[Press Conference: "2023 Liftoff Houston Launch Day"]
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RIA LA LAWSON, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND MY DIRECTORS ARE HERE, CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, PEOPLE FROM COMMUNICATIONS.
WHERE AM I? WHERE ARE THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH INTERNS? SHOW OF HANDS.
LOOK, UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, AGAIN ON THE STAGE WITH WITH ME OF THE DIRECTORS OF OBO AND THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND TODAY WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE 2023 LIFTOFF HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION FOR ITS 11TH YEAR.
OVER THE YEARS, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL IN EMPOWERING ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH BUSINESS LITERACY, EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP.
CAPITAL ONE BANK IS THE SIGNATURE SPONSOR OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON, AND THEY HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AND GENEROUS PARTNER WITH US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, HAVING AWARDED MORE THAN 310,000 UH, DOLLARS TO HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESSES.
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, CAPITAL ONE'S GENEROSITY HAS ALLOWED ASPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FRAMEWORK NEEDED TO MEET THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL GOALS, AND AT THE SAME TIME ENHANCE THEIR LIVES, GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
ADDITIONALLY, BY UPLIFTING SMALL BUSINESSES, WE ARE CREATING AN INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE, STRONG, AND DIVERSE ECONOMY FOR OUR CITY.
LIFTOFF TEACHES ITS PARTICIPANTS THE BASICS OF STARTING A BUSINESS, MARKETING FUNDAMENTALS, HOW TO ACCESS CAPITAL, HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS PLAN, AND HOW TO ACCESS THE MYRIAD OF FREE CITY OF HOUSTON RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WITHIN THIS COMPETITION, WE HAVE THREE PRIMARY CATEGORIES, INNOVATION, PRODUCT AND SERVICES.
AND EACH OF THE TOP WINNERS FROM THESE CATEGORIES WILL RECEIVE $10,000 FROM CAPITAL ONE BANK THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE TOWARDS STARTUP BUSINESS COSTS AND EXP EXPENSE AND EXPENSES.
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD SOME AMAZING LIFT OFF HOUSTON WINNERS, SOME OF WHOM YOU WILL MEET TODAY IF YOU'RE A LIFT OFF WINNER WINNER.
UH, MANY WHOSE BUSINESSES ARE CURRENTLY THRIVING AND MAKING MEANINGFUL FOOTPRINTS ON HOUSTON'S ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE.
I'M EAGER TO SEE WHICH BUSINESSES EMERGE DURING THE PROGRAM THIS COMING YEAR.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN AND I WANT TO URGE YOU TO APPLY.
AND AT THIS TIME, LET ME INVITE THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, DR.
RIO BROWN LAWSON, UH, TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT LIFTOFF HOUSTON, DR. BROWN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO JOIN YOU HERE TODAY AS WE LAUNCH THE EXCITING 11TH YEAR OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
I'M MARIA BROWN LAWSON, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE HPL TEAM AND I ARE ECSTATIC TO BE PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON BUSINESS PLAN.
THE PLAN'S COMPETITION WITH THE MAYOR AND OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE LIFTOFF PROGRAM HAS PLAYED A UNIQUE ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM BY ENSURING THAT HOUSTON IS A PLACE THAT WELCOMES INNOVATION AND LOWERS THE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION SO THAT ANYONE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO INNOVATE AND START SOMETHING AMAZING EACH YEAR.
IT'S BEEN BOTH EXHILARATING AND HEARTWARMING TO BE A PART OF THE JOURNEYS OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON'S PARTICIPANTS AS THEY SKILLFULLY NAVIGATE THE COMPETITION.
IT IS A JOY TO WATCH PARTICIPANTS ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH VIGOR AND DETERMINATION AS THEY PUT FORTH A GALLIC EFFORT TOWARD MAKING THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAMS COME TRUE.
THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO PROVIDE A MYRIAD OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES THROUGH THE COLLECTION
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OF FREE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT RESOURCES, MARKET RESEARCH AND STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY.OUR COLLECTION OF FREE BUSINESS RESOURCES HAVE PROVEN USEFUL TO STARTUP BUSINESSES, ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES AND BUSINESSES ACROSS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPECTRUM.
THE COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH PRINT AND DIGITAL FORMATS, AND ALSO INCLUDE SAMPLE BUSINESS PLANS AND BOOKS ON STARTING A NEW BUSINESS.
OUR MISSION AT HPL IS TO LINK PEOPLE TO THE WORLD THROUGH FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO INFORMATION SUPPORTING HOUSTON STARTUP BUSINESSES WITH FREE ACCESS TO CRITICAL BUSINESS RESOURCES, BOTH ONLINE AND THROUGH OUR NETWORK OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND REGIONAL LIBRARIES EMBEDDED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY IS ONE WAY WE PROUDLY ACHIEVE THAT MISSION.
YOU COULD PROBABLY TELL THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM OUR WONDERFUL LIFTOFF PARTNER, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, MARCIA MURRAY.
THANK YOU DR. LAWSON, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
SO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CONTINUES TO EDUCATE, CONNECT, AND GROW HOUSTON'S ASPIRING BUSINESSES AND FURTHERING OUR MISSION OF CULTIVATED AND INCLUSIVE AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON BY PROMOTING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
AS DR. LAWSON STATED, FOR OVER A DECADE THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND CAPITAL ONE BANK HAVE PARTNERED TO BRING THIS COMPETITION TO HOUSTON'S ENTREPRENEURS.
I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING THIS PROGRAM GROW FROM ITS INCEPTION AND EVOLVED INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY NURTURING THE ENTERPRISE AND SPIRIT OF HUNDREDS OF ENTREPRENEURS AND SUPPORTING THEIR QUEST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUCCESS.
LIFTOFF HOUSTON PROVIDES FREE RESOURCES TO NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESSES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, BUSINESS PLAN COUNSELING, FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND ONGOING BUSINESS SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITION ITSELF CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY.
TRACK EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY OFFERS A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS AND MENTORING, UH, SESSIONS.
THE WORKSHOPS FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY, MAKING THEM MORE CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED.
LIFTOFF HOUSTON CULMINATES ON PITCH DAY SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH WHERE YOU WILL HEAR THE PITCH FROM EACH BUSINESS AND WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMPETITION.
PARTICIPANTS MUST BE AND THE START OF PHASE OF THEIR BUSINESS, MEANING THEY EITHER HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA OR HAVE A BUSINESS IN OPERATION FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND THEY MUST HAVE REVENUE THAT IS LESS THAN $10,000.
THE BUSINESS OWNER MUST ALSO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON LIMITS AND THEIR BUSINESS MUST ALSO BE WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON LIMITS.
BEFORE MAYOR TURNER COMES BACK TO THE PODIUM, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT LIFTOFF HOUSTON IS OPEN TO ALL ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETE FOR THE THREE $10,000 PRIZES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION AND TO SEE MANY NEW INNOVATIVE IDEAS COME TO LIFE.
UH, MURRAY, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM CAPITAL ONE BANK, UH, COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY, BUT THEIR MONEY IS GOOD.
UM, SO, UH,
BUT WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE, UH, TO CAPITAL ONE AS THEY'VE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THIS PROGRAM, GIVE IT UP TO CAPITAL ONE, NOT ONLY BY FUNDING THE COMPETITION EACH YEAR, BUT BY GENEROUSLY SHARING THEIR STAFF, THEIR STAFF, UH, TO CONDUCT WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO OUR LIFTOFF HOUSTON PARTICIPANTS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO CAPITAL ONE, UH, FOR YOUR CORPORATE LEADERSHIP.
AND NOW I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME TO THE PODIUM DR.
JOHN FINN IS THE 2022 LIFT OFF HOUSTON WINNER IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY.
SHE'S HERE TODAY TO SHARE SOME INSIGHT ON HOW THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS, DR.
TASHA ROBERTS JOHNSON AND I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF ACTIVATE DRIP SPA.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CAPITAL ONE, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, HTV.
MY SCORE MENTORS RICHARD STANLEY AND CLIVE DUFFY FOR HELPING ME THROUGHOUT THE LIFTOFF BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION AND THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AFTER.
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THIS IS INDEED AN HONOR TO BE FEATURED AT THE, THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR TODAY.I WAS A TEENAGE MOTHER AT THE AGE OF 14, BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL WITH HONORS, GET MY NURSING DEGREE, PURSUE MY MASTER'S AS AN ACUTE CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER, AND FINALLY A DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.
TWO OUT OF MY THREE CHILDREN WERE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.
I WAS RECENTLY FEATURED AS ONE OF THE TOP 15 NURSES FOR THE CITY OF, UH, HOUSTON, FOR THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE NURSES OF THE YEAR, THE RECIPIENT FOR THE GOOD SAMARITAN NURSING EXCELLENCE AND THE 2022 PRECEPTOR OF THE YEAR FOR HOUSTON METHODIST.
THIS HAS JUST SHOWN THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU GO THROUGH A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGE AND STRIVE HARDER.
MY NOW 2-YEAR-OLD SON, PRINCE JOHN FINN, WAS THE REASON I STARTED ACTIVATE DRIP SPA.
HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE GENETIC DISORDER CALLED GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE TYPE 10.
HE IS ONE OF 50 PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS.
IF HE PLAYS TOO HARD, DOES ANYTHING TOO STRENUOUS OR ANYTHING TOO INTENSE, HE WILL NEED IV HYDRATION TO PREVENT MU HIS MUSCLES FROM BREAKING DOWN.
AS A DETERMINED MOM, I RESEARCHED IV HYDRATION THERAPY BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT HIM TO BE HOSPITAL BOUND.
I WANTED HIM TO HAVE A HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE.
AND SO ACTIVATE DRIP SPA WAS FOUNDED NOT JUST BECAUSE OF A BUSINESS BUT AS A LIVELIHOOD FOR MANY OTHERS.
ACT ACTIVATE DRIP SPA'S GOAL IS TO BE HOUSTON'S NUMBER ONE IV HEALTH WELLNESS AND AESTHETIC CENTER THAT WILL REHYDRATE, REFUEL AND RECOVER YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEEDS.
WE ARE LOCATED IN MIDTOWN AT 2100 TRAVIS, SUITE THREE 80, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 2.
THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE IV HYDRATION BOOSTER SHOTS, WEIGHT LOSS, INCLUDING WW WEGOVY, OZEMPIC AND MANJARO AESTHETICS SUCH AS BOTOX TO HELP RELAX YOUR WRINKLES.
UM, DECREASED SWEATING DERMAL FILLERS TO HELP GIVE YOU THAT YOUTHFUL LOOK.
PRP FACIALS AND HAIR RESTORATION.
FAT DISSOLVENT SHOTS, TELEHEALTH AND OXYGEN THERAPY.
100% OF NUTRIENTS THAT ARE ABSORBED IN THE VEINS, UM, GO TO YOUR BODY.
WHEREAS IF YOU'RE TAKING ORAL MEDICATION, ONLY 30% ARE ABSORBED.
WE PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY TO HELP YOU LOOK AND FEEL GREAT.
WE PROVIDE AN ULTRA CHIC SERVICE AT A LOWER COST THAN OUR COMPETITORS, AND WE HAVE ONLY RECEIVED FIVE STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS.
THE LIFTOFF BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION GIVES HOUSTON ENTREPRENEURS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN EXPOSURE THROUGH A VAST NETWORK OF MENTORS AND TRAINING THAT WILL ABLE ENABLE THEM TO LATER COMPETE FOR THE PRIZE.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CASH PRIZE RECEIVED FROM LIFTOFF, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR MARKETING AND PURCHASE SUPPLIES.
ACTIVATE DRIP SQUAD NILE EMPLOYS 18 MEMBERS DUE TO THE INCREASE IN CLIENTS WE ACQUIRED FROM THE MARKETING USE FROM THE LIFTOFF BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION AWARD, MONEY ACTIVATE SALES HAVE SINCE THE COMPETITION HAVE INCREASED BY 246% AS THE 2022 SERVICE CATEGORY AWARD WINNER WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THE CON THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND CONQUERED IT.
I STILL FEEL LIKE I WANNA SIGN UP FOR THE EDUCATIONAL TRACK JUST TO HEAR THE INSIGHTS AND KNOWLEDGE FROM OTHERS JUST SO I CAN LEARN, CONTINUE TO LEARN MORE.
THE LIFTOFF TEAM SECURED AMAZING SPEAKERS WITH VARIOUS TOPICS RELATED TO OPENING YOUR BUSINESS AND MAKING IT A SUCCESS.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY'S FREE SERVICES SUCH AS MARKETING AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AVAILABLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESS INCLUDE HAVING AN EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT IN YOUR BUSINESS.
SO FAILURE WILL NOT BE AN OPTION.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A PASSION FOR YOUR BUSINESS, BELIEVE IN IT, AND MAKE OTHERS BELIEVE AS WELL.
YOU ALSO WANNA SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR SAME INTERESTS.
TODAY IS THE DAY TO GET MOTIVATED AND MAKE YOUR BUSINESS ASPIRATIONS A REALITY.
THROUGH THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE LIFTOFF BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION, GET STARTED.
THIS CANNOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND, FAMILY, AND THE WONDERFUL ACTIVATE DRIP SPA TEAM, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRU INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THIS DREAM A SUCCESS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING TO ACQUIRE A SECOND LOCATION IN MONTROSE AREA.
SO FOLLOW US ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AT ACTIVATE DRIP SPA FOR ALL THE UPDATES.
IF YOU HAVE AN, IF YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING MARATHON, TEAM BUILDING EVENT, BACHELOR PARTY, WEDDING PARTY, BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR CONFERENCES, REACH OUT TO US 'CAUSE WE CAN PROVIDE ON LOCATION, IVY DRIP AND BOTOX PARTIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO OFFER YOU GUYS A 10% OFF COUPON FOR ANYONE THAT USES PROMO CODE LIFTOFF FOR ANY SERVICES THAT ACTIVATE DRIP SPA.
SO VISIT US, VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE@ACTIVATEDRIPSPA.COM.
CALL OR TEXT EIGHT THREE TWO EIGHT ONE ZERO THREE SEVEN FOUR SEVEN EIGHT THREE TWO EIGHT ONE ZERO DRIP.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS ACTIVATE DRIP SPA.COM.
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UH, THANK YOU AGAIN.LIFT OFF MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
WELL CONGRATULATIONS TO ACTIVATE DRIP SPA.
UH, GIVE IT, GIVE IT UP TO, UH, TO DR.
ALL RIGHT, AND UM, AND NOW LET ME BRING BACK, UH, TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO OUR PAST WINNERS, UH, DR.
SO I'M REALLY DELIGHTED TO, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, OUR WINNERS FROM LAST YEAR'S COMPETITION.
SO OUR FIRST, UH, FOR OUR INNOVATION CATEGORY, UH, ADIDA, UH, GARAL, UH, WON THAT CATEGORY.
HIS BUSINESS, MARITIME XR WORKS TO PRODUCE A VIRTUALLY RE REALITY BASED TOOL, WHICH ALLOWS SEAFARERS TO SAFELY PERFORM AND MASTER TASK WITH VARYING DEGREES OF RISK BEFORE UTILIZING THEIR SKILLS IN THE OPEN WATER.
THIS, THIS ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR THOSE IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE BEFORE EVER TOUCHING THE WATER.
OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY, UH, WINNER, UH, HANNAH LEE, WITH HER BUSINESS RESTATEMENT, SHE IS CHANGING THE UPCYCLING INDUSTRY.
HER BUSINESS IS AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE THAT ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE UPCYCLE PIECES THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED DATED DESIGNS INTO WEARABLE ART, COMBINING BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND FASHION IN ONE PLACE.
AND OF COURSE, YOU JUST HEARD FROM DR.
JOHN, JOHN FINN, UM, AS OUR SERVICE CATEGORY WINNER FOR LAST YEAR.
SO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL SHOWING US THAT INGENUITY AND HARD WORK CAN PUT YOU ON TRACK TO SUCCESS.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW LIFTOFF HOUSTON CAN AND HAS UPLIFTED ASPIR ENTREPRENEURS, AND WE ARE HONORED THAT WE COULD PLAY A ROLE IN THEIR SUCCESS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE, UH, TO COME AND HEAR ABOUT, UH, THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
ONCE AGAIN, THE APPLICATIONS, UH, FOR LIFTOFF HOUSTON R NOW OPEN, YOU CAN SIGN UP@WWW.LIFTOFFHOUSTON.COM.
APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST THE FOURTH AT 11:59 PM THAT'S FRIDAY, AUGUST THE FOURTH AT 11:59 PM AND BE SURE TO REGISTER BEFORE, BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
UH, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE, WE CAN TAKE THEM DOWN.
UM, YES SIR, FOR THE POOL, UM, HOW MANY ADVOCATES ARE EXPECTED TO GET, OR HOW MANY, MARC YOU WANNA TAKE THAT? SURE.
JUST I NEED A CONFIRMATION OF HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE ABOUT 280 APPLICATIONS, UH, TWO APPROXIMATELY 280 APPLICATIONS.
AND YOU EXPECT THAT ON THIS YEAR.
UM, OUR PR TEAM IS WORKING TO GET THE WORD OUT.
SO WE WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'LL EXCEED THAT NUMBER.
WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM? SO REALLY WHAT WE DISCUSSED, SHOULD I, OKAY.
SO, UM, REALLY WHAT WE DISCUSSED, UM, EARLIER, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE JUST WONDERFUL IDEAS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS TO US, AND THEY NEED THAT SUPPORT TO GET THOSE BUSINESSES STARTED.
AND THIS PROGRAM ACTUALLY ALLOWS THEM TO GET THE TOOLS AND THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THEM TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR BUSINESSES GROW AND PROGRESS.
AND WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO IT, UM, LEADERS HOW TOGETHER
SO THERE IS A, SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE REACHED THE COMPETITION, COMPETITION STAGE, SO THERE IS, THEY, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A BUSINESS PLAN.
AND SO WE HAVE, UH, JUDGES THAT HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL IN VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO ACTUALLY RE UH, REVIEW NUMEROUS PLANS AND THEN WHITTLE IT DOWN TO FINALISTS TO ACTUALLY COMPETE, UM, AND PUT FORTH THEIR PITCHES, UM, AS TO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESSES AND WHY THEY SHOULD BE AWARDED THE, THE MONETARY PRIZES.
LEMME JUST SAY THAT, UH, HOUSTON HAS BEEN NAMED AS PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR ENTREPRENEURS.
JOHN FINN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AROUND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT HAVE IDEAS, UH, CERTAINLY CAN BE ENTREPRENEURS.
THEY SIMPLY DON'T KNOW MAYBE HOW TO START OR HOW TO MOVE FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
UH, LIFT OFF HOUSTON, PROVIDE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO PULL FROM THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO PULL FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OTHER COACHES AND TURN THAT IDEA INTO A REALITY.
AND, UM, DR. JOHNSON WAS VERY POIGNANT.
UH, THERE WAS A NEED THAT SHE SAW IN THIS CASE FOR HER KID, AND SHE TURNED THAT NEED
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INTO A BUSINESS THAT'S NOT ONLY HELPING HER KID, UH, BUT OTHERS AS, AS WELL.AND OFTENTIMES YOU THINK THAT YOU MAY NEED A LOT OF MONEY TO GET STARTED.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED THAT SEED AND THEN THE REST WILL GROW FROM THERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
UH, UH, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH GOOD IDEAS, SMART ENTREPRENEURIAL, UM, RECEIVING $10,000 MEANS A GREAT DEAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE 1000.
SO, UH, UH, SO I DO WANT TO THANK CAPITAL ONE FOR, FOR THEIR WORK.
THIS IS THE 11TH YEAR DIRECTOR.
MARSHA MURRAY HAS BEEN, UH, WITH THIS PROGRAM FROM THE VERY, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I'M A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER, SO I'M JUST COMING TO THE GAME.
AND, UH,
UH, BUT, UH, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT, UM, CREATING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, ESTABLISHING ENTREPRENEURS.
AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO LIKE WORKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO LIKE BEING ENTREPRENEURS AND BEING THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEN CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE AND THEN TO SCALE UP.
AND, UH, SO I WAS LISTENING TO DR.
AND SO SCALING UP AND JUST THINK HAS STARTED WITH LIFT OFF HOUSTON.
ALRIGHT, LET ME THANK EVERYBODY AND, UH, AGAIN, UM, WELCOME AND ENJOY AND LUNCHES ON, ON ME.
GO TO ANY RESTAURANT, I JUST TELL 'EM I SENT YOU