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Small Business News & Opportunities
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2021 HCC Business Plan Competition
Apply by 5:00 pm January 29
In this Issue:
- Featured News
- 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition - Application Deadline - Friday January 29 at 5:00 pm
- 2021 Competition Sponsors
- Financial Webinar for Small Business Launch & Growth - Saturday January 30 - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Creating a Successful Business Plan - Online Continuing Education Class
- Other Virtual Events From HCC & Partners:
- Veterans Entrepreneurship Program
- Monthly Digital Marketing Clinic - Website Musts - Stay Current With all of These Google Changes!
- Minority Business Development Agency Business Center - Virtual Subs & Sandwiches - Spring 2021
- Small Business Administration Events
- More News from the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship - HCC Northwest
- Opening 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition Showcase Drew Big Crowd - Sponsors, Leaders, Trainers, Advisors, Community Partners and Competition Alumni Addressed Entrepreneurs Interested in Applying for the 2021 Competition
- Video - Competition Showcase
- Video - How to Apply
- Some Encouraging Words from our Competition Alumni
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Featured News
2021 HCC Business Plan Competition
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2021 HCC Business Plan Competition
Application Period - January 8 - 29
Prepare Now to Apply
The annual HCC Business Plan Competition is for Proposed, Startup and Existing Entrepreneurs. All accepted contestant teams get free training and advising late February through May to refine and polish their plans to start and/or grow their business. The top five teams win prize money! All graduating teams feel like winners because they all come out with the greatest value, a stronger written plan, slide deck and video to pursue their business goals and to seek funding.
Proposed and Startup* Entrepreneurs - Steps to Apply
1) Complete One Prequalifying Class or Program and
2) Attend the Financial Webinar/Workshop
3) Apply in January
Have you completed ONE of these Prequalifying Classes or Programs?
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HCC Creating a Successful Business Plan Online Continuing Education Class - Still Available! - Quick Sign Up It takes just three minutes to sign up and takes about 24 hours of your time! Scroll down for More and to Sign Up.
- Small Business Success Series by HCC©
- Small Business Management - College Credit Class at HCC
- Entrepreneurship and Economic Development - College Credit Class at HCC
- Liftoff Houston Startup Competition
- Houston Area Urban League Small Business University
- University of Houston SURE Program
If you still need the class/program scroll down to sign up for the self-paced class. You will have til February 15 to finish it. If you still need the financial workshop/webinar sign up for the Saturday January 30 webinar and be sure to attend it. Next, proceed immediately to submitting a strong application by FRIDAY January 29 5:00 pm.
Have you completed the above already? Then take a look at Application questions and work up your answers and submit a strong application by 5:00 pm FRIDAY January 29.
* You are considered to be a Startup Entrepreneur for the purposes of our competition if you had not yet achieved six continuous months of net profit prior to the pandemic.
Existing Entrepreneurs - Steps to Apply
1) Financial Webinar/Workshop
Do you still need it? Sign Up Now for the January 30 Webinar & attend it.
2) Apply
All Applicants Should Submit a Strong Application by January 29, 5:00 pm
Our Competition Website gives you the application's business concept questions. Work up your answers and cut and paste them into the online application.
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Thanks to our Sponsors!
2021 HCC Business Plan Competition
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Financial Webinar for Small Business
Launch and Growth
Saturday, January 30, 9:30 am-12:00 pm
For proposed, startup and existing business owners. A two-and-a-half hour webinar that sets you up for success. Know your numbers and plan right for 2021!
Our Presenters, Delivery Team and Funding Panelists
Featured Topics:
- Understanding the Primary Purpose of your Business
- How to Generate Revenue from your Business Idea
- Understanding concepts such as Burn-rate, Breakeven, and Cash-Flow
- Determining Cash Needs of Business
- Financing Cash Needs
- Financial Record Keeping
Funding Panel - Hear from, and ask questions of a panel of our financial resource partners from Houston's entrepreneurial eco-system.
Event Fee: Free to all entrepreneurs
This webinar is stand alone awesome! There is also another benefit.
Attending this webinar is a prerequisite for those applying for the
2021 HCC Business Plan Competition.
If you are applying for the 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition,
Be Sure to Submit Your Application Prior to Friday January 29 at 5:00pm!
Then, we'll see you at the Webinar on Saturday January 30!
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Creating a Successful Business Plan Class
Online Continuing Education Class
Takes 15-24 hours of your time
Self-Paced Class
Turn your business ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. Committing your idea to paper in the form of a business plan not only increases your chances of obtaining financing, but also in keeping your business strategically focused.
You will work through all the major components of writing a business plan and emerge with your first draft in hand. And most importantly, you will have completed the first-and most difficult-step on the path to small business success.
If you are a proposed or startup entrepreneur, this class prepares you
to apply for the Spring 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition (BPC)!
How it works: Complete 12 online lessons (each about 1.5 - 2 hours) with quizzes to advance to next lesson. At the end of the 12 lessons, take the multiple choice test to complete the class. (Hint - Save your quizzes; they prepare you very well for the final). The whole class takes about 15-24 hours of your time.
Easy Enrollment - Takes just three minutes to register for the class!
Choose Self-Paced Class if you are taking it to apply for the 2021 HCC BPC!
Self-Paced - Sign up any day any time and most certainly prior to submitting your Business Plan Competition Application! Our Continuing Education department gives you three months from the date you sign up to finish the class. However, for those taking the class as a prerequisite to apply for the 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition ("Competition"), the most important way to proceed now is to sign up for the Self-Paced Class PRIOR to submitting your application. Next work on submitting a strong application by January 29 at 5:00pm CST. Then complete the Self-Paced Class by no later than February 15, to satisfy the competition's application requirement.
Click below for more info on each lesson and to sign up for the class!
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Other Virtual Events From HCC & Partners
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Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)
This integrated three-stage program covers the key elements of gaining 21st-century digital skills, building practical small business and entrepreneurship skills, and offers an innovative combination of local resources and support structure to launch and grow businesses.
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Monthly Digital Marketing Clinic
February - Website Design Musts
Stay Current With All These Google Changes!
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Minority Business Development Agency Business Center
Virtual Subs and Sandwiches - Spring 2021
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Prepare Now: The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
Friday, January 29 | 9:00am CST | JOIN LIVE
Do you operate a live venue, live performing arts organization, movie house or cultural institution, or are you a theatrical producer, talent representative, or venue promoter and have been impacted by COVID-19? This webinar provides introductory information about the grants, who can apply, and how potential organizations can prepare- including how to register in SAM.gov.
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PPP Loan Forgiveness Overview and Q&A
Friday, January 29 | 1:00pm CST | JOIN LIVE
The SBA will share important factors and very helpful tips you should consider when completing the Loan Forgiveness applications. Q&A will follow.
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More News From
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Opening 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition Showcase Drew a Big Crowd
Sponsors, Leaders, Trainers, Advisors, Community Partners
and Competition Alumni Entrepreneurs
Spoke to All Interested in Applying for the 2021 Competition
Applications Are Being Accepted January 8 Thru January 29 at 5:00 pm
Proposed, Startup and Existing Entrepreneurs interested in applying for the 2021 Competition gathered virtually on January 7 to get to know all involved and learn more about applying.
Entrepreneurial Leaders addressed the crowd first and our sponsors spoke next. We gave huge thanks to our sponsors: LiftFund, Wallis Bank, Allegiance Bank, Tehrani and Associates, and Permit Us Now. We also thanked our In-Kind Sponsors: Houston West Chamber of Commerce, True Color Grapics, The Cannon, SEO411 and Synerlock. Recent and past winners and competition graduates also shared their stories and words of encouragement to those applying in 2021.
The "How to Apply Segment" was also awesome - After the festivities, Sandra Louvier, Austin Tenette, Helen Callier, competition advisors & trainers and many of the competition alumni held an inspirational and informative briefing with those interested in applying for the 2021 competition.
They also held a robust question and answer session.
For More Info and To Apply:
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Some Encouraging Words from our Competition Alumni
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Christa Clarke
Cubicles to Cocktails
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"The HCC Business Plan Competition gave me three things; clarity, confidence and connections. I realized, being an event based business solely was pretty risky; to tie up so much of your revenue string to that type of business model. Being in the Competition and then having the pandemic hit. It was just really divine timing for me. Advisors helped me gain clarity and make tweaks to my vision. Now I'm more confident in: hiring my team members and key contractors; in selling my business; and I'm set to reach certain milestones in 2021 and beyond. And the invaluable connections; my business advisors, have been committed to helping me along the way with my company Cubicles to Cocktails.
That is the gift that keeps on giving."
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Arneisha Sadler
Emeniss Call Center
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"I applied three times and did not get accepted. And I was like, super, super, super excited. And so, with that being said, I want to help encourage you to never, never, ever give up, keep applying. This competition has opened so many doors and opportunities for me. It established me as a real business and helped me get really serious. It allowed me also to be a part of two more business competitions for $10,000 as well and go for a few grants. But, just the wealth of knowledge and the support....I'm still in contact with my advisors and the sponsors and the other participants. So it is a really, really great experience. So I'm excited for everyone and I hope you all do well!"
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Tiffany Williams
Twice Media Productions
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"I was fortunate to win third place in 2016. I have since come back to serve as an advisor. I had the privilege and opportunity of working with Lyndsey Brantley who was the winner in 2019 and with Reda Hicks, who was a finalist last year. It's been a great opportunity to work with the business owners. I learned a lot from the program and share a lot of the same sentiments that have already been shared today. The money was great that I won, but the value that I got from working with my advisors and putting together a really strong business and growth plan was invaluable. So I came back to provide the mentorship and advisement for other businesses because I think it's just so helpful as entrepreneurs. It gets really hard and lonely sometimes but I think it's helpful to just have others give you that additional push or help you think of ideas that you might not have been able to come up with on your own. I'm always an advocate for the program. I love entrepreneurs and love the grit!"
"I really appreciate being invited back to come and see the growth, even with the pandemic. I love this program. We were a proposed business. We weren't even a startup. It was literally an idea, my co-founder went through the competition and I was on our team. We got a great foundation here of business fundamentals and principles that led to us becoming more of a higher growth startup. The fourth place prize money, the in-kind prizes and the business plan was all so valuable. We used most of them including one to get into an accelerator to grow. And it all started here at HCC and that's why I'm a big proponent. Yes, the money and the resources are great, but really leverage every single time and moment you have together, either through Zoom or more. The people helped us get to the next stage of our journey far beyond the competition long after it is over. So thanks so much. I'm really rooting for everybody here"
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About the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship - HCC Northwest
 OUR MISSION: To help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. We do this by offering workshops, seminars, summits, classes and competitive training and advising, while also providing practical knowledge, resources and connections.
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We are committed to furthering the cause of social justice in our community and beyond...
Houston Community College is committed to furthering the cause of social justice in our community and beyond. HCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status. I fully support that commitment and, as such, will work to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. In this course, we share in the creation and maintenance of a positive and safe learning environment. Part of this process includes acknowledging and embracing the differences among us in order to establish and reinforce that each one of us matters. I appreciate your suggestions about how to best maintain this environment of respect. If you experience any type of discrimination, please contact me and/or the Office of Institutional Equity at 713-718-8271.
From all of us to all of you In all our offerings!
Sandra Louvier, Director
David Regenbaum, Entrepreneur in Residence
Flora Renteria, Reception Assistant
Sabiha, Dholkawala, Administrative Assistant
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