Small Business News & Opportunities

Financial Workshop for Small Business 

Launch and Growth

Choose One Date

Wednesday 1/14, Wednesday 1/21 or Thursday 1/29

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 2026!

This workshop is a prerequisite for the team lead of all teams applying for the 2026 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 14, 2026, 2:00pm - 4:30pm - Virtual on ZOOM

Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 10:30am - 1:00pm - Onsite at HCC Alief Hayes Campus

Thu, Jan 29, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:30pm - Virtual on ZOOM

Thinking of applying for the 2026 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!

2026 HCC Business Plan Competition - Prepare Now!

In this Issue: 

January - Financial Workshops for Small Business Launch & Growth

• Free - Choose the Date that's Best for You

Season Opening for the 2026 HCC Business Plan Competition

For Proposed, Startup & Existing Entrepreneurs

Prepare Now for January Activities:

• Preparing to Apply - Application Period - January 5-26
• Featured January Events:
• Reception, Showcase & Orientation - January 08 - On Zoom
• HCC Small Business Success Series - For Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs - This is the one prerequisite program still available to take prior to choosing the applicants for 2026 Business Plan Competition. Five Fridays, 9:00am - 3:00pm - 1/16/26, 1/23/26, 1/30/26, 02/06/26 and 02/13/26
• All Applicants Take a Financial Workshop - Still Need it? Sign up for January 14, 21 or 29
• 2026 HCC Business Plan Competition - Timeline - January Thru June

Sponsor Thanks:

• Thanks Again 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors
• 2026 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors Announced Soon!

Featured News 

2026 HCC Business Plan Competition

Season Opens

2026 HCC Business Plan Competition 

Application Period Opens January 5

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

What is a Proposed Business? - Not yet open (Idea or Concept planning stages) or open and not yet producing revenue. Founder is planning to start the business within 12 months following the competition.

What is a Startup Business? - Open less than 2 years, producing revenue under $50,000 in the most recent fiscal year.

Have you completed ONE of these Prequalifying Classes or Programs?

• HCC Small Business Success Series
• 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 financial workshop/webinar sign up for one of the January financial workshop. Then submit a strong application January 5-26. 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! 

Existing Entrepreneurs - Steps to Apply

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

2) Apply

What is an Existing Business? - Open 2 years or more, revenues over $50,000 up to millions for the most recent fiscal year.

All Applicants Should Submit a Strong Application

between January 5 - January 26

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 2026 in the coming weeks as we move toward January activities!

www.hccs.edu/businessplancompetition

Scroll down to sign up for January 2026 activities

and for the full 2026 Competition Schedule

Featured January Events

2026 HCC Business Plan Competition

Launch Party - Reception, Showcase & Orientation

Join us on Zoom Thursday, January 08, 2026, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Who is invited?  

Proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs who are interested in applying for the 2026 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 2026 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 2026 HCC BPC during the January 5-26 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

HCC Small Business Success Series

For Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs:

This is the one prerequisite program still available to take prior to choosing the applicants for 2026 Business Plan Competition

The HCC Small Business Success Series is a 5-module, hands-on learning program designed to help entrepreneurs think like innovators and take action. Participants will learn directly from HCC faculty, guest entrepreneurs, business experts, and peer delegates.



🎓 A Certificate of Completion is awarded to students who fully attend all 5 modules.

 Program Details

• Duration: 5 Modules (1 per week)
• Schedule: Fridays, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Dates: January 16 – February 13, 2026
• Location: Houston City College – South Campus
• Format: In-Person

Program Schedule

• 01/16 – Ignite the Entrepreneur in You!
• 01/23 – Vet the Venture: Are My Ideas Lucrative?
• 01/30 – Sales & Marketing Powered Up
• 02/06 – Financials for Small Business Launch & Growth
• 02/13 – Managing Risk: Protect Your Assets, Business & Future

Click the following link for information on how to register:

https://hcc.idloom.events/SBSS2026JF

For those Proposed and Startup entrepreneurs taking the HCC Small Business Success Series as a prerequisite to apply for the 2026 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 Fridays 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/SBSS2026JF

2026 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

Thank You Again to our

2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

In-Kind Sponsors

More About Each 2025 Competition Sponsor

ANNOUNCING 2026 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 18th year; the HCC Small Business Success Series; and the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling. 

Our Center for Entrepreneurship is part of the Houston City 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/4nXEyuG

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