Emerge and Rise Celebrates Grand Opening of San Antonio’s First Social Innovation Hub
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 23, 2025) – On Earth Day, April 22, Emerge and Rise officially opened its doors to the community, welcoming over 150 guests to celebrate the launch of San Antonio’s first Social Innovation Hub.
Located in District 10, the new space is home to a venture development organization that focuses on helping small and growing businesses build solutions that prioritize community impact, sustainability, and economic inclusion.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, along with interactive community tours, pop-up experiences from local businesses, and a showcase of the hub’s first incubation cohort. Attendees included founders, local leaders, partners, and members of the city’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
CPS Energy’s Energy2Business (E2B) team was on-site providing energy efficiency resources for small businesses. We also welcomed our partner ADP, who is building their presence in San Antonio, and shared how their small business solutions — including payroll, HR tools, and compliance support — can help founders stay focused on growth.
A New Kind of Entrepreneurial Space
Unlike other incubators or co-working spaces, Emerge and Rise is built around venture development rooted in social innovation. That means working directly with local entrepreneurs who are solving challenges in areas like bilingual mental health access, food systems, clean tech, education, and financial inclusion — all while creating jobs and building wealth in overlooked communities.
“We’re not just a business center or coworking space,” said founder Lina Rugova. “Emerge and Rise is more like a front porch — a place where ideas meet action, where people feel seen, and where building a business also means building community. We’re here for founders and small business owners who want to grow with purpose and create something that truly belongs to San Antonio.”
The organization also announced that it is now the official home of the Founder Institute San Antonio chapter — a globally recognized pre-seed tech accelerator that will now run its local programming from within the Emerge and Rise space.
Designed with Purpose
The hub includes collaborative areas, a conference room, a training room, a media lab, and a community event space — all designed with the intent to build capacity for local entrepreneurs. Programming includes:
Financial coaching and readiness
Social enterprise development
Mentorship and venture planning
Workshops aligned with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
What’s Next
Following the Grand Opening, Emerge and Rise will host a monthly series of public workshops focused on topics such as:
Sustainable business practices
Community-based fundraising
Business resilience planning
Go-to-market strategy for mission-driven brands
To learn more or get involved, visit emergeandrise.org or email info@emergeandrise.org.
About Emerge and Rise
At Emerge and Rise™, we prioritize long-term sustainability—not just growth. As a San Antonio–based nonprofit venture development organization, we support small businesses and startups that are building with purpose or want to make a change. Our focus is on founders who care about people, planet, and place. We center our work on social innovation, eco-conscious practices, and addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) that shape our communities. From energy-efficient business models to mission-driven services, we help entrepreneurs grow in ways that are both practical and deeply impactful.
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