Mid-January Small Business 
Opportunities & News     
In this Edition:
  • A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
  • Featured Entrepreneur Updates & Successes
  • Small Business Opportunities - Position For Success in 2018
  • Upcoming Gatherings in January
  • More HCC Alumni Entrepreneur Updates
  • HCC will be closed January 16 Due to Inclement Weather!  
A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Jimmy L. Adams, Jr., Dean, Media Arts & Technology, Center of Excellence 
 
FREE AT LAST: A DREAM REALIZED On this day, January 15th, 2018, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We celebrate his dream of bringing freedom, justice, and equality to a nation divided. On this day, we are reminded of that historic day, August 28, 1963, when Dr. King delivered his legendary "I Have a Dream" speech. Let us not forget the state of the black experience in America and the struggle of a people's fight to overcome Jim Crow; to vote; to pursue an education; to sit at the front of the bus; their fight for freedom, justice, and equality. On this day, let us not forget how far we have come, but how far we still have to go to continue to realize his dream.  Poem  
Featured BPC Alumni Updates-2017 BPC Winners
Stem Cell Security, SpenDebt and Wanderlust 
 
Stem Cell Security, Doris Taylor, 1st Place - Stem Cell Security LLC (SCS) is an early stage cell storage and data management service, in Houston, Texas. SCS provides clients with the opportunity to conveniently collect, quantify, and securely bank their blood-derived cells.   "Stem Cell Security really got off the ground because of our experience at HCC," said Doris Taylor of the 1st place team. "Not only did we gain invaluable insight from industry leaders and amazing advisers, we won funds that enable us to begin our journey. 
These funds have been used to create our early pitch media, help us get our legal footing and pursue our first office space.  SCS exists because HCC-Newspring kickstarted us."

SpenDebt, Kiley Summers, 2nd Place  SpenDebt is a financial technology company designed to assist people in paying off their debt by making everyday purchases. As this year comes to a close, we want you to know that we have completed our initial product development, testing, and we are  launching beta 1.0. More

Wanderlust Deidre Mathis, 3rd Place, Opening Spring 2018,  in the Museum District.  Wanderlust is a modern millennial accommodation, that caters to millennial travelers who are visiting Houston on a fixed travel budget and looking for a socially oriented community environment. Ms. Mathis Also Leveraged her Spring 2017 3rd Place Win and HCC Newspring BPC Experience and won three more competitions in 2017 Accumulating $23,000 in Prize Money.      More   
Small Business Opportunities
Plan for Success in 2018  - January 17 Deadline  
   
Apply Now - Free Mentoring & Training in Spring for Business and Growth Plans - Chance to Win Prize Money  

2018 HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition  

 

For Proposed, Startup and Existing Business Owners 

Applications Accepted January 1-17 

 

Timeline:

  • Apply January 1-17, 11:59 pm
  • All Accepted Contestants Notified by February 16  
  • Free Competition Training Session Dates & 1-on-1 Mentoring - Five 2-Hour Tues Evening Sessions 2/27, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17
  • Plans Due - May 7
  • Finalists Present to Judges - May 24
  • $35,000 in Seed Money & In-Kind Prizes Awarded - May 30. 

For More on the BPC and To Apply 
 
Upcoming Events in January - Save the Date 
 
   
Quick But Effective Online Learning - Creating a Successful Business Plan - Class Takes Just 24 Hours of Your Time From January 17 through February 25
   
Sign Up Now for the Class That Starts January 17 - Then Complete Your BPC Application between January 1-17. 
  • Your Chance to Sign Up for the Quickest Class - Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs Should Take this Class Prior to the Start of BPC Training.  Sign up Now, Finish February 25. Applicants Chosen for Free Competition Mentoring and Training will be Announced up through February 16. Competition Training Starts February 27. 
  • Sign up in 3 minutes .  Instructor - Kris Solie-Johnson.
  • For More on this Class   
 
Subs & Sandwiches - Houston MBDA Business Center 
Wednesday January 17
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Houston Contractors Association  
4001 Sherwood Lane, 77092

The Houston MBDA Business Center presents Subs and Sandwiches with the Houston Contractors Association.  This month, DBE-certified subcontractors that perform civil construction work will have the opportunity to meet with prime contractor members of the Houston Contractors Association. Participating prime contractors include Harper Brothers, Pepper-Lawson and Reytec.  
 
Financial Workshop for Small Business Launch and Growth 
9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Choose Your Preferred Date

Saturday January 20, HCC Spring Branch
Tuesday January 30, HCC Spring Branch
Saturday February 10, HCC Alief Hayes

Understanding Cash Needs, Loan & Business Financials - .  BPC Applicants still needing the workshop should sign up for the workshop prior to submitting BPC Application & attend on the workshop date.  Teams chosen for the BPC will be notified of acceptance by 2/16.  
 
Recovery Lending NOW - Financial Assistance for Small Businesses Recovering from Hurricane Harvey
Wednesday January 24 
11:30 am - 2:00 pm 
UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, #200

Join the Houston MBDA Business Center and LiftFund for a financial assistance event for small businesses recovering from Hurricane Harvey.  LiftFund and MBDA representatives will be available to present options and to accept applications for small business hurricane relief loans up to $25,000 at low to 0% interest.  
January News, TV and Radio  
January Appearances 
TV and Radio Spots 

Check out our Recent Videos
 
Hot Topic TV - January 2  
Featuring Sandra Louvier
Director,  Center for Entrepreneurship 
BPC Alumni:  Deidre Mathis - Wanderlust 
Helen Callier - PermitUsNow  

Houston Dialogue Talk Show - January 3
Featuring  BPC Trainer & Judge
Richard Tyler, Richard Tyler International  
BPC Alumni, 
Khurum Choudry, Legacy Rags

Small Business Today Radio - January 10
Featuring 2018 BPC, Sandra Louvier 
2017 Winners
Doris Taylor, Stem Cell Security
Kiley Summers, SpenDebt.
 
Over 50 Gathered at Each Seminar Offered Last Week! 
HCC Alief Hayes and HCC Eastside Played to Full Houses

January 9 - They Trained About Online Marketing for Small Businesses 
January 13 - Starting & Running Your Own Business Seminar Ran All Day 
 
On Tuesday morning January 9, over 50 gathered at the Center for Entrepreneurship at HCC Alief Hayes to attend our Taking Your Business Online Seminar.   Presentations and interactive Q&A were designed to boost EPresence & Brand for the entrepreneurs in attendance. Topics included Websites, Social Media, Eblasts, Compelling Content, Pics and Videos.  A strong turnout happened again on January 13 at HCC Eastside as SCORE and HCC delivered our Starting & Running Your Own Business Seminar.  These new year seminars are stand alone wonderful because they are packed with useful training, information, resources and tips.   The Starting and Running Your Own Business Seminar has changed lives for the better, when attendees use it as a springboard.   

" I started my business by first attending this seminar!,"  says Bruce McMordie, Texas Swim Academy, 2015 Winner, 2015 HCC Newspring BPC.

These seminars are a great pathway for motivated entrepreneurs to pursue more assistance through HCC's entrepreneurial offerings, including our upcoming financial workshops, online classes like Creating a Successful Business Plan and the 2018 HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition! 

Desiree Worrell-Mosley Sure enough, 36 out of 52 attendees on Saturday asked for more information about these offerings.  They are smart to do so, as is illustrated by these past successes:

 

"I attended this seminar and went on to the BPC.  Both changed my life forever!",  Desiree Worrell Mosely,Owner, SproutStart Academy, 2011 Winner, HCC Newspring BPC.   
 
Mix & Mingle Reception For 2018 Potential Applicants & Past Contestants - HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition
This Gathering was Optional but Awesome for Those Applying for the Competition - Application Deadline - January 17

On Wednesday, January 10, we gathered at Wallis State Bank so that proposed startup and existing entrepreneurs considering applying for the 2018 HCC Newspring BPC could mix and mingle with all associated with the HCC Newspring BPC.  Attendance at this reception is not required to apply but it is a very popular annual event.   Attendees met BPC alumni, other applicants, community partners and supporters; and BPC partners including Newspring, Wallis State Bank, Amegy Bank, LiftFund, and more.  2017 Application reviewers were there too!   Applications are due on January 17.  For those interested in applying for the 2018 HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition click here  and call us at 713-718-6650 or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions!
 
...More Alumni Updates - HCC Newspring BPC  
FLMC Films, Erik Calderon 
 
Erik Calderon is a film making student earning a two-year degree from HCC's Media Art & Technology Center of Excellence.  He entered the competition to create a plan to further launch and grow his company, FLMC Films.  "The HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition has been the best career experience in my life. The training sessions were so informative, and inspiring. Each week I was motivated by the BPC team and lecturers to continue working on my plan and to push myself to new heights.  I didn't win the top prize dollars in the competition, but brought in $50,000 in new business in the summer following the competition.  I won just by being there, finishing the race and developing my plan.  I'm now well into my long-haul race and half way through carrying out the three-year plan I created in the competition.  My client base has grown significantly, as has my repeat business. I've also added social media management to my video production services in response to client demand."       
Nina Rios Youngers, GotDirtyBlinds?
 
2015 HCC Newspring BPC Contestant - Got Dirty Blinds? - In 2015, we launched GotDirtyBlinds.net and our marketing strategy.  In 2016, we got our SBE certification; landed contracts to clean the blinds in multiple government buildings; and we obtained a micro-loan from LiftFund that allowed us to expand to do business in Houston and Austin, by acquiring a business from a retiring owner.  In 2017, we added upholstery cleaning as a new line of services. We have also penetrated a new market segment; cleaning blinds and upholstery in fast food and full-service restaurants with our two mobile units.  In Spring 2018, we will no longer be solely an online and home-based business, with the opening of our first warehouse location in Austin.  We hope to open another in Houston later this year.  Warehouse locations will be a focal point for ultrasonic blind cleaning and upholstery cleaning and allow some customers to choose reduced pricing through customer pick up and delivery.  
Landi Spearman, Destination4Relocation, Landi & Company
   
2015 HCC Newspring BPC Contestant,  Destination4Relocation - We launched in 2015, offering relocation and concierge services to families relocating to Houston from across the U.S. and abroad.  "In 2016, we became a Lean Six Cigma Certified company, which allowed us to deliver metrics on time saved, increased employee productivity, morale and engagement for our U.S. and international hires and transfer relocations.  In 2017, we landed a great SuperBowl accommodations project, and increased our business with larger companies and universities.   We also spun off another related business called Landi & Company, an online change management firm dedicated to helping overwhelmed high achievers eliminate wasted time, navigate critical transitions and improve processes.  While, Hurricane Harvey decreased our relocation business, it increased our opportunities to assist small business owners through change management strategies as they adjusted and rebounded from the hurricane. 
Connie Rankin, Customized Real Estate Services
 
Connie Rankin, Lifelong Learner Credits HCC in Helping Her Become an Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Author  - From the 1980s through now, Connie has come to HCC for numerous HCC real estate courses, the HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, the 2013 HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition, the SBA's InnovateHER Competition and HCC writing courses. As of today, Connie has: launched and grown her award winning company Customized Real Estate Services; established a non-profit called Bridge Literacy Now; and authored her book, God Gave Us Wings.  Released in April, 2017, it resulted in this  "#1 Best-Selling Author Receives National Literary Awards for Her Book God Gave Us Wings" - Full Article
Helen Callier, PermitUsNow
 
2016 HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition Constant, HCC Goldman Sachs Graduate, PermitUsNow,LLC and Bradlink, LLC. - "I launched a new division three months following the competition using the plan I created with the mentoring and training in the 2016 competition.  We went live with PermitUsNow.com  in August 2016.  Since then, major growth has come from permitting activity in over 100 HEB projects throughout Texas and through work on retail and restaurant tenant projects at HAS and other big box stores.  We opened an office in Austin in 2017.  As of Spring 2018, PermitUsNow is ramping up to four employees in Houston, and will next add more employees in Austin."  We are simply thrilled!    Full Article  
Khurum Choudry, Legacy Rags - Multi-Million in Annual Sales 
 
Khurum Choudry and Shazia Choudry Bajwa- Legacy Rags, 2011, 3rd Place Winners- This team ultimately launched two businesses. "Legacy Rags is a textile recycling company. We buy clothes from charities in bulk and ship to other countries in Africa and South America. Shazia's company, Vintage Veins buys specific articles of clothing from entities like my company and resells vintage clothing to retail stores. "I never would have dreamed back in 2011 when we entered the competition that I would be running a multi-million dollar business by 2013.  Since then sales have steadily increased annually as we expanded internationally, although 2017 posed some challenges.  Natural disasters and political unrest in some of the countries I supply clothing to, currency fluctuations in Africa, and loss of some employees due to Hurricane Harvey hurt, but our expansion plans into the Dominican Republic are going well.  We've secured a location for operations there and are in the process getting the required licenses to operate our business.  The invaluable lessons we learned from our mentors and trainers in the competition changed our lives forever.   Our story is one of learning, taking action, taking risks, pivoting according to our markets, succeeding and failing and then succeeding again far beyond our original plan!".   Khurum Choudry    
 
HCC Newspring BPC Alumni - More Good News!  

 
HCC Newspring BPC Alumni - Let Us Share Your Good News!  

Keep Emailing Updates - Great Hearing From You!      
 
If you completed the competition, your refined and improved plan makes you a winner! Keep moving, keep growing and keep us posted!   
We invite all past contestants to email us with news and testimonials about how the HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition helped you and about your successes since. We know for a fact, many more of you are winning awards, expanding and growing.  Let us tell the world about you!  Email us at:  [email protected] 
 

About the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship 

 
The mission of Houston Community College's Center for Entrepreneurship is to provide education and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Our mission fosters economic growth through business and community development. More