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Center for Entrepreneurship - West Houston   
November Small Business Opportunities
 
For Startup and Existing Entrepreneurs, HCC Faculty, Staff & Students 
 
In this Issue:
 
November Events at HCC Northwest:
  • How do I Manage Risk? - Protect Your Assets, Your Business and Your Future 11/2
  • Fifth Annual - Get More Contracts - Panel & Expo  - Doing Business with the Public and Private Sectors 11/5
  • Federal Grants to Fund Your Innovations! 11/12
  • Free Monthly Digital Marketing Clinic - 11/13
  • Creating a Successful Business Plan Class - Online, 6 weeks - Starts 11/13
  • 1st Annual WHLI Alumni Breakfast - 11/14
More Upcoming Around HCC 
  • SCORE: Building Credit-10/30-HCC Brays Oaks. Business Plans-11/15-HCC Missouri City
  • Opportunity Workshops: Yammer & Office 365-11/13; 11/15-Outlook; and 11/15-One Drive  
  • Inventathon - 11/16 thru 11/16 HCC Stafford
  • HCC Ideas Pitch Competition - Application Deadline-November 18, Finals-November 23
  • Check Out Our HCC Partner Programs: HCC MBDA, HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and Corporate College@HCC
Entrepreneurship News From Our Center for Entrepreneurship at HCC Northwest
  • Brisk Entrepreneurial Activity Draws Aspiring & Existing Business Owners to Six Events Funding, Hiring, Financial Management & Analysis, Sales & Marketing and Digital Marketing
  • HCC Presents at National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Conference
  • HAGGL Golf Tournament Plays to Sunshine and Success 
  • Cannon Celebrates Grand Opening of Flagship Campus 
November Events at HCC Northwest
How Do I Manage Risk? -  Protecting Your Business,  Your Assets, Your Future -  Small Business Success Series by HCC©

Saturday November 2 , 2019,  8:30 am - 4:30 pm
HCC Alief Hayes, Main Building.  Room A319

Featured Topics:
  • The advantages and disadvantages of operating as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or non-profit charitable organization;
  • Legal Liability and tax requirements, and the consequences for each form of organization;
  • The use of Insurance as a form of Risk Management;
  • Hiring Employees vs Independent Contractors;
  • Contract Negotiation; and
  • Operational Processes and Procedures.
Workshop Format - Progressive presentations, round table group discussions, workbook exercises, class discussion and a minimizing risk panel.

Featured Presenter & Content Developer:  David Regenbaum was owner and operator of Association Management, Inc. (AMI) from 1979-2010.  AMI achieved remarkable growth and prestige under his leadership for over 36 years, becoming the leading community association management firm in Texas, managing over 300 communities consisting of over 100,000 homes and commercial units.  David is now Entrepreneur in Residence for the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship - West Houston,  President of the HCC Foundation and Faculty & Guest Advisor for HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. 

Wells Fargo Cost:  Free to HCC Faculty, Staff, Students and Veterans!   Also offered at a reduced cost of $25 to our external community, thanks to our sponsor Wells Fargo Bank. 

Fifth Annual - Get More Contracts - Panel & Expo
Doing Business with the Public and Private Sectors

Tuesday, November 5, HCC Alief Hayes, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm  
West Houston Institute Auditorium, 2811 Hayes Road, Houston, Texas 77082

Small business owners are invited to join HCC Procurement, SCORE and the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship West Houston as we host our fifth annual Get More Contracts Panel & Expo.  Come connect with key representatives of the City of Houston, the Port of Houston Authority, HCC Procurement, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and more....  All are expanding and they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on products and services..... And they want to do business with local small business owners.

Panel Topics:

  • How to gain access to decision makers
  • Qualifications needed to bid
  • Information that must be included in the bid
  • Procurement process-where and how to submit a bid 
  • Answers to the question: Do I need to be certified to be awarded a contract
  • How to stay in-the-know about current and upcoming projects .  
Procurement Panelists:
  • City of Houston - Porscha Jackson, PhD, External Affairs Administrative Coordinator 
  • Port of Houston Authority - Pedro Garcia, Small Business & Education Outreach 
  • Houston Community College System, SBDP Veronica Douglas, Manager, Small Business Development Program  
  • Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), Shurronda Murray, External Relations Officer Procurement

Entrepreneur Panelists : Also featuring a panel of entrepreneurs who have grown through contracting and can share their successes and  obstacles overcome.
  -Nation Waste, Inc.,  Maria Rios,  President, CEO
  -Nuksy's Fine Catering,  Yolanda Henry,  Owner, Executive Chef

These entrepreneurs are alumni of HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.
 
West Houston Institute Auditorium.
EXPO : Featuring panelists listed above as exhibitors and numerous public and private entity exhibitors and resource partners from throughout the Houston area. Find Opportunities-Make connections!  

Want to be an exhibitor?   Contact us at [email protected] or call 713-718-6650.

New Location - We are growing!  This year our 5th annual event will be in our big, beautiful West Houston Institute.


Cost:  Free to ALL thanks to our sponsor, 
HCC Procurement, providing Breakfast from Nuksy's!  
 
Federal Grants to Fund your Innovations! 

Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 
HCC Alief Hayes, Main Building, 3rd Floor, Room A319

Did you know $3.04 Billion was granted to small businesses in Fiscal year 2017 to support innovation? 

The funding and assistance provided through these programs has enabled thousands of businesses to compete for non-dilutive funding to develop and commercialize new technologies. 

This workshop begins with the basics of the SBIR/STTR programs and then covers the process for developing a competitive proposal, and ends with an awardee panel discussion.  Who should attend? Companies engaged in R&D, newcomers to the SBIR/STTR programs, as well as those who have previously submitted proposals but have not received awards.

Agenda: 

 8:30a -9:00a  Registration & Networking 
 9:00a-9:15a  HCC Welcome 
 9:15a-10:00a Program Overview 
10:00a-11:00a What to Expect-How to Apply 
11:00a-12:00p - Panel-Small Business Owners who are SBIR/STTR Award Grantees

Cost:   Free to all thanks to the generosity of the 
Small Business Administration 
and the Center for Entrepreneurship.

New This Fall at HCC! Free Monthly Digital Marketing Clinics
 
November 13, December 11
Monthly, 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm
HCC Alief Hayes, Main Building, 3rd Floor, Room A319  

Choose one date or come every month to ask questions and focus on continuous improvement of your company's digital marketing effectiveness.
 
Our Format:   Open Discussion - Ask questions of our expert relating to your business about various digital marketing topics, including but not limited to those listed below.  
Each clinic will focus on learning a bit more about one topic, but also allow for questions on the other topics.
 
Clinic Topics: Social Media, Web Design, Videos, Local Search Engine Optimization, Convertible Key Words - How to Make Sales, Analytics & Conversion Management. 
 
Clinic Expert & Facilitator:   Beth Guide President, SEO411
SEO 411 is a leading provide of Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing services,including organic results as well as social media and ppc options.

Cost : Free to all thanks to our sponsors, SEO411 and our Center for Entrepreneurship.
 
 
Creating a Successful Business Plan - 6 Week Online Class  
 
Take a 24-hour, Six-Week Online Continuing Education 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. With the support of your instructor and a network of like-minded students, you'll work through all of the major components of writing a business plan and emerge with your first draft in hand. Most importantly, you will have completed the first--and most difficult--step on the path to small business success. 

This class also helps proposed and Startup Business owners prepare to Apply for the 2020 HCC Business Plan Competition (BPC) - Your chance to refine your plan and win prize money!  The 2020 BPC Application period opens in January, so prepare now to submit solid application! 
 
How to Sign Up
  • Start Date: November 13
  • 12 lessons over six weeks - takes 24 hours of your time. We recommend you do two lessons per week as they are released. It's also ok if you get a bit behind and finish lessons from the prior week.  Just finish all 12 lessons in six weeks and take the online final at the end. Fee: $119.  No Textbook! All lessons are online and included in fee. Sign up online in less than three minutes!
  • To Enroll in the class: http://tinyurl.com/CASBPclass
  • For questions regarding enrolling in these online classes: call 713-718-5149 or email [email protected]
 For More & To Register Now for November 13
 
Partner Event - 1st Annual West Houston Leadership Institute Alumni Breakfast

Thursday, November 14, 2019, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm,  HCC Alief Hayes
2811 Hayes Road, Houston, TX 77082, Main Building, 3rd Floor, Room A319



is an experiential learning program designed to provide participants with a breadth of knowledge concerning healthcare, transportation, education, diversity, government, business and many areas of life in West Houston.

1st Annual WHLI Alumni Breakfast - Be part of a new tradition - Gathering alumni and potential future alumni for an annual breakfast, mixing & mingling and to honor some leaders who have made a huge difference in West Houston. 

Honoring 
  
Ed Emmett  
  
Recipient of the 
   
Freddy Hurst  Commitment to  Leadership Award
     
 
Coffee & Conversation with

Rep. Jim Murphy
& 
Rep. Sarah Davis


Tickets: $35.00 per person or $45.00 plus one -  Seats are limited.

Invited:

All WHLI Alumni -   Bring a guest for $10 extra; a colleague or significant other or someone you know who would make a great candidate for a future WHLI class. In the current WHLI class? You are invited too!
 
Others interested in making a difference in West Houston  - Interested in being a graduate of the West Houston Leadership Institute?   Click here to see if you know an alumni graduate:  WHLI Alumni Roster . If you do, contact them to ask if you can come as their guest, or bring them as your guest!  Don't know a WHLI graduate? Register and come meet us to find out more. 


Event Venue sponsored by HCC
HCC thanks the WHLI for your commitment to West Houston and we are honored to have many HCC WHLI Alumni. HCC also thanks the Houston West Chamber of Commerce for your recurring in-kind sponsorship of the HCC Business Plan Competition and for your outstanding support of local small business owners.  
Also Upcoming Around the District at HCC 
 
SCORE FTLOYB
SCORE Workshops  
Get Ready, Get Set and Go - With a Solid Plan
October 30 - Building Better Credit 
Debunking Credit Reports & Scores
HCC Brays Oaks - For More & to Register
November 20 -Your Business Plan
Get started-Components of a plan. Steps to take. 
HCC Missouri City - For More & to Register


Opportunity Workshops at HCC Libraries
Come & Create Amazing Things - Open to the general public, HCC staff, faculty, students and Houston's startup community:
November 13 - Yammer + Office 365 - HCC Northeast
November 15 - Outlook + Outlook Mobile - HCC  Stafford November 15- OneDrive for Business - HCC Central

Inventathon@HCC - Student Hackathon
Unleash your creativity! What's this competition? At Inventathon@HCC, participants will get 16 hours to develop a world-changing IOT device, a drone that follows you around, or even code an app or website. 
Open to all high school, dual credit and HCC Students
November 16 thru November 17 -  HCC Stafford

HCC Ideas Pitch Competition  
Calling all HCC students and alumni.   Share & pitch your social innovation. What's this competition? This competition is designed to explore innovative approaches to answering pressing societal needs and to spark an atmosphere of social dialogue.
How do I submit my entry? * Fill out the online form. * Submit a written plan, presentation and a video pitch of the idea. * Finalists will be asked to pitch in front of a panel of judges and student peers for cash prizes.
1st Prize:  $1,300 
2nd Prize $700 
3rd Prize: $500
November 18 - Application Deadline
November 23  - Finalists Presentations  

More About HCC Partner Programs for Small Business

Minority Business Development Agency Business Center  - The Houston MBDA Business Center is part of a national network of centers established to assist existing minority-owned businesses. Our services are designed to improve your access to capital, procurement opportunities, and domestic and international markets, make your business more profitable, create jobs, and make your company sustainable.   Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and operated by Houston Community College, the Center is committed to working with qualified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) needing assistance in expansion, and sustainability. Our staff have years of business and financial experience to help meet your needs and offer a wealth of resources that fully address all of your business requirements.
 
You built your business. We'll help you grow it.  Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a program for small businesses that links learning to action. Through the program, participants will gain practical skills in topics such as negotiation, marketing, and employee management that can immediately be put into action. In addition, they will receive the tools and professional support to develop a strategic and customized growth plan that will take their business to the next level.
Pre-Qualify to Apply:  1)  Are you the owner or co-owner of your business?; 2)  Has your business been in operation for at least two years?; 3)  Has your business done a minimum of $150,000 (or more) in revenue in the most recent fiscal year?; 4)  Do you have at least four (4) employees?; and 5)  Does your business have strong growth opportunities?
 
Training and Development Solutions - The Corporate College at HCC delivers customized, contract training to Houston's commercial business, industry, and government employers. Our training and development solutions are high-quality, competitively priced, and relevant. Classes can be scheduled during the day, at night, or on the weekend; at your worksite, online or at one of our world-class facilities.


Entrepreneurship News from HCC Northwest
What a Great October - Lots of Learning and Taking Action
 
Aspiring and Existing Business Owners Embraced Six Hands-On Events  

What a great showing we had in October of enthusiastic and engaged participants focused on furthering their plans to launch and grow their businesses. HCC Entrepreneurs in Residence and trainers delivered compelling interactive content with outstanding partners from our Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem including the Small Business Administration, numerous local funding entities, Silver Fox Advisors and SEO411.  

 
See Links below for Photos
 

We thank Wallis Bank for sponsoring the Lender Matchmaking event. We also thank Wells Fargo Bank for sponsoring How Much Will it Cost and How do I Market My Business, both part of our Small Business Success Series by HCC©.   A special thanks to my Center for Entrepreneurship team for outstanding  event logistics and dedication to delivering a comfortable & productive environment for our presenters, partners and entrepreneurs!  
HCC Team Presents at Annual NACCE Conference
 
National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship 
2019 NACCE Conference - Entrepreneurship Explorations

A team of eight from Houston Community College attended and presented at the annual NACCE conference in Newport Beach, California from October 13 thru 16.

NACCE's Annual Conference brings entrepreneurship thought leaders and practitioners together to share best practices and new areas of exploration in ecosystem building.  

HCC presented in  four breakout sessions throughout the conference, as follows:

Ignite the 
Entrepreneur 
in You 
Dr. Maya Durnovo 
David Regenbaum

Inventathon
Ravi Brahnbhatt

Marketing Entrepreneurship in a Digital Age - 
Not Fake News
Ravi Brahmbhatt 
Sandra Louvier
Dr. Connie Porter

Entrepreneurial Initiatives According to Demographics & Trends
Brenda Rios Brombacher
Ned Mueller 
Germaine Washington



Because NACCE is considered one of the foremost conveners of leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship, the conference attracts a rich array of educators, administrators, business and ecosystem leaders, and entrepreneurs from throughout North America.
HAGGL Golf Tournament Plays to Sunshine & Success
 
Some of the Proceeds Will Go to the 2020 HCC Business Plan Competition 

Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (HAGGL) had one of their largest turnouts ever on October 10 at the Blackhorse Golf Course, according to HAGGL President,  Linda Amador-Stephens.  She attributed it to the tournament leadership of Tucker Herring and Kristi Von Woglom-Davis and rousing member support.  We ather was perfect and fun was had by all who attended or participated.  HAGGL thanks tournament sponsors for hosting the event and for the committee who made this an amazing and fun day all around.  Once the final numbers are received, a portion of the profits will benefit the HCC Business Plan Competition.  

President Linda Amador-Stephens with HCC Student Golf Team.  Dr. Zachary Hodges' Team.  
Below:  Amegy Bank, Allegiance Bank and Wallis Bank golfers.  Golf Tournament Photos    
A check will be presented to the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship at the HAGGL December Luncheon. HCC deeply thanks HAGGL and our lender sponsors for your ongoing support!  

The Cannon Celebrates Grand Opening of Flagship Campus
To celebrate the completion of its 120,000 square foot flagship facility located at 1334 Brittmoore Road, The Cannon hosted its Grand Opening on Thursday October 24.

HOUSTON (PRWEB) October 25, 2019.
The lively event featured several activations throughout the new building, including programming at The Cannon's "Mental Break Stations" featuring a puppy pen and massage corner, music and games in the courtyard, and the signing of the Grand Opening Mural to document and celebrate the occasion.   During the celebration, The Cannon's Founder and CEO, Lawson Gow, conducted an official ribbon-cutting and led a grand toast thanking partners and supporters for their contributions in building the entrepreneurial community over the past 18 months. Gow also announced that with only three of its 131 offices remaining, office space at the main campus is nearly sold out. Further, in celebration of the grand opening, The Cannon has invited startups, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to join The Cannon's community as an Open Member before November 1st to receive a complimentary first month.   Full Press Release:  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-cannons-houston-entrepreneurial-campus-now-open-300889463.html
Dr. Zachary Hodges, President,  HCC NW attended the grand opening along with Sandra Louvier, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship. It was great to be a part of the celebration with The Cannon team, the startup community and many partners from the Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem.   
   
The Cannon is a strategic partner of HCC and an in-kind sponsor of the HCC Business Plan Competition. We congratulate Lawson Gow and his team and look forward to more collaboration in serving the entrepren eurial community in West Houston!
Go 
Astros! 
  
Houston Proud! 
  
Best 
Wishes!
Thanks Again to our 2019 
HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors! 
We so appreciate our 2019 HCC Business Plan Competition and Center for Entrepreneurship Cash Sponsors: Amegy Bank, Wallis Bank, Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (HAGGL), ProVideo Systems, Origin Bank, and HCC Business Plan Competition Alumni Circle Sponsors: CRES Real Estate, PermitUsNow, HD2Menus and Texas Security Shredding.
 
We also thank our In-Kind Prize Sponsors:  Houston West Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Today, True Color Graphics, The Cannon and LetsLaunch.
 
Thanks to our In-Kind Reception Sponsors: True Color Graphics, Three Brothers Bakery and Tea in Texas.  



Dear HCC Business Plan Competition Alumni, 

Let's Tell The World About Your Successes! 

To share an alumni success update,  email us at [email protected] or call 713-718-6650. 

Sincerely,
Sandra Louvier
Director 
Center for Entrepreneurship - West Houston
Houston Community College - Northwest
About the HCC Center for Entrepreneurship - West Houston

 
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.
Contact us at [email protected] or 713-718-6650