For six years, Austin FC and Q2 have helped local entrepreneurs turn big ideas into thriving businesses through the annual Dream Starter Competition. This year’s grand prize winner is Renato Raposo, founder of Austin-based Oca Foods, who walked away with a $100,000 grant to help grow his company.
Images from Q2 Dreamstarter Pitch Competition Event at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday May 27, 2026. (Photo by JJ Moothart/Austin FC)
Raposo and Q2’s Abeer Thomson joined Trevor Scott to share more about this annual initiative and how it impacts local entrepreneurial efforts.
This year’s grand prize winner is Renato Raposo, founder of Austin-based Oca Foods, who walked away with a $100,000 grant to help grow his company.
The competition supports entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities and aligns with Q2’s mission of building strong and diverse communities through financial empowerment.
“We provide a $100,000 grant to a Central Texas entrepreneur,” said Q2’s AbeerThomson. “We really saw that in Oca and believed it aligned with our mission.”
A Local Product With a Big Story
Oca Foods produces preservative-free snack bites inspired by Brazilian flavors and made with simple ingredients. The company currently offers both regular and sugar-free varieties that are vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
“Oca is a food business with a very simple mission,” Raposo said. “To create delicious, preservative-free snacks that taste good and connect people.”
The company’s journey started at home, where Raposo and his wife began making the product before testing it at Austin-area farmers’ markets.
“We’re an Austin company, really local,” he said.
Oca Foods entrepreneur wins big with Austin FC’s Dream Starter presented by Q2
Winning the Pitch
After advancing through multiple rounds, Raposa took the stage at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium to present his business to a panel of judges.
“It’s all about preparation,” he said. “I know Oca better than anybody else because I created it.”
Thomson said the judges were impressed by more than just the product.
“The product is amazing, but beyond that, it was really his story,” she said. “It’s about their culture, their family, and the team behind it.”
Images from Q2 Dreamstarter Pitch Competition Event at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday May 27, 2026. (Photo by JJ Moothart/Austin FC)
What’s Next for Oca?
Raposo plans to use the funding to scale production and increase marketing efforts as the company continues to grow.
“The goal is to keep investing in scaling the business,” he said. “We need people to know who we are, what kind of products we make, and why we exist.”
Images from Q2 Dreamstarter Pitch Competition Event at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday May 27, 2026. (Photo by JJ Moothart/Austin FC)
Encouraging Future Entrepreneurs
For anyone considering applying for future Dream Starter competitions, Raposo has simple advice:
“Don’t think twice. Go ahead and apply.”
Images from Q2 Dreamstarter Pitch Competition Event at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday May 27, 2026. (Photo by JJ Moothart/Austin FC)
Where to Find Oca Foods
Oca products are currently available in more than 40 H-E-B stores across Texas, as well as local retailers including Royal Blue Grocery and other independent Austin businesses. Products can also be purchased through Amazon and the company’s website.
Oca Foods entrepreneur wins big with Austin FC’s Dream Starter presented by Q2
To learn more about the Dream Starter Competition, visit AustinFC.com/DreamStarter. For more information about Q2 and its community initiatives, visit Q2.com.
Oca Foods entrepreneur wins big with Austin FC’s Dream Starter presented by Q2