Priya T. has worked with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) this summer. She got into the program by applying with the City of Austin. Her plan after the internship is to keep attending high school, finish off her senior year, and start exploring college options. Her most favorite activity was filming videos with Heidi.
Her expectation coming into the internship was that she was going to learn a lot about business. Some experiences she learned at EGBI while working there are how to make social media content with branding and how to format things in a professional way.
Her personal interests about business is that she sells her own clothes and things she makes and has a passion for being a salesperson. Something she would say to anyone else starting an internship at EGBI is to have fun with the people you meet and form friendships & connections.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org .
Do you need guidance when editing a video on Canva? Here are some steps you can take to create the video you want:
Step 1:Sign in to your Canva account
Go to Canva and sign in using your Gmail or with google
Step 2:Create video
Press the little purple button with a plus in the left bar menu
Search up what type of video you want to make. For example, if you want to make an Instagram reel, type that into the search bar, and the template will come up
Step 3: Get your videos on Canva
If you took the videos on your phone or a camera, make sure to download the video and have it on your computer
To get the video on Canva, go to the left bar menu and clip uploads
Click Upload Files and select the videos you’re going to use
Step 4: Edit the video
After you download the files, drag them into the “page”.If you’re using more them one video, click the plus sign next to the first video to open another page.
Cut and drag the video to the length you want.
Step 5:Edit what’s on the screen
If you want to put your logo or the information on the screen go to the left bar and choose “brand” or the “Text”
Decide how long you want to leave the Text up on the screen. If you want it on for 10 seconds, drag the text box to the 10-second line.
Rogers’ banking journey began at age 18 at NationsBank (now known as Bank of America), where his sister had gotten him an interview. Initially, he hadn’t wanted to go into banking, but took the interview and got the job. He got the job as a teller and continued working from there.
Today, Rogers works at Cadence Bank as the commercial relationship manager and owns two businesses: a photo booth business and a commercial cleaning move-out business. He said his primary goal for starting these businesses was to maximize his income for his family in the long term, and his freedom, so he no longer will have to work a 9-5 in the future.
In 2006, Rogers acquired a trucking company and 18-wheelers to haul agriculture, mainly in Corpus Christi. Most businesses are cyclical, meaning they are seasonal, and in agriculture, there is planting to harvest.
“This operates about 7 months out of any 12-month calendar year, to which you have to offset your business by finding other loads to carry,” Rogers said.
What he would do in those cases was have things called reefer vans and dry vans. So they had refrigerator trucks, and haul general freight interstate throughout the US.
With plans of not remaining in banking for the rest of his life, Rogers said his mom and pop businesses he owns will generate enough income to step down from the 9-to-5.
“I will leverage a portion of that income into developing either rentals or ADU’s primarily in South Texas,” he said. “I am also currently researching to open up a string of laundromats as well.”
Rogers used to work with the CDFI People Fund, where he had come across EGBI, because they would service with technical assistance to some of the clients that they could not in instances of overflow.
“When there were classes like this based on marketing and business, cash flow management, taxes, even if our classes were full, then we would send our individuals and clientele over to EGBI, and they did a great job,” he said.
Rogers said he loves the fact that EGBI helps minorities.
“I love the passion of everyone that works for the organization, and I look forward to their growth and success in the future.”
Who is Dulce Garcia? Dulce has her own cleaning company, Dulce Cleaning. She wanted to start her own company to take care of her family and at the same time offer a service that truly makes a difference. With this purpose in mind, she realized that the cleaning business was what she wanted to do. Not only because it met the requirements she was looking for, but because she could apply her work ethic, her love for tidy organization, and her desire to help others reclaim their clean and healthy space.
Dulce’s business is not just about cleaning, she is proud to see how far she has come, and to know that by leaving a clean home, she is helping to create a more pleasant home environment for her clients. This business not only leaves her clients satisfied, it also brings Dulce satisfaction to see how she has been able to build her own business.
Another quality that sets Dulce’s business apart from any other cleaning company is that her team treats each client with respect and dedication. They focus on understanding the specific needs of each client, seeking to exceed their expectations, and with every job completed, she strengthens the trust her clients place in her business.
She considers EGBI as a fundamental pillar for the development of her business. They provided her with advice, workshops, and tools to help her better understand how to manage her own business, from finances to marketing to promote her services. What she values most has been the constant energetic support she has received from EGBI in the process of growing her business.
Dulce advises people who want to start their own business to be determined and open-minded.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out from the beginning, but you do need determination and a willingness to learn,” she said. “And yes, I would definitely recommend EGBI. They give you the knowledge, support, and confidence to keep going, even when challenges arise.”
What is Dulce’s vision for her company in the next five years?
In five years, she would like to see her company more established, with a larger team, and providing services in more areas of the city. She wants to continue training to improve her processes and perhaps be able to offer new services. Most importantly, she wishes to keep operating while maintaining her values: Quality, Responsibility and Empathy.
Thank you Dulce for letting EGBI be part of your story.
If you would like to start or grow your business, feel free to contact us by email at hello@egbi.org. Learn more.
Alina Tapia Romero, founder of Eazy Start Insurance, turned childhood dreams and real-life challenges into a thriving Austin-based business. Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and brought to the U.S. at age 7 after losing her mother, Alina found her calling in the insurance industry by chance but built her agency with purpose.
In 2021, with a vision to educate and empower her community through accessible, honest insurance guidance, Alina launched Eazy Start Insurance. The name was inspired by a client who told her, “It’s so easy to get insurance with you because your character makes it easy.” That simple compliment became the brand’s identity and what sets it apart.
Alina was introduced to EGBI while preparing to open her business. She credits the organization with helping her understand the foundational steps of launching and running a business. From business planning to marketing strategies, EGBI’s support gave her the confidence to move forward.
As her agency grew, Alina chose to give back, volunteering with EGBI to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Her goal is to help others the same way she was helped: through guidance, encouragement, and shared experience. She remains an active supporter of EGBI’s mission and continues to uplift others in her community.
Today, Alina dreams of expanding Eazy Start Insurance across Texas, and sees EGBI as a continuing partner, ready to help at any step in that journey.
If you would like to find out more about EGBI’s business coaching, please visit this link https://egbi.org/coach/.
