Small Business Happenings Around HCC
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In this Issue:
Financial Workshop for Small Business Launch & Growth - TOMORROW February 2 - HCC West Loop Auditorium -8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Due to Exceptionally Strong Demand We Have Moved This Event to the HCC West Loop Auditorium to Allow for More Registration - Come Join us on Groundhog Day! Shade or Shine It's going to be a Great Day for Entrepreneurs! Scroll down for details or To Register Now
2019 HCC Business Plan Competition (BPC) Update
For Applicants: 
- Now - All Applications are in and Under Review!
- February 15 - Accepted Teams Will Be Notified
- Some Applicants are Finishing Prerequisites - Some BPC Applicants are Finishing Up Prerequisites -
- February 2 - Financial Workshop
- February 22 - Completion Date for January Session of Creating a Successful Business Plan online class. Completion Required & Verified, or Accepted Team is dropped from the Competition!
- February 22 - Some Alternate Teams Might be Announced and Accepted into the BPC
- FREE REQUIRED Group Training Sessions for All Accepted BPC Teams: February 26, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 16.
- May 8 - Plans Due
- May 23 - Competition Finals
- May 29 - Awards Ceremony for all Completer Teams and Finalists
For Competition Advisors & Sponsors and Community Partners
 Competition Advisors - Thanks to those competition advisors returning from prior years and to those of you from throughout the Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem signing up to be a part of the 2019 HCC BPC Advisor Cohort!
- Competition Advisor Orientation - February 12, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at HCC Alief Hayes - This session is for competition advisors ONLY - No applicant contestants allowed!
- Become a Competition Advisor
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 Competition Sponsors - Thanks to those 2019 HCC BPC Sponsors Who Have Already Committed Prize Money and In-Kind Prizes!
- We will be making announcements soon! We are still accepting sponsorships!
- Become a Sponsor
- Community Partners - Thanks to All our Community partners who have spread the word about our competition and HCC's year round offerings to empower entrepreneurs. Your support and cross collaboration continues to establish Houston as one the most synergystic and collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystems in the nation! We are honored to serve Houston with you!
Featured HCC, Partner & Community Events
Scroll down for more!
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Financial Workshop for
Small Business
Launch & Growth
Saturday February 2
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COME JOIN US ON GROUNDHOG DAY!
Shade or Shine it will be a great day!
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Great News! Due to Strong Demand, We've Changed the Room to the HCC West Loop Auditorium - Registration is Still Open!
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For proposed, startup and
existing business owners!
An all-day workshop that sets you up for success. Know your numbers and p
lan right
!
This workshop is stand alone excellent, and it also offers entrepreneurs a pathway to apply for the free mentoring and training offered in Spring 2019 in the Annual HCC Business Plan Competition.
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For more photos of our last Financial Workshop at HCC Alief Hayes Campus
Photo Web Album
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Understanding Cash Needs -
Understanding how much money you need; Negotiating to save money - a framework; Collecting money and making a profit; and Forcasting for success.
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Loans - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
Understand how much you should borrow; What loan type is best for you; Loan sharks, and How to avoid predatory lenders.
 Are You Doing a Good Job? -
The basics for measuring your hard work; Importance of understanding your financials; Building a real asset; and Connections.
 Financing Panel -
Relationships for success. Representatives from Houston's financial entrepreneurial eco-system including Panelists from:
- LiftFund - Lisa Riley, President, East Texas Region, President, Houston Market
- Amegy Bank - Pete Ellen, Senior Vice President, Amegy Bank of Texas
- Wallis Bank - Sheila Patterson, Vice President, Commercial Lending, Wallis Bank
- Rebecca Schultz - Commercial Loan Officer, TDECU, Faculty, HCC Practical Entrepreneurship Workshop Series & HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
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Featured Speakers and Workshop Content Developers
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David Regenbaum Rebecca Schultz
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Featured Resource Partners
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Small Business Administration (SBA): Looking for funding for the new growth avenues that you'll pursue in your marketing plan? A Houston District SBA representative will be on hand to relay a wealth of opportunities offered through the SBA and strategic partners!
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SCORE
is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.
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Fee: $25.00 on line, $30.00 at the door.
This event is offered at this reduced cost to the Houston area, thanks to our Center for Entrepreneurship Partners and Sponsors
FREE to HCC Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni (code: HCCS)
Veterans: FREE for first 10 Veterans one week prior to event., thanks to Capital
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Join us for learning, inspiration, support, connections and small business empowerment!
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Sincerely,
Sandra Louvier
Director
Center for Entrepreneurship
Houston Community College - Northwest
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Workshop Reviews from one of our Financial Workshops
11-01-18: Rebecca Schultz presented. Panelists: Jessica Tecson, Amegy Bank, Sheila Patterson, Wallis State Bank, Anthony Lopez, LiftFund and Dennis Silva, TDECU.
- "Rebecca was Excellent! The panel was great!"
- "It was great! Interactivity was the greatest value. Rebecca was fabulous about simplifying the complex."
- "The authenticity of the panel was not only helpful and informative but practical in preparation."
- "I valued all the information. Will will be working on my business plan and will apply for the competition."
- "Overall great simple atmosphere and overview to help fill gaps in our financial goals and intentions."
- "Every speaker was extremely thorough."
- "The presenter and panelists are real people with real answers. I will use their suggestions on most topics."
- "Loved everything! Excellent!!"
- "Everything! Thanks for this awesome workshop!"
- "I liked hearing from the panelists about what pitfalls to avoid."
- "The group interaction and case study examples were very valuable. Very happy I came to the workshop."
- "Worksheets were very helpful. Learned more about different sources of capital. Cash flow sheet and balance sheet info is very helpful."
- "I loved the workshop. Informative and powerful! Excellent program and team!"
Thanks also to our Resource Partners; SCORE, SBA, LiftFund and Lone Star Legal Aid.
More Photos
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Recent News - What a January!
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Financial Workshop for Small Business Launch & Growth Attracted 48 Proposed, Startup & Existing Entrepreneurs on January 15
Yet Again! - The January 26 Financial Workshop Drew 52 Attendees
Hands raised
were entrepreneurs planning to apply for the 2019 HCC Business Plan Competition!
The Workshop's Funding Panel was Excellent!
Moderated by HCC Entrepreneur in Residence David Regenbaum, the panel closed out the day with lots of Q&A and one-on-one relationship building with the funding panelists: Rebecca Schulz, TDECU, Peter Ellen, Amegy Bank, Sheila Patterson with Wallis Bank, and Francisco Gonzalez, LiftFund.
More Great Photos!
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Sales & Marketing Powered Up Workshop - At HCC Alief Hayes on January 23 Was a Joy!
HCC Business Plan Competition Reception on January 10 Packed the House!
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About the 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 About Us
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HCC WEST LOOP CAMPUS
5601 West Loop South
Houston, Texas
77081
Auditorium
Room: AUDITORIUM
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HCC Business Plan Competition Update
All 2019 Applicants Should Review This Update
Proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs can enter the annual HCC Business Plan Competition (BPC) in the Spring. The free training and mentoring offered February through April in HCC's competition is invaluable to all contestants in refining and completing their business plans within a group of motivated entrepreneurs. The prize money is the icing on the cake for the winners! The competition is also a spring board for all contestants, because we help these entrepreneurs tap into a wealth of resources and connections to Houston's entrepreneurial ecosystem to pursue launch and growth!
All Applications are in!
Congratulations to all applicants who met the January 30 application deadline! As we process and review applications we will contact you at the email address or phone number you submitted in our application if we need to reach you.
February 15 - Accepted teams will be notified by email of their acceptance by February 15.
February 22 - Some alternate teams might be chosen and notified of acceptance on February 22.
Financial Workshop - February 2 - Many of you have already taken the Financial Workshop and some of you are signed up for the February 2 workshop.
If you are required to attend it, we will check attendance to verify you have done so!
See you Saturday!
Creating a Successful Business Plan (CASBP) Online Class
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Last class for those applying for BPC must be finished by February 22.
Some of you have signed up for the January CASBP class and have committed to finish it by February 22. Others have already finished this class or another class or program that is required for all proposed and startup applicants. If you are currently taking the online class, be sure to finish it by February 22. If you have been chosen for the competition and it is found on Feb 22 that you do not finish the class, your team will be disqualified from the competition and an alternate team will be accepted into the competition to take your place!
Key Upcoming Dates:
February 15 - Chosen Teams Announced! All chosen teams for the competition will be notified via email that they have been accepted into the competition by February 15. You will also be introduced to your team advisor via email.
Competition Training Sessions: All chosen teams are
REQUIRED to attend all five competition training sessions:
Tuesday Evening
6:30-8:30p
HCC Alief Hayes
- Feb 26
- March 5
- March 19
- April 2
- April 16
At least one team member from every team must be present at ALL five competition training sessions or your team will be disqualified from the competition! If you are notified of acceptance into the competition and know you cannot attend of these dates, tell us beforehand, so another team can be accepted into the competition!
The primary benefit of the competition, in addition to the chance to win prize money is the chance to move through the free competition training and advising which allows each team the chance to vet their business assumptions through one-on-one advising and these five group competition training sessions and submit refined and polished plans. The prize money at the end is icing on the cake!
Best wishes to all applicants!
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Become an Advisor - HCC Business Plan Competition
Business advisors play a key role in this working competition through one-on-one advising with a contestant team to vet business assumptions as they move through the competition's group training while developing and refining their plans. Your feedback can guide the entrepreneur to avoid the pitfalls and unproductive tangents and create a focused plan that leads to launch of their plan, funding and growth.
Tuesday February 12
6:00pm - 8:00pm
HCC Alief Hayes
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Become a Sponsor - HCC Business Plan Competition
Join us in empowering entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses, create jobs and positively impact our economy and our lives. Let's make a difference together!
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Upcoming at
HCC Northwest
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Think Like An Entrepreneur to Accelerate Your Career - HCC Libraries Discovery Day - HCC Alief Hayes
Wednesday February 20
HCC Alief Hayes
2nd Floor
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Income Tax Myths & Facts for Small Business Owners
HCC Alief Hayes
3rd Floor A319
10:00am-1:30pm
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Minimizing Risk When Starting or Growing Your Business - Protecting Your Assets, Your Business, Your Future - HCC Alief Hayes
Thursday February 28
HCC Alief Hayes
3rd Floor A319
8:30am-4:30pm
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