Our Pledge
- We champion and foster the entrepreneurial journey.
- We strive to develop a unique community infrastructure.
- We focus on job growth through the new business build.
- We encourage open dialogue and collaboration.
- We endeavor to use diversity as a building tool.
- We encourage community leaders together to serve each other.
About Us
Learn How To Grow or Expand Your Small Business
Be one of many small businesses flourishing across San Antonio. With us, you can expect:
- Mentorship - Emerge and Rise™ offers customized mentorship programs targeted at early-stage startups and later-stage business owners looking to accelerate their success.
- Sustainable Business Strategies - Our strategic design process is a team-oriented discovery process led by an entrepreneurial coach. This program helps teams identify and prioritize opportunities independently without needing an advisor or investor.
- Access to a Variety of Services - Locally grown support networks provide access to investment capital, tax incentives, workforce development opportunities, cultural events, networking events, and other resources—all at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.
- Access to Valuable Resources - Networking, resources, funding, advisors, and mentorship are just a few of our extensive services for entrepreneurs ready to level up their success. Impactful And Long-Lasting Solutions - Building on our core values of equity, excellence, and sustainability will allow us to change San Antonio and make a lasting difference.
- Connection to a Small Business Community - Welcome to a community of emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners who care about success and invest in it. Our community-centric initiative brings together a diverse group of experienced entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, investors, mentors, advisors, teachers, and other professionals committed to impacting underrepresented communities across San Antonio through entrepreneurial development.
- Referrals to Business Advisors - A person or company can join Emerge and Rise™ as a member to receive opportunities from our events calendar and direct access to every program offered at Emerge and Rise.
- Increase in Reach and Awareness - A person or company can become a sponsor for our events or initiatives by providing monetary support or goods or services such as catering for an event or volunteerism.
- Post Open Job Opportunities on Our Board - hiring is the most challenging process of 2022; we want to help and spread the word.
Accessible - Whether it's a call or a visit, we're accessible every day - even on weekends - so businesses can work out of our space anytime. Industry Experts - With a team of industry experts on hand at all times, we're at the helm for any question on what it takes to launch or grow a small business. Place Matters - Investing in a space like Emerge and Rise's invests in the community's future.
Emerge and Rise Team
Lina G. Rugova, Founder/President
With over 15 years of experience in management consulting, strategic planning, and digital marketing, she is passionate about helping small businesses re-engineer and re-design their organizations to fit their goals personally and professionally. She advises service-based small businesses on how to restructure internal processes, implement innovation, and create partnerships for growth.
Lina holds Bachelor's Degree in Business and a Master's Degree in Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Pennsylvania State University, with certificates in Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma, Corporate Risk Management, Crisis Management, Continuous Improvement, and Digital Marketing.
Jen Rivera, Board Secretary
Jen leads all activities related to establishing and maintaining relationships with accountable care models and industry partners at the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS). She has over ten years of experience helping organizations rethink how their membership model can deliver a consistent return on investment for professional members. Before NAACOS, Jen was with the American Society on Aging, where she was the director of membership engagement, responsible for building a seamless, engaging, and impactful member experience.
Throughout her professional career, she has developed an understanding of building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders and implementing strategies to grow organizations. Outside the office, she volunteers with local organizations and enjoys creating social events in her neighborhood and friend groups.
Jen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership from Tarleton State University.
Elected 3/2023
Sarah Irwin, Esq., Board Member
Texas business attorney dedicated to providing access to affordable, high-quality legal services to nonprofits, small businesses, start-ups, and moderate-income individuals.
Sarah is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services to startups, small businesses, nonprofits, and moderate-income individuals. Her practice encompasses both litigation and transactional matters.
Sarah earned her B.S. in Political Science from Lamar University, her Master of Public Administration from Lamar University, and her J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. During graduate school, her studies focused on nonprofit creation, development, and management.
Elected 6/2022
Amanda Onochie, CNP, Board Member
A Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) of 9 years, Amanda works to introduce principles of Asset Based Community Development & Agile Project Management into redesigning NGOs, community groups, and businesses. Amanda's domestic & international work experiences have served as exploratory studies in her growing research on organizational leadership, leading to the founding of AB Community Development Solutions. Though created to increase the operational efficiency of the beleaguered community serving systems, her consulting also prompts organic growth & sustainable programmatic change.
In her free time, the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) educates the general public on the mutual benefits of service-learning through initiatives like Americorps.
Elected 6/2022
Javier Rubio, Board Member
Hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Javier Rubio indulged in the film industry at a young age. After his freshmen year of college at Sacred Heart University, Javier relocated to San Antonio, Texas, to pursue other industry opportunities.
In 2012 he created Monocle Firm, a multimedia company that seeks to incorporate cinematic and creative filming in commercial and independent productions. Monocle has grown with multiple departments, freelance artists, and community services in the past four years.
Elected 6/2022
Maggie Buentello, Esq., Board Member
Texas transactional lawyer based in San Antonio who works in the fields of energy, business, and real estate. Her practice specializes in situations where the three areas overlap, helping people find solutions to existing and unique complications, as well as working with clients to develop strategies for real estate and energy development, business or property acquisitions and divestitures, and other goal-related planning. She is Board Certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Maggie earned her B.S. in Legal Studies from American Military University and her J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduating cum laude. She is currently pursuing her LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova School of Law.
Elected 2/2023
Lou Botello, Board Member
Lou Botello is a business executive with an extensive and unique background, which includes experience as a licensed Texas Private Investigator and Personal Protection Agent and 15 years in the U.S. military. Lou's history in the military covers a wide range of fields, including financial management, auditing, budgeting, procurement, grant/contract management, and security/safety operations. As a manager, he has consistently monitored performance indicators and assessed workloads in order to meet and exceed goals.
On the private business side, Lou Botello has managed billions of dollars in construction projects, dozens of restaurants and retail outlets, and two successful tech startups. Additionally, he has participated in numerous global mobility deployments, gaining valuable knowledge and insights about various cultures along the way. His dedication to community, as well as his demonstrated abilities to build, lead, and motivate a team, make him an ideal candidate for our board of directors.
Elected 2/2023