes. 🎙️ Tune in to learn:

💡 This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, healthcare innovators, and anyone passionate about making a difference in public health.

You can find more information about Shireen and Yumlish below:

www.yumlish.com

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X: @yumlish

Facebook, LinkedIn: Shireen Abdullah

X: @soshireen

Join us as we sit down with Luke Marshall, Founder and CEO at VitalFlo, a groundbreaking health tech company revolutionizing how respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD are diagnosed and monitored. Discover how their innovative spirometry tools are bringing vital testing and care to underserved communities, reducing ER visits, and empowering primary care providers to manage chronic lung diseases more effectively.

We also explore VitalFlo’s journey through the Methodist Healthcare Ministries & VelocityTX Accelerator program and its mission to expand access to care across South Texas. With insights on navigating healthcare's regulatory and funding challenges, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring founders and innovators.

We talk about:

- How VitalFlo simplifies pulmonary diagnostics for better accessibility.

- The impact of rural healthcare barriers on chronic disease management.

- Lessons learned about scaling in health tech and creating sustainable solutions.

Learn more about Luke and VitalFlow below:

Facebook, LinkedIn, X: Luke G. Marshall

Facebook, LinkedIn, X: @vitalflohealth

https://www.vitalflohealth.com/

#vitalflow #technology #research #medicine #respiratorycare #healthtech