Innovation with Purpose.
Impact with Place.

Strategic Update | November 2026
COL Shaun Brown speaking at the inaugural DHA / USAISR Alamo City Clinical Research Collaborative
Featured Story

Military and Clinical Researchers Gather at VelocityTX

VelocityTX welcomed approximately 35 leaders from across the region’s military, academic and clinical research communities for the inaugural DHA / USAISR Alamo City Clinical Research Collaborative on October 22. Participants shared research updates, discussed regional priorities and explored opportunities to work together.

Participating organizations included USAISR, BAMC, the 59th Medical Wing, UT San Antonio, the VA, CNTR, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the Geneva Foundation and the Joint Trauma System. We’re proud to help bring this community together and support the partnerships that will move military medicine forward.

PHOTO: United States Army Institute of Surgical Research Commander COL Shaun Brown speaking at the inaugural DHA / USAISR Alamo City Clinical Research Collaborative.
Jobs & Innovation

Helping Bioscience Innovators Build and Grow

October brought new members, practical support for entrepreneurs and continued engagement with research and military medical partners.

Taiwan Delegation Scheduled to Visit VelocityTX
International Engagement

Taiwan Delegation Visits the VelocityTX Campus

VelocityTX welcomed approximately 15 delegates from Taiwan’s Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association on October 30 at the invitation of the City of San Antonio’s Economic Development Department. The Taiwanese business organization’s visit included an overview of VelocityTX by Rene Dominguez, a presentation on San Antonio's bioscience industry by Heather Hanson, and a tour of the VelocityTX campus, where the delegation got a closer look at San Antonio’s bioscience innovation community.

Jeremy Nelson Joins Health Policy Conversation
Health Innovation

Jeremy Nelson Joins Health Policy Conversation at St. Mary's University

Chief Innovation Officer Jeremy Nelson joined St. Mary’s University’s Health, Economics and Law Policy Sessions (HELPS) to discuss the institutional and technological setting for health, including the workforce, systems and technologies shaping healthcare. Knight Aerospace President and CEO Bianca Rhodes and St. Mary’s law professor Chenglin “Gary” Liu joined Nelson, with Jerron Wheeler moderating.

BRDG Health Summit Takes Shape
BRDG Health Summit

BRDG Health Summit Takes Shape

BRDG 2027 returns April 7 at the Henry B. González Convention Center with the theme “Care at the Edge.” Seven tracks include the VA-proposed “Recovery at the Edge: Rehabilitation & Behavioral Health for Service Members and Veterans.” USAISR, BAMC and the VA have joined the planning committee, and keynote outreach is underway.
Explore the BRDG Health Summit program →

CEO Roundtable Puts AI to Work
Entrepreneur Support

CEO Roundtable Puts AI to Work

Both CEO Roundtable cohorts came together for an AI workshop led by Innovation Programs Lead Turner Rey. Participants learned to create tools tailored to their businesses, exploring ways to simplify daily work, support teams and free up time for bigger priorities. The joint session also gave members a chance to exchange ideas and learn alongside fellow bioscience business leaders.

Welcoming Joe Mims and Speckle Health
Campus Growth

Welcoming Joe Mims and Speckle Health

Welcome to Joe Mims, a longtime San Antonio tissue entrepreneur and CEO Roundtable member who will use office and lab space for his new company. Also joining VelocityTX is Speckle Health, a medical device startup developing wearable optical technology to support faster stroke assessment. We look forward to supporting both as they build their businesses.

Turner Rey Judges St. Mary’s Rattler Pit
Student Entrepreneurship

Turner Rey Judges St. Mary’s Rattler Pit

Turner Rey judged the college edition of St. Mary’s University’s Rattler Pit competition, which drew a strong turnout. Congratulations to winner Guillermo Campuzano Arellano of Coverly, an app that helps fill shifts when someone calls out. Thank you to the Greehey School of Business for connecting student entrepreneurs with the business community.

Supporting the Heroes of Military Medicine
Military Medicine

Honoring Leaders in Military Medicine

Last month, VelocityTX joined San Antonio’s military medical community at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation’s Heroes of Military Medicine Gala to recognize three physicians dedicated to improving care for service members and their families.

A&M–San Antonio Research Leader Visits Campus
University Partnerships

Exploring a Partnership with TAMU–SA

Also last month, VelocityTX welcomed TAMU-SA Vice President of Research Dr. Guido Verbeck for initial discussions about a potential partnership focused on pre-hospital and rural healthcare.

Vibrant Places & Shared Spaces

A Campus Where People Come Together

Film screenings, professional gatherings and Halloween celebrations connected our campus community with neighbors across San Antonio.

SABIFF Brings Film and Neighbors to the Courtyard
Community Spotlight

SABIFF Brings Film and Neighbors to the Courtyard

The VelocityTX courtyard became an outdoor theater for the eighth annual San Antonio Black International Film Festival’s Wrap-Day Party and Best-of-Show Screening. Friends and neighbors gathered to celebrate filmmakers, catch up with familiar faces and meet new people through a shared appreciation for storytelling. VelocityTX also hosted a festival workshop led by PlotWeaverAI exploring AI tools for film and audio. Thank you to the SABIFF team for bringing this celebration to life and giving our community another reason to gather.

CFO Leadership Council Connects on Campus
Business Connections

CFO Leadership Council Connects on Campus

The VelocityTX Innovation Center welcomed The CFO Leadership Council for a happy hour mixer, bringing together CFOs, finance executives, investors and entrepreneurs from across San Antonio. Conversation carried on right up to the end as guests caught up with colleagues and made new connections across the region’s business community. Thank you to the San Antonio Chapter of the IMA and Alamo Ventures for partnering with us, and to The Gambrinus Company for providing refreshments. We were glad to have this group of leaders on campus.

A Fangtastic Way to Give Back
Giving Back

A Fangtastic Way to Give Back

Fun costumes and a good cause came together at VelocityTX’s Fangtastic Halloween Blood Drive. Thank you to everyone who rolled up a sleeve, helped spread the word or came dressed for the occasion. We’re grateful to our community for making time to give back and support patients in need. We asked for blood. You delivered.

Halloween Fun at HalloEast
Eastside Connections

Halloween Fun at HalloEast

VelocityTX joined SAGE’s annual HalloEast celebration at The Espee in St. Paul Square. The free event brought families together with pumpkin painting, face painting, vendors and candy while showcasing Eastside businesses. Thank you to SAGE—San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside—and the volunteers and partners who made it happen.

Community Groups Gather on Campus
Partner Engagement

Community Groups Gather on Campus

Campus gatherings included an ALS meeting organized by Chris Cook and a National Organization of Blacks in Diabetes meeting. LEAD Filipino distributed election protection materials and voter guides.

Making Time to Connect Across Campus
Campus Community

Making Time to Connect Across Campus

Barista 101 and Corks & Karts gatherings gave the VelocityTX community a chance to connect outside the workday’s usual routines. These informal events help people across campus get to know one another.

People & Community Well-Being

Connecting Neighbors to Skills and Opportunity

Student workshops and community programs connected participants with science, practical support and people who can help.

Mental Health First Aid Builds Practical Skills
Community Well-Being

Mental Health First Aid Builds Practical Skills

Stronger communities start with people who look out for one another. More than 20 participants joined a Mental Health First Aid training session hosted at VelocityTX, led by the Center for Health Care Services Foundation. The session gave attendees practical tools to recognize signs of mental health challenges, start a conversation and help someone connect with the right support. Thank you to the foundation and everyone who took the time to learn how to support their friends, coworkers and neighbors.

Helping Neighbors Plan for Their Homes’ Future
Neighborhood Resources

Helping Neighbors Plan for Their Homes’ Future

Your home is part of your family’s story. More than 40 neighbors attended a free Transfer on Death Deed workshop at VelocityTX on October 13, led by Evelyn Brown of the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association with guest Rich Acosta of My City Is My Home. The session focused on planning for who will inherit a home. Onsite notary and county clerk services helped residents with filing, and filing and notary costs were covered. Another workshop is scheduled for November 4.

Helping Gervin Students See a Future in STEM
Step Into STEM

Gervin Students Discover a Future in STEM

Students can’t be what they can’t see. VelocityTX welcomed 23 George Gervin Academy middle schoolers for Step Into STEM with BBG Advanced Therapies. Students collected and viewed their own cells under a microscope and built robotic hand prototypes, connecting with STEM professionals while exploring prosthetics and bioscience careers.

Students Explore the Science and Business of Bioscience
Career Exploration

Students Explore the Science and Business of Bioscience

Legacy Middle School students explored bioscience with BBG Advanced Therapies scientists, extracting DNA and building robotic hand prototypes. East Central High School students joined an Inside Innovation tour of campus companies, with DNA extraction and a pitch competition connecting hands-on science with building a business.

Vital Signs

From the Studio

Conversations on entrepreneurship, renewable energy and the places that shape our communities.

Robert Miggins on the Future of Solar
Vital Signs Podcast

Robert Miggins on the Future of Solar

Big Sun Solar CEO and co-founder Robert Miggins joins host Jeremy Nelson to discuss the future of solar energy in Texas and the entrepreneurial journey behind his San Antonio company. The conversation covers the economics of solar, knowing when to pivot, emerging energy storage technologies and the company’s work with CPS Energy to make solar accessible without rooftop panels. There’s even a look at how sheep are helping make solar farms more sustainable.
Watch the full episode →

Jim Oppelt on Design and Community
Vital Signs Podcast

Jim Oppelt on Design and Community

LPA Principal and Design Director Jim Oppelt joins guest host Brian Peters to explore how architecture strengthens communities—and why good design starts with listening. They discuss community input, building trust with neighborhoods and how schools support learning and workforce development. The conversation also covers the Alamo Heights High School transformation, San Antonio’s distinctive built environment and where to find the best margarita in town.
Watch the full episode →

What’s Next

Coming Up in November

Campus programs, partner meetings and community engagements scheduled for the month ahead.

VelocityTX Programming

Nov4

San Antonio & The State of Innovation Report Launch Event

Nov4

Step Into STEM with Bowden Academy

Nov5

Free Seminar - Beyond The Lab: Tax and Government Relations Strategies

Nov17

Step Into STEM with Kitty Hawk Middle School

Nov19

VelocityTX Community Thanksgiving Potluck

Campus Activities

Nov2

Dignowity Hill board meeting

Nov4

Transfer on Death Deed workshop

Nov6

Financial literacy class presented by MIT Project

Nov10

Greater San Antonio Chamber Healthcare Council meeting

Nov11–13

Innovation team invited to attend the DARPA Triage Challenge

Nov13

Medical Ops Group executive planning meeting

Nov14

Dignowity Hill Historic Design and Review Committee; NSBE Jr. workshop

Nov15

Connected workshop presented by Masterpiece Ministries

Nov16

Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association meeting

Nov18

VelocityTX attending the Government Hill Alliance meeting

Nov21

Pillars & Pathways Foundation board meeting; NSBE Jr. workshop

Nov22

Connected workshop presented by Masterpiece Ministries

Nov23

VelocityTX attending the Denver Heights neighborhood meeting

Nov28

Dignowity Hill Historic Design Review board meeting

Family Movie Night Returns December 4
Save the Date

Family Movie Night Returns December 4

Join us December 4 for a Family Movie Night featuring Frozen. Plans include free food and popcorn, along with a free art activity from Carver’s Mobile Arts bus. Eastside Unites is also confirmed to participate, with additional community partners being invited. We look forward to welcoming neighbors and families for an evening on campus.