Startup Chica Spotlight: Teo Tijerina
Teo Tijerina is the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Onko Solutions LLC, an Austin-based company committed to the development of medical products for cervical cancer prevention and women’s health. Prior to Onko Solutions, Teo served as the Founder and Executive Director of technology accelerator EDCO Ventures and the Director of Social Enterprises for Southwest Key Programs. He has also worked in various managerial and technical roles with companies such as Dell, Conexant, and Dow Chemicals. Teo founded his first company, Innovei International, in 2004 in El Paso, Texas. Besides working with successful tech companies, Teo has also been a Board Member and served as a Board Advisor for various nonprofits such as Latinitas, Economic Growth Business Incubator, and Unlimited USA, and he was recently appointed to the City of Austin’s Hispanic Quality of Life Commission.
Latinitas is honored to have Teo Tijerina, a founder of both for-profit and non-profit ventures in the fields of impact investing and social enterprise, as a career presenter at the Startup Chica Conference on October 22nd.We asked Teo a few questions to get to know more about him and what got him interested in the startup industry.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I like challenges, and wanted to explore new adventures.
What skills are important for starting your own business?
The ability to take a risk and live with uncertainty.
What’s been a challenge you’ve faced in your career journey?
Being a first generation entrepreneur, I had to learn a lot of things on my own and I made a lot of mistakes.
Tell us about one mistake you made and what lesson you learned from it.
I didn’t test assumptions before moving forward with a fundraising plan, and I learned that I needed to understand the Customer or Investor before starting a plan to sell them a product or ask them for money.
How do you feel your background and culture has helped you?
My background has taught me to be resourceful, and my culture has kept me focused on building relationships.
When have you been the most proud of yourself?
When I can help my family.
What do you wish you could have told your 18-year-old self?
Have more fun and don’t worry so much.
What song or artist really gets you motivated?
La Frontera by Juan Gabriel
Who’s a female role model for you?
Rachel Maddow
What is one problem you wish the startup scene could solve?
More early stage capital for innovative enterprises.
What got you interested in helping with Startup Chica?
I enjoy talking to youth about entrepreneurship.
Latinitas’ Startup Chica Conference is a daylong event where girls ages 9–18 will take their ideas and turn them into a business that they will pitch to our judges with the help of coaches and presenters experienced in entrepreneurship, marketing and branding. Startup Chica takes place October 22nd from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Austin Community College Eastview Campus (3401 Webberville Road, Austin, Texas, 78702). Tickets are $10 and include lunch. Register a girl on our Ticketbud site by Oct. 21.
