2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Finalists Picture

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 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition will be accepted January 6 through January 27. 

UPDATE: The FINAL deadline extension is Thursday, January 30, 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 2025 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 $72,000 free products, services and memberships to all 2024 graduating teams. All teams will receive in-kind prizes and support services. 

Preparing to Apply - 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition 

  • Proposed & Startup* Entrepreneurs - 3 Steps:

    • 1) Pre-requisite Financial Workshop, 
    • 2) Pre-requisite Class/Program,
    • 3) Apply
  • Existing Entrepreneurs - Just 2 Steps:
    • 1) Pre-requisite Financial Workshop 
    • 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 & Startup Entrepreneurs Prerequisites 

  • Prerequisites: Financial Workshop and Class/Program

  • If you already completed both, proceed to your application.
  • If not, you may register for the required workshop and class until Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST.
  • Application deadline: Submit your completed HCC Business Plan Competition application by Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST.

Existing Entrepreneurs Prerequisites 

  • Prerequisite: Financial Workshop only (class not required)
  • Workshops are available on January 15, January 22, and January 30, 2025.
  • Application deadline: Submit your completed application by Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST.

For Proposed, Startup & Existing Companies - 

Take Pre-requisite Financial Workshop:

The Financial Workshop is required for:

  • Proposed Entrepreneurs

  • Startup Entrepreneurs

  • Existing Business Owners

Already Completed the Workshop?

If you completed an HCC Financial Workshop within the past two years, this requirement is satisfied.

  • 2023 Sessions: January 19, January 21, January 28

  • 2024 Sessions: January 18, January 24, January 30

Here are the Upcoming Financial Workshop Dates: 

For more information and to register now for the workshop, click on the date that works best for you: 

  • Be sure to sign up for the financial workshop prior to submitting your 2025 BPC Application. Then attend the webinar on the date you registered for it.

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
  2. HCC Creating a Successful Business Plan Online Continuing Education Class - to use this as a prerequisite, you must have completed the class within the following time period: (09/2020 - 05/2023)
  3. Small Business Management - BUSG 2309  (for college credit) 
  4. Entrepreneurship & Economic Development - BUSG 1307  (for college credit); completed 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 final deadline extension.    

If not, Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs can still take the Small Business Success Series by HCC© coming up in Jan/Feb 2025. 

Register for the Jan/Feb 2025 Small Business Success Series

You may apply for the competition before the series begins, but you must also register for the series and attend all five Saturday sessions.

If your application is selected, acceptance is conditional on completing the entire series.

Competition Timeline

  • Apply - January 6 - January 27, 2025. Update: the FINAL deadline extension is Thursday, January 30, 2:00pm CST  
  • Accepted Teams Announced - February 20, 2025
  • Training - Six free, 3-hour sessions (each Includes 30 mins of Networking, 2 hours presentation and 30 mins of Q&A) 3 Virtual training sessions on Zoom and 3 Onsite training session at Alief Hayes Main Bldg., A319/A320

    • Tuesday Evenings 6:00-9:00pm - Subsequent training sessions: 
      • Feb 25 - Session 1 - Roles & Responsibilities - VIRTUAL
      • Mar 04 - Session 2 - Leadership - ONSITE
      • Mar 18 - Session 3 - Sales & Marketing - VIRTUAL
      • Apr 01 - Session 4 – Financials - VIRTUAL
      • Apr 15 - Session 5 - Written Plan - VIRTUAL
      • May 06 - Session 6 - Pitching & Slide Presentation - ONSITE
    • Note - One team member from each competing team must be present at all six training sessions!
  • Plan Submission Deadline - May 5, 2025
  • Slide Presentation & Video Submission Deadline - May 12, 2025
  • Finalists Present to Judges – May 28, 2025 - Onsite at Alief Hayes Main Bldg.
  • Competition Awards Ceremony and Graduation – June 05, 2025 – 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 a prerequisite class that is still available, register for it/them prior to submitting the application. 

Submit your application by the FINAL deadline extension on Thursday, January 30, 2:00pm CST.     

  • Read the Contestant Requirements and Competition Rules (Download PDF) - 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 until you attach a resume. 
  • Tips for a Strong BPC Application – You can start your application and save it before submitting it. Once you click SUBMIT, 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 document and saving it. This allows you to refine your responses. You can then copy and paste your final answers into the online application.
  • Video - Totally Optional!  Not Required!  If you'd like to submit a brief video, please do, but it is okay not to do so.   
  • 2025 Application Deadline – The FINAL deadline extension is Thursday, January 30, 2:00pm CST . We recommend you start your application early, to ensure you meet the deadline. We will be choosing teams for the 2025 competition as we review completed applications up to and after the application deadline, until all teams have been notified by February 20, 2025.

  • Submit your application from January 6 -  January 27, 2025 2:00pm CST. Update: the FINAL deadline extension is Thursday, January 30, 2:00pm CST.     

  • Team Leaders can begin the 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. 

In-Kind Prizes Awarded to All Graduating teams!

Advisors from the Business Plan Competition pose for a group picture.

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 $146,875 free products, services and memberships to all 2025 graduating teams. All teams will receive in-kind prizes and support services. 

For Questions, email us at c4e@hccs.edu

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