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EVERYBODY, COME ON,[Press Conference: "Liftoff Houston Business Plan Competition 10th Anniversary"]
LET ME SAY GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M JOINED BY SEVERAL PERSONS, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR NICOLE ROBINSON FROM THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR MARSHA MURRAY FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, THE ASPEN HUBER, UH, THE HOUSTON MARKET PRESIDENT FOR CAPITAL ONE BANK, AND THERE'LL BE OTHERS THAT WE WILL INTRODUCE.
TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE 2022 LIFT OFF HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION.
IT IS ESPECIALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS INSPIRING AND IMPO AND IMPACTFUL INITIATIVE.
MORE THAN 15,000 HOUSTONIANS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LIFTOFF HOUSTON SINCE WE STARTED THIS COMPETITION.
IN OUR FIRST YEAR, WE HAD 504 PROGRAM ATTENDEES LAST YEAR.
WE QUADRUPLED THAT NUMBER TO MORE THAN 2,500.
THIS YEAR, WE AIM TO MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT.
OUR PRIMARY RESPONSES SINCE DAY ONE HAS BEEN CAPITAL ONE BANK.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO CAPITAL ONE BANK.
THANKS TO THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT LIFT OFF, HOUSTON HAS AWARDED OVER $280,000 TO HELP OUR LOCAL ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS MAKE THEIR DR MAKE THEIR DREAMS TO BECOME A REALITY.
IN A FEW MOMENTS, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP LIFT OFF HOUSTON PARTICIPANTS SECEDE AND ADVANCE IN THIS COMPETITION.
IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA, LIFT OFF HOUSTON WILL EMPOWER YOU TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL MOBILITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
WINNERS OF THIS COMPETITION HAVE BECOME KEY DRIVERS TO THE SUCCESS OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY.
THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES BY CREATING JOBS AND BY PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED GOODS AND SERVICES.
LEFT OFF HOUSTON WILL HELP YOU CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN.
IT WILL TEACH YOU MARKETING BASICS, HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCES AND HOW TO ACQUIRE FUNDING, AND YOU WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO PITCH YOUR PARTICULAR BUSINESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE BUSINESS IDEAS THAT THIS YEAR'S CONTESTANTS WILL PRESENT, UH, TO OUR JUDGES.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR PITCH DATE.
PITCH DATE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE DURING NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP MONTH AT 10:00 AM ON NOVEMBER THE FIFTH.
AT THIS CULMINATING EVENT, THREE CONTESTANTS PER CATEGORY WILL GET TO PITCH THEIR BUSINESS TO A SET OF VIP JUDGES IN ONE OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON'S THREE CATEGORIES, INNOVATION, PRODUCT AND SERVICES.
THE APPLICATION FOR THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION OPENS TODAY APPLICANTS CAN VISIT WWW.LIFTOFFHOUSTON.COM TO COMPLETE THEIR SUBMISSION.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS AT 2:00 PM ON AUGUST 19TH, 2022.
SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SIGN UP TODAY.
LET ME NOW INVITE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY DEPUTY DIRECTOR NICOLE ROBINSON TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
IT IS INDEED A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO TAKE PART IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2022 LIFTOFF HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE YEAR.
ON BEHALF OF OUR VISIONARY DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, DR.
BROWN LAWSON, AND OUR ENTIRE HPL TEAM, I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED HERE TODAY BY YOU MAYOR AND OUR PARTNERS AT CAPITAL ONE AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, WHO, ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, ARE INVESTING IN HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THROUGH THIS COMPETITION AND HELPING HOUSTONIANS REALIZE THEIR DREAMS OF OWNING A BUSINESS, START A BUSINESSES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
AND THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT THEIR ADVANCEMENT THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FREE.
SAY THAT AGAIN? FREE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT REFERENCE RESOURCES, MARKET RESEARCH, STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, AND HIGH SPEED WIFI, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO OTHER VALUABLE SERVICES SUCH AS FAX AND COPY SERVICES AND SPACE FOR MEETINGS, TRAININGS, AND MORE.
THROUGH THE EXTENSION OF THESE SERVICES, WE ARE ABLE TO PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND STRONG CONTRIBUTOR IN ADVANCING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROMOTING THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.
AND IT'S A ROLE THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY.
THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION WERE PROVED TO BE YET ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HOUSTONIANS FROM
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ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO ARE READY TO MOVE THEIR PLANS OF BUSINESS OWNERSHIP FORWARD.THE FAITH AND FORTITUDE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS ADMIRABLE, AND IT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE SO PLEASED TO TEAM UP WITH OBO IN CAPITAL ONE AND A HOST OF OTHER DYNAMIC AND DEDICATED PARTNERS LIKE HTV AND SCORE WHO HAVE JOINED US IN THIS ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND DREAMS. AN ENDEAVOR OF THIS SCALE AND SCOPE REQUIRES A ROBUST ENGAGEMENT.
AND THANKS TO THE SUSTAINED COMMITMENT OF ALL INVOLVED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, LIFTOFF HOUSTON HAS FACILITATED AN ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM IN HOUSTON WHERE STARTUP BUSINESSES ARE VALUED AND THRIVE, AND THAT, I HAVE TO SAY, WOULD NOT BE ACHIEVABLE WITHOUT THE UNWAVERING AND STAFF AS SUPPORT OF OUR MAYOR, A MAYOR WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY FOR OUR CITY TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER, AND AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN THE PODIUM BACK OVER TO YOU.
AND YOU READ THOSE LAST LINES JUST LIKE I WROTE THEM
UH, NOW LET ME BRING ON THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OF OPPORTUNITY, OBO, MARSHA MURRAY.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SINCE 2013, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PRESENT LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
SO TODAY I AM HAPPY TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH MAYOR TURNER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND CAPITAL ONE, TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF THIS TRULY IMPACTFUL PROGRAM, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, AND WE ALSO HAVE A VISION TO ELIMINATE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO PROSPERITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, AND THANKS TO OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, WE HAVE DONE JUST THAT WITH LIFTOFF HOUSTON, WHEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SUCCEED, SO DOES OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
IN A FEW MOMENTS WE'LL BE INTRODUCING PAST WINNERS OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF CAPITAL ONE BANK, EACH HAVE RECEIVED $10,000 IN STARTUP MONEY AFTER PRESENTING THEIR BUSINESS PLANS TO OUR PANEL OF JUDGES DURING PITCH DAY.
THESE WINNERS HAVE TAKEN THEIR BUSINESSES PAST THE STARTUP PHASE AND THEY'RE PROOF THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU HAVE THE TOOLS AND GUIDANCE TO HELP YOU FULFILL YOUR DREAMS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
OUR PREVIOUS WINNERS CAN ALSO TEST TO THE HARD WORK, GRIT AND DEDICATION NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN STARTING AND RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
BUT THE PATH IS MADE EASIER WITH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY LIFTOFF HOUSTON TO THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN PRIZE MONEY, YOU'LL RECEIVE THE TOOLS AND MENTORSHIP NEEDED TO CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN AND THE EDUCATION REQUIRED TO ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS FROM AN IDEA TO EXECUTION.
AND AFTER YOUR BUSINESS TAKES OFF, KNOW THAT HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY THROUGH OUR HOST OF RESOURCES AND BUS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE CONTINUING SUPPORT.
DO REACH OUT TO OUR RESPECTIVE TEAMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT LIFTOFF HOUSTON IS OPEN TO ALL ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETE FOR THE $10,000 PRIZE BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR IS THE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY WHERE ANYONE CAN, CAN ACCESS THE BUSINESS EDUCATION WORKSHOPS PROVIDED BY LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY WILL ALSO RECEIVE COACHING AND MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALSO PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR PITCH DAY ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH.
YOU CAN SUPPORT EACH FINALIST BY WATCHING THE EVENT AND VOTING ONLINE FOR A FAN FAVORITE IN EACH CATEGORY, FAN FAVORITES RECEIVE A CASH AWARD AND VOTES FROM OUR VIEWERS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
FOR ME, PITCH DAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PART OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON AS IT IS THE DAY WE ANNOUNCED OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNERS.
AFTER COMPLETING ALL REQUIREMENTS FROM AUGUST THROUGH OCTOBER, ALL THE HARD WORK OF OUR FINALIST COMES DOWN TO THE THEIR FINAL PITCH, AND THE ENERGY IS ALWAYS ELECTRIFYING ON THAT DAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THIS YEAR'S CONTESTANTS AND PARTICIPANTS.
HOUSTON IS HOME TO A VERY DIVERSE AND ENTERPRISING BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR YOUR BUSINESS ASPIRATIONS AND SEE YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS COME TO LIFE.
AS WE'VE DONE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, ALL WORKSHOPS FOR LIFTOFF HOUSTON 2022 WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ATTEND FROM THE COMFORTS OF THEIR HOMES OR WORKSPACES.
SO BRING ON THOSE BUSINESS IDEAS IN THE CATEGORIES OF INNOVATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE LIFTOFF.
HOUSTON IS OFFICIALLY LIVE AS OF TODAY, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY TO BE
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A CONTESTANT OR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY.YOU CAN ACCESS THIS YEAR'S APPLICATION FORM@LIFTOFFHOUSTON.COM.
AND DON'T FORGET APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 2:00 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY TEAM SPECIFICALLY PEARL KAHA IS OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MANAGER, OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS, JESSICA DEL GRECO AND NELLY PENA FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK FOR THIS LAUNCH.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE MAYOR TURNER BACK TO THE PODIUM.
DIRECTOR MURRAY CAPITAL ONE HAS BEEN A KEY PLAYER IN THIS PROGRAM, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELPING HOUSTONIANS MAKE THEIR SMALL BUSINESS DREAMS COME TRUE.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO YASMIN HUMA, UH, HOUSTON MARKET PRESIDENT OF CAPITAL ONE BANK.
UH, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
UH, TO CELEBRATE THE KICKOFF OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON COMPETITION.
MY NAME'S YASMIN HUBINGER AND I'M THE HOUSTON MARKET PRESIDENT FOR CAPITAL ONE.
CAPITAL ONE IS HONORED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2013, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO ONCE AGAIN LAUNCH THIS EXCITING PROGRAM AT CAPITAL ONE.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELP BRING ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH OUR IMPACT INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO CLOSE GAPS IN EQUITY BY HELPING PEOPLE GAIN BETTER ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT IS MAKING AN IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS TO HELP THEM MAKE THEIR DREAMS A REALITY.
AND DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE TO CREATE A MORE VIBRANT HOUSTON FOR ALL SMALL BUSINESS IS A DRIVING FORCE FOR BOTH OUR NATIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMY.
WE KNOW SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WANT SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GROW AND MANAGE THEIR BUSINESSES THROUGH OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND OUR SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS LIFTOFF HOUSTON CAPITAL ONE IS DRIVING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED.
LASTLY, UH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE PARTICIPANTS FOR INVESTING IN YOURSELF BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON PROGRAM, AND WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS ON YOUR JOURNEY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN NOVEMBER.
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU, MAYOR TURNER.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH AND AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE LAST 10 YEARS.
LET ME NOW INVITE JENNIFER T DID I PRONOUNCE THAT RIGHT? TAI? TAI.
OKAY, LET ME INVITE JENNIFER TAI, UH, THE 2016 SERVICE CATEGORY WINTER WINNER TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM AND HOW SHE MOVED HER BUSINESS PASSED THE START OF PHASE, JENNIFER.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, SO IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE I'VE WON, UH, LIFT OFF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, MY NAME'S JENNIFER TAI.
I OWN AWESOME BITES COMPANY, WHICH IS THE NATION'S FIRST ALLERGY FRIENDLY BAKERY AND ICE CREAM SHOP.
UM, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK OF AN IDEA WHERE I WAS JUST A MOM WITH A KID WHO HAD FOOD ALLERGIES AND I DECIDED I WOULD MAKE GOOD TREATS AND, UM, SAFE TREATS, MUFFINS MADE OUT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES INSTEAD OF JUNK.
AND AN IDEA ALWAYS SOUNDS REALLY WONDERFUL, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE IDEA.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE EXECUTION.
AND IN ORDER TO EXECUTE ANYTHING, UM, YOU NEED SO MUCH, SO MANY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AND IT'S NOT JUST FINANCIAL.
UM, I WAS REALLY BLESSED TO HEAR ABOUT THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON CONTEST AND I ENTERED IT AND IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY, UH, FORCE ME TO DO MY BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH I THINK PLANNING IS NOT VERY FUN.
UM,
SO I THINK WHETHER YOU'RE, UM, OUT THERE THINKING THAT YOU'VE HAD THE EDUCATION OR WHETHER YOU THINK LIKE IT'S JUST GONNA BE SO EASY BECAUSE YOUR IDEA IS SUCH A GREAT THING, UM, IT CAN'T HURT TO GET $10,000
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT CAN'T HURT TO HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO FURTHERING YOUR EDUCATION AND MAKING
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SURE THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS SOUND.UM, I ENTERED THE COMPETITION IN 2016.
I WAS LITERALLY DEALING, UM, MY SUPER MUFFINS AT FARMER'S MARKETS IN THIS HEAT.
UM, AND FROM THERE, UM, IN 2019, WE OPENED OUR FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR.
UM, I THINK THE TOOLS THAT LIFTOFF GAVE ME NOT ONLY HELPED ME LATER WHEN ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM OTHER, YOU KNOW, PITCH PROGRAMS AND GRANTS, UH, I EVEN GONE TO THE TARGET ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.
UM, SO ONE DAY SOON WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR PRODUCTS IN TARGET, BUT UM, IT ALSO GAVE ME RESOURCES WHERE I CONSTANTLY WAS ABLE TO COME BACK TO PEOPLE HERE.
UM, WE ARE NOW IN OUR THIRD YEAR OF BUSINESS AND EVEN WITH THE PANDEMIC HIGH, CRAZY HIGH PRICES AND SUPPLIES, LABOR SHORTAGES.
OH MY GOODNESS, I SWEAR, I THINK NINE MONTHS INTO MY BUSINESS, I THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS COLLAPSING AROUND ME.
AND, UM, THE IDEA OF HAVING A COMPLETELY DAIRY EGG, SOY NUT-FREE, UM, PLACE IN HOUSTON, WHICH WAS A HAVEN JUST SEEMED KIND OF ABSURD.
UH, BUT WITH THE TOOLS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW THE BUSINESS 20% YEAR ON YEAR, AND WE EMPLOY 12 WONDERFUL HOUSTONIANS, UM, THAT CONTINUE TO FURTHER THEIR SKILLS.
AND, UM, I'M JUST SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY I WAS GIVEN AND I HOPE EVERYONE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE EDUCATION AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE GIVING YOU.
THANK YOU, UH, JENNIFER, I'M GONNA GET ME SOME OF THOSE MUFFINS WITH SOME FRUIT AND START, I HAVE CUPCAKES TOO, AND DONUTS AND ICE CREAM NOW.
OH, IS THAT RIGHT? ALL I'M DEALING ALL THE STUFF.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M GONNA, I'M GOING, I'M GOING TO GET ME SOME FLOUR AND MILK AND MAKE ME SOME MUFFINS AND
AND I THINK YOU SAID YOU'RE NOW HIRING 12 PEOPLE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 12 PEOPLE EMPLOYED.
SO NOW LET ME, LET ME BRING BACK DIRECTOR MARSHA MURRAY, UH, TO COME UP AND RECOGNIZE HOW PAST WINNERS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.
I NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING TWO NOTABLE LIFTOFF WINNERS WHO HAVE FOUND MUCH SUCCESS IN THEIR SMALL BUSINESS JOURNEYS.
OUR WINNERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND INTERVIEWS AFTERWARDS.
UM, SO WINNERS, PLEASE COME FORWARD WITH YOUR NAME, UH, IS CALLED, FIRST I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE 2018 INNOVATION CATEGORY WINNER, ALFONSO ROUNDTREE OF SOCIAL BEVY.
ALFONSO'S COMPANY IS A LIFESTYLE SOCIAL CONCIERGE PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES A SOLUTION FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND EVENT MARKETING.
WITH SOCIAL BEVY USERS CAN CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES BASED ON THEIR SOCIAL PREFERENCES.
NEXT, I HAVE SHAHARA DOWNING WHO WON THE 2019 SERVICE CATEGORY AS FOUNDER OF LEVEL INC.
NOW WITH THE NEW CO-FOUNDER, KRISTA CLARK SHAHARA HAS EVOLVED HER COMPANY INTO SPEAK HOUSE, WHICH DELIVERS ON DEMAND AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATIONS COACHING THAT'S SCALABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOR COMPANIES AS WELL AS BEING ACTIONABLE AND PRACTICAL FOR LEARNERS.
HOUSE HAS SERVED 10 ENTERPRISES AND HAS TRAINED OVER 500 PROFESSIONALS IN THREE COUNTRIES SINCE RELAUNCHING IN OCTOBER, 2021.
ALFONSO AND SHAHARA, AND OF COURSE JENNIFER, WHO SHARED HER STORY EARLIER, ARE INSPIRING EXAMPLES OF WHERE LIFTOFF HOUSTON CAN TAKE YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOUR SUCCESS.
LEMME ASK YOU, LOOK, LEMME CONGRATULATE, UH, UM, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ALL THE PAST WINNERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, UM, AND SEE HOW AN IDEA HAS BECOME A REALITY THAT HAS REALLY, THAT HAS REALLY, UH, BLOSSOMED.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TEACHING EVERY ONE OF YOU AGAIN.
LET ME THANK, UH, CAPITAL ONE, UH, FOR JUST BEING A, A VITAL AND IMPORTANT PARTNER IN ALL OF THIS.
WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WANT TO THANK THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OF OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
AGAIN, THE APPLICATION FOR THIS, FOR THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION OPENS TODAY APPLICANT APPLICANTS CAN VISIT WWW.LIFTOFFHOUSTON.COM TO COMPLETE THEIR SUBMISSION.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS AT 2:00 PM ON AUGUST THE 19TH OF THIS YEAR, AUGUST 19TH, NEXT MONTH.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SIGN 'EM TODAY.
UH, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, WE'LL TAKE THOSE.
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DO SOME ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS.ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? OKAY, WELL LET'S JUST TAKE THESE PICTURES AND, UH, WE'LL GET IT.