Featured News 

2025 HCC Business Plan Competition

Season Opens

2025 HCC Business Plan Competition 

Application Period Opens January 6

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. 

Are you ready to apply?  

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?

• 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 a class/program there will be a Small Business Success Series offered in Jan-Feb 2025. This is the last available class that you could take and complete as a prerequisite for the 2025 Business Plan Competition. Scroll down for information to sign up for this series.

If you still need the financial workshop/webinar sign up for one of the January financial workshop. Then submit a strong application January 6-27. Have you completed the above already? Then take a sneak peak at Application questions and get started on your answers before the Application period opens! 

* You are considered to be a Startup Entrepreneur for the purposes of our competition if you have not yet achieved six continuous months of net profit prior to or during the pandemic.

Existing Entrepreneurs - Steps to Apply

1) Financial Webinar/Workshop - Sign Up Now for a January Webinar/Workshop & attend it.

2) Apply

All Applicants Should Submit a Strong Application between January 6 - January 27

Ready to start working on your application? Our Competition Website gives you a sneak peak at the application's business concept questions, if you'd like to start working up your answers!  

See link below for past winners, competition structure, alumni success stories and more. Look here for more on 2025 in the coming weeks as we move toward January activities!

www.hccs.edu/businessplancompetition

Scroll down to sign up for January 2025 activities

and for the full 2025 Competition Schedule!

Featured January Events

2025 HCC Business Plan Competition

Launch Party - Reception, Showcase & Orientation

Join us on Zoom Thursday, January 09, 2025, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

OPTIONAL (BUT AWESOME) FOR 2025 APPLICANTS

Who is invited?  

Proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs who are interested in applying for the 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition; competition leaders, trainers, sponsors, judges, advisors, community supporters and past HCC BPC winners, finalists and graduates!  

Come join us to mix, mingle and learn more from all parties involved! Meet past competition graduates, winners, our ecosystem partners, and competition leaders, trainers and advisors signing on for the 2025 HCC BPC Advisor Cohort.  

• 5:00 - 6:00 pm - Reception & Showcase
• 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Orientation for interested competition applicants

It's a celebration of all involved to showcase our past competition alumni and introduce all who make this outstanding competition possible. 

Welcome to those applying and to those considering applying for the 2025 HCC BPC during the January 6-27 Application period! This optional but awesome gathering is a great way to start the year and connect with our competition and entrepreneurial community! 

For More & to RSVP

For proposed, startup and existing business owners. A free, live two-and-a-half hour workshop that sets you up for success. Know your numbers and plan right for 2025!

This workshop is a prerequisite for the team lead of all teams applying for the 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition. Other entrepreneurs are also welcome!

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 - Learn and ask questions from our financial resource partners.

Event Fee: Free to all entrepreneurs 

Choose One of the Following Financial Workshop Dates and Register Now: 

Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 2:00pm - 4:30pm - Virtual on ZOOM



Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 10:30am - 1:00pm - Onsite at HCC Alief Hayes Campus

Thu, Jan 30, 2025, 6:00pm - 8:30pm - Virtual on ZOOM

Thinking of applying for the 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition in January? All accepted applicants get free training and advising throughout the Spring and the chance to win seed money.



All competition graduates win in-kind prizes.

Scroll down to learn more and prepare to apply!

For those Proposed and Startup entrepreneurs taking the Small Business Success Series as a prerequisite to apply for the 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition ("Competition"), you can apply for the competition prior to the start of the series but be sure to register for this series as well and begin attending it to complete all five Saturdays within the series. If your application is chosen for the competition, your acceptance will be conditional upon successful completion of this series. 

Register Now - https://hcc.idloom.events/SBSSCentral

2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Timeline

 Apply in January - Plans Due in May - Prizes Awarded in June

Sign Up Now for January Activities!

www.hccs.edu/businessplancompetition

David Lee

True Reflections Media

https://www.truereflectionsmedia.com/

1st Place, $12,000, 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition

Type of Business: Startup

Advisor: Tiffany Williams

Graduate, HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©, 2023

Graduate, Small Business Success Series©, 2023

Click Here for Video Interview (8 min): http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/x2f5n

True Reflections Media is a dynamic video production and social media implementation company dedicated to helping businesses and entrepreneurs authentically grow their brands through the art of visual story-telling. Our mission is to provide captivating, cinematic-quality video content and social media management through our partnerships to provide services that enable our clients to connect with their target audiences, gain organic followers, and increase market visibility.

David Lee Graduated from three HCC Signature Programs. The HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© came first, onsite in Fall 2023.

"I wanted to learn how to market & sell True Reflections Media. I got that & so much more. I Iearned that people do business with people they believe in, not just because they have a product or service. Selling is about forming relationships with customers who believe in you, your company, and the work you do for them."  

Next, he graduated from the HCC Small Business Success Series©. "By practically applying those tools and learnings, I developed my business concepts enough to confidently submit the application that got me accepted into the HCC Business Plan Competition in the Spring.  Networking with the entrepreneurs, trainers, sponsors and eco-system partners has been a focal point in my entire journey through the HCC ecosystem. It is the gift that keeps giving!"

The focus and clarity I got through these HCC programs have given me an actionable implementable plan to succeed that helps me grow my business, while I’m also helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses.“

"Since the competition I have expanded my business into the event space and the wedding industries, developed strategic partnerships with other small businesses, and pursued opportunities to work with national brands such as Republic Services and Starbucks Inc. 2025 will be marked with a fresh branding and marketing strategy for True Reflections Media that will launch us forward highlighting our journey of growth from inception. "

Simone Steele

Queen Aesthetics

Simply Shady

Type of Business: Existing

https://www.queenaesthetics.net/

https://www.simplyshady.net/  

3rd Place, $4,000, 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition

Advisors: Leeanne Aguilar, Alejandro Guajadro

Click Here for Video Interview (7 min): http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/p1qfn

Simply Shady, a Queen Aesthetics company, offers a mineral-based tinted moisturizing sunscreen that corrects and protects, tailored specifically to blend with all skin types and tones without leaving a gray or white cast. Queen Aesthetics is a Houston-based Medspa that focuses on the total client by providing luxury specialty services, educating medical professionals in the aesthetic industry and offers cosmetic merchandise to our clients.

Winning 3rd place in the competition and $4,000 in seed money helped Simone fund her initial inventory for Simply Shady.

She held her Product Launch party on August 29, 2024.

Launch Party Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/scoNKBnXbQMzDySQA

"I’m incredibly grateful for the community and mentorship I received from advisors like Leeanne, who provided marketing insights, and Alejandro, who helped me prepare to secure funding. They’ve both played key roles in helping me navigate the business world and grow Simply Shady.

The success of our launch has been phenomenal. We've seen a 30% monthly increase in in-office sales as we create a seamless connection between skincare services and our sun care products. Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand Simply Shady into major retailers and develop new product lines like powder sunscreen."

Tanu Jain

FlowCare

Type of Business: Proposed

https://itsflowcare.com/

Honorable Mention, $1,000

2024 HCC Business Plan Competition

Advisor: Karen Sharp

Finalist 2024 Houston Innovation Awards

2nd Place 2024 TIE Women Houston Global Awards

Click Here for Video Interview (9.5 min): http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/3cr6l

FlowCare is revolutionizing menstruation equity and championing period positivity by making period products (pads and tampons) a free standard in restrooms, just like toilet paper. With an innovative dispenser, janitorial-approved design, and organic cotton products, FlowCare offers a seamless solution for organizations to integrate menstrual products into restrooms, ensuring no one misses work or school due to a lack of basic hygiene needs. 

HCC has been transformative for my entrepreneurial journey. It began with the the Ideas Pitch Competition, and then the prerequisites, training and advising. Next, came the prerequisites in the HCC Business Plan Competition, which gave me clear direction and an actionable plan. I had product management skills, but you have so much to do as a startup founder. This past summer, the prize money helped me build FlowCare's first prototype and launch our initial pilot.

Later, the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling refined my sales strategy securing two pilot customers and opening doors to more partnerships. HCC’s guidance has been the foundation for FlowCare’s growth and success.

Tanu Jain has also been recognized recently as

·     2024 TiE Women Houston Global Awards - 2nd Place and

·     2024 Houston Innovation Awards - Finalist - People’s Choice Award for Startups.

Key partners like The Ion, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Texas Medical Center (TMC) are advancing menstrual equity with FlowCare. It’s currently implemented at TMCi Innovation Factory, with plans for expansion across TMC. We're getting amazing feedback - 5-star ratings that demonstrate the need for Flow Care. Now we're focusing on expanding and aligning our mission to scale.

Thank You Again to our

2024 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

In-Kind Sponsors

More About Each 2024 Competition Sponsor

ANNOUNCING 2025 SPONSORS IN THE SPRING! 

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. We are also known for three Signature Programs: the Annual HCC Business Plan Competition, now in its 17th year; the Small Business Success Series by by HCC^©; and the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling^©. 

Our Center for Entrepreneurship is part of the Houston Community College Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives. The Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives was established to build and sustain the Houston business community through effective and relevant educational initiatives to help businesses grow in revenue, personnel and business opportunities. The Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives leads and coordinates all business and entrepreneurial initiatives by providing system-wide support, and leadership to fulfill HCC’s Strategic Agenda to “Cultivate and Entrepreneurial Culture Across the Institution.”

The HCC Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives has been honored with a number of prestigious awards. For more on awards in recent years; https://conta.cc/3wgcmxc

On behalf of all of our entrepreneurial programs and staff, we thank all of the entrepreneurs, partners, sponsors, volunteers, students, and HCC faculty and staff who have contributed to our efforts! Without your support and dedication to our programs, these awards wouldn't have been possible!

Contact our center at c4e@hccs.edu or 713-718-6650