Celebrating 10 years of the Stumberg Venture Competition

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Ten years. Sixty teams. Nearly $600,000 invested and countless ideas sparked into reality.

The Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition, Trinity University’s signature two-part startup pitch contest, has spent the last decade fueling student innovation and entrepreneurial ambition. Each spring and fall semester, the competition gives Trinity students the chance to pitch their ventures, compete for mentorship and funding, and discover where they fit within the fast-moving startup ecosystem.

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On Tuesday, October 14, from 5:00-7:30 p.m., the competition will mark its milestone 10th anniversary with another high-stakes final round, where a $25,000 grand prize is at stake. But the real story lies in its lasting impact: fostering innovation, opening doors, and launching the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals, many of whom have moved beyond their startups into broader careers.

Across its history, 119 student finalists have secured funding and mentorship through the competition, changing the trajectory of their lives and careers.

Hear from alumni spanning this decade, whose journeys all began with a Stumberg Competition pitch. And see how their lives and careers were transformed by the competition’s enduring potential to unlock something more important than funding: lifelong connections, contagious confidence, and boundless creativity in the face of any odds.

Chris Stewart
Startup: LuxTurn
Now: Assistant Vice President, Amegy Bank

From designing a motorcycle turn signal to managing multimillion-dollar portfolios, Chris Stewart has built a career around problem-solving and relationships — skills first sharpened in the Stumberg Competition.

“I loved that Stumberg gave me the chance to learn how to register a business, 3D print a prototype, and pitch our idea,” Stewart said. “Those are all skills I still lean on today.”

After LuxTurn, Stewart rotated through lending groups in real estate, small business, corporate, and private banking before landing on his current team at Amegy Bank, where he now manages a $40 million loan portfolio. “The connections we built with some of the experts the University brought in — I’m still in contact with them,” he noted. “Every day’s a challenge, and I like that. My goal is to keep building my network.”

For Stewart, the Stumberg Competition also underscored the power of community.

“Even a big city like San Antonio gets a lot smaller if you have the right connections. You run into a lot of the same people, and you need to know how to build those ties,” he said.

And sometimes those ties come full circle — one of Stewart’s clients today is his former LuxTurn partner, Bobby Magee. 

Wren Ramos
Startup: New Works SA
Now: Fundraising Professional, Trinity University; Executive Director, New Works SA

For Wren Ramos, Stumberg meant more than a competition — it meant creating a future. While still a student, Ramos co-founded New Works SA, a nonprofit theatre company that continues to thrive today. Now, she juggles two full-time roles: raising funds for Trinity University and leading New Works SA.

“I actually wouldn’t have gotten my job at Trinity without New Works,” Ramos said. “I didn’t possess the qualifications on paper, but the experience I gained running a nonprofit through Stumberg proved I could do the work.”

For Ramos, the most powerful part of Stumberg was the opportunity to build something real.

“Instead of just filling an internship role, I got to start something of my own,” she said. “You get paid by Trinity to launch and run a company — that’s a unique opportunity most schools don’t offer.”

The competition also unlocked new confidence.

“Stumberg taught me everything about starting a business, and it was exciting to have professionals and professors tell me I had the ability within me to succeed,” Ramos said.

Ramos believes that’s why the program leaves such a lasting mark.

“Whether or not their companies still exist, Stumberg changes people. It definitely changed me.”

Ten years in, the Stumberg Competition is proof of what makes Trinity stand out: hands-on learning that pushes students beyond the classroom, paired with big-school entrepreneurship resources in a small, liberal arts setting.

Come see the next generation of problem-solvers and critical thinkers take the stage at the 10th Anniversary Stumberg Venture Competition Finale on Tuesday, October 14. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the program to follow from 5:00-7:30 p.m.

Be sure to read up on the five finalists who’ll be competing for the next grand prize in the upcoming final round. Trinity would also like to thank and recognize an exciting panel of judges that includes:

Luz Cristal Glangchai, CEO & Founder, VentureLab;
Dawn Lafreeda, President & CEO, Den-Tex Central Inc;
Justin McMorrow ’93, Chairman and Founder, Elsmere Education;
Eric Stumberg, Founder, TengoInternet, Inc.;
Sandra Lilia Velasquez, CEO & Founder, Nopalera;
Graham Weston, CEO, Weston Ventures, Inc.

RSVP to save your spot, and be sure to see more details about the finalists and judges here.

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