About the competition

HCC’s annual Business Plan Competition (BPC) is an opportunity for proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs to develop focused plans to start or grow their businesses.

Applications for the 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition will be accepted January 5 through January 26 the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST. Accepted teams will be announced and training will begin in late February and run through early June, with six free, 3-hour training  sessions.

Advisors will be provided to each accepted team. Applicants can apply as a team of from one to five persons.

For the 2024 competition, of six training sessions, one will be offered onsite and the remaining five will be offered virtually.

Participants can look forward to the following:

  • Free training & one-on-one advising.
  • Seed money will be awarded to top five teams. 

Last year, $26,000 was awarded in seed money to the top five teams, with $61,000 free products, services and memberships to all 2023 graduating teams. All teams will receive in-kind prizes and support services. 

2019 PRIZE WINNERS

Preparing to Apply - 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition 

  • Proposed & Startup* Entrepreneurs - 3 Steps:
    • 1) Pre-requisite Financial Webinar, 2) Pre-requisite Class/Program, 3) Apply
  • Existing Entrepreneurs - Just 2 Steps:
    • 1) Pre-requisite Financial Webinar and 2) Apply

Proposed - A business that is in the planning stages or has opened but has not yet produced revenue. Founder is planning to start the business within 12 months following the competition.

Startup - A startup is considered any business that is producing revenue but has not yet achieved six continuous months of net profit prior to or during the pandemic. Businesses that have been launched/opened, but are still in the process of proving the business model and management. 

Existing - An existing business can range from a small business to a large enterprise. In either case, the initial business model has been proven and, prior to or during the pandemic, the business has proven it can operate profitably with a positive cash flow for six continuous months. The primary focus of the company is continued repositioning to adjust to the pandemic, adjusting the business model accordingly to get back on track to growing the business profitably.

Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs - You may have already taken the required pre-requisite financial workshop and pre-requisite class/program. Details are below, but, if you have not, you can still sign up for the required pre-requisite financial workshop and pre-requisite class/program from now until 2:00pm CST on Friday, January 26, 2024 the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST and you must submit your completed HCC Business Plan Competition Application by 2:00pm CST on Friday, January 26, 2024. the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST.

Existing Entrepreneurs - Take Just the Pre-requisite Financial Workshop - You can still sign up for the required Pre-requisite Financial Workshop (no class required) from now through the HCC Business Plan Competition Application Deadline by 2:00pm CST on Friday, January 26, 2024 the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST (Financial Pre-requisite Workshops are on 1/18/24, 1/24/24 and 1/30/24).  Details below.

For Proposed, Startup & Existing Companies - Take Pre-requisite Financial Workshop:

For Proposed & Startup Companies - Take Required Pre-Requisite Class/Program:

Pre-Requisite Class or Program: Proposed and Startup Team Entry Requirements - The Team Leader of each proposed or startup business applicant team should complete ONE of the following classes at HCC or ONE of the following HCC programs or partner programs:  

Have you completed one of these Prequalifying Classes or Programs?

  1. Small Business Success Series by HCC© - While there is one of these series currently underway, since it started on 1/20/24 and offers five modules over five Saturdays, it is no longer available to entrepreneurs who need to complete this entire series, if they have missed the earlier modules. 
  2. HCC Creating a Successful Business Plan Online Continuing Education Class - to use this as a prerequisite, you must have completed the class within this time period (09/2020 - 05/2023)
  3. Small Business Management - BUSG 2309  (for college credit) 
  4. Entrepreneurship & Economic Development - BUSG 1307  (for college credit); prior to the competition;
  5. Liftoff Houston Startup Competition
  6. Houston Area Urban League Small Business University (HAUL SBU)
  7. University of Houston SURE program. 

If you have already completed one of the above, just sign up for and attend a pre-requisite financial workshop in January and submit a strong Application before the competition's deadline 2:00pm CST on Friday, January 26, 2024. final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST

If not, Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs can still take the Small Business Success Series by HCC© coming up in Jan/Feb 2024. Click here to register for this series - https://hcc.idloom.events/SBSS2024

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.

Competition Timeline

  • Apply - January 5 - January 26, 2024 the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST.
  • Teams Announced - February 22, 2024
  • Training - Six free, 3-hour sessions (each Includes 30 mins of Networking, 2 hours presentation and 30 mins of Q&A) 5 Virtual training sessions on Zoom and one Onsite training session at Alief Hayes Main Bldg., A319/A320

    • Tuesday Evenings 6:00-9:00pm - Subsequent training sessions: 
      • Feb 27 - Session 1 - Roles & Responsibilities
      • Mar 05 - Session 2 - Leadership - ONSITE
      • Mar 19 - Session 3 - Sales & Marketing
      • Apr 02 - Session 4 – Financials
      • Apr 16 - Session 5 - Written Plan
      • May 07 - Session 6 - Pitching & Slide Presentation
    • Note - One team member from each competing team must be present at all six training sessions!
  • Plan Submission Deadline - May 6, 2024
  • Slide Presentation & Video Submission Deadline - May 13, 2024
  • Finalists Present to Judges – May 30, 2024 - Onsite at Alief Hayes Main Bldg.
  • Competition Awards Ceremony and Graduation – June 06, 2024 – HCC Alief Hayes, West Houston Institute, Grand Ballroom - Prize Money Awarded! - All Graduating Teams receive in-kind prizes*.

*In order to receive in-kind prizes, all graduates must have one team member present at all training sessions and meet submission deadlines for plans, slide deck and one-minute video. 

Next Step:  APPLY 

If you have already completed the above mentioned webinar, and (if required) the class; fill out the application.  If you still need to take the webinar and/or the CASBP class that is still available, register for it/them prior to submitting the application. 

Submit your application January 5 - January 26, 2024, 2:00 pm CST the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST as follows:  

  • Read the Contestant Requirements and Competition Rules - You must commit to this in the application.
  • Get your Resumes ready for each team member before you submit your application – Have electronic resumes for EACH team member ready to attach.  Upload each resume in a pdf file or word.doc file when in the online application.  You cannot advance in the application past a certain point, until you attach a resume, so we recommend you have them ready when you start.
  • Tips for a Strong BPC Application – You can start your application and save it before submitting it. Once you click SUBMIT it, you can no longer make changes. Note: there are important BUSINESS CONCEPT QUESTIONS in the application. We recommend you get started on your answers to the business concept questions in the on-line application by first typing them into a word.doc and saving it, so you can better write and prepare your answers before cutting and pasting into the on-line submission form; and so you will have a copy of your answers. Here are the BUSINESS CONCEPT QUESTIONS you can prepare for before you fill out the online application form: Proposed, Startup and Existing
  • Video - Totally Optional!  Not Required!  If you'd like to submit a brief video, please do, but it is okay not to do so.   
  • 2024 Application Deadline – January 26, 2024, 2:00 pm noon CST the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST. We recommend you start your application early, to ensure you meet the deadline. We encourage you to submit it early. We will be choosing teams for the 2024 competition as we review completed applications up to and after the application deadline, until all teams have been notified by February 22, 2024.

  • Submit your application January 5 -  January 26, 2024 2:00pm CST the final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST Team Leaders can begin your application by clicking the green Register button at the TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE.  You can save the application in draft until you click Submit. Note, after you click submit, you will no longer be able to edit your application. Deadline January 26, 2024, 2:00pm CST. Final deadline extension is Wednesday, January 31, 2:00pm CST

In-Kind Prizes Awarded to All Graduating teams!

The greatest prize is moving through the competition’s free advising & training, but you could win prize money too! Last year, $26,000 was awarded in seed money to the top five teams, with $61,000 free products, services and memberships to all 2023 graduating teams. All teams will receive in-kind prizes and support services. 

For Questions email us at c4e@hccs.edu

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