10/13/2026
The RGV Startup Week team is heartbroken by the news of the passing of RJ Mitte.
RJ was a tireless advocate for disability rights, a patron of the arts, and one of Brownsville and the greater Rio Grande Valley's loudest champions.
All of us who worked with RJ will miss his generosity with his time, his personal warmth and humility, and his endless and contagious belief in other people's potential.
This April, we had the honor of hosting him on our stage for a panel exploring family legacy, philanthropy, and cultural investment in Brownsville, titled "The Long Game." He recalled how his grandparents instilled in him a lifelong love of the Rio Grande Valley.
Later, when asked about his vision for Brownsville's future, he told the audience, “There is no other place like it in the world, and I'm so grateful that I have family here, and I've been a part of this amazing community for quite some time, and have many friends here, and it's my home.”
We will miss you, RJ.