[Liftoff Houston: Pitch Day 2023]
[00:00:05]
EACH FINALIST IS GONNA BE ABLE TO PITCH THEIR BUSINESS PLAN FOR FOUR MINUTES.
AND WE'VE GOT A TIMER IN THE BACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THAT BIG SCREEN.
THAT'S GONNA MAKE THEM FOUR MINUTES HARD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SIX MINUTE Q AND A FROM OUR JUDGES.
NOW EACH JUDGE IS GONNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A MINIMUM OF ONE QUESTION.
FINALISTS ARE ALLOWED TO USE PROPS DURING THEIR PITCHES, BUT THEY MUST BE SHARED WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED.
NOW, FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S WATCHING THIS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FAN FAVORITE AWARD, OKAY? IN EACH CATEGORY, YOU CAN VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PITCH.
AFTER EACH CATEGORY, YOU CAN SCAN THE QR CODE THAT WILL BE DISPLAYED ON YOUR SCREEN OR ON YOUR PROGRAM.
AFTER ALL CONTESTANTS IN EACH CATEGORY, COMPLETE THEIR PITCHES, BUT IT'S GONNA BE QUICK VOTING IS ONLY GONNA BE OPEN FOR 30 MINUTES.
SO MAKE SURE AS YOU'RE WATCHING THESE PITCHES GO, THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHO YOU REALLY LIKE.
ALL YOU NEED IS YOUR SMARTPHONE OR ANY DEVICE WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION TO VOTE.
AND THE PITCHES WITH THE MOST VOTES ARE GONNA RECEIVE THE FAN FAVORITE AWARD AND $500.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP SOMEBODY MISS OUT.
THE PRODUCT CATEGORY IS UP FIRST.
I KNOW EVERYBODY'S BEEN CRACKING KNUCKLES AND BREATHING DEEP AND GETTING READY FOR THIS STRETCHING.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY JUDGES.
THEY'RE STANDING BY WAITING TO COME ON UP ON STAGE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A WARM WELCOME FOR ANTHONY LOPEZ WITH PEOPLE FUND, ADRIANA GONZALES, WITH CAMARA, THE RIOS, LATINOS, AND JENNIFER DALE WITH LIFT FUN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA TAKE A SEAT RIGHT OVER HERE AT THE JUDGES' AREA.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY FINALISTS.
THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS, FRANCESCA UCCI RIS WITH INCHI BY FRANCESCA GIOVANNI GARZA, CLASSIC BORREGO RETAIL, AND TARA MCKINNEY WITH PATRESE.
MY NAME IS FRANCESCA BON IRIS, AND I'M THE OWNER OF INCHI BY FRANCESCA, LLC.
WE FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC NICHE OF THE RUG INDUSTRY.
THAT IS ONE OF A KIND HANDMADE RUGS THAT INCLUDES ANTIQUE RUGS, VINTAGE RUG, AND CONTEMPORARY RUGS.
WE ALSO DEAL WITH TEXTILE ART LIKE TAPESTRY, AND WITH PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS LIKE CUSHION COVERS MADE FROM RECLAIMED VINTAGE RUG.
SO, UH, WHAT I BROUGHT HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS AN ANTIQUE SEA FROM CENTRAL ANATOLIA IS A TAPESTRY THAT IS THE SAME TYPE OF TAPESTRY THAT YOU, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS ON THE, UH, SLIDE IS AN ACTUAL RUG.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
SO, SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS THAT RUG SHOPPING CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND CAN BE CONFUSING, ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE IS LOOKING FOR ONE OF A KIND UNIQUE PRODUCT.
I FOUND IT ON A BLOG AND IT SAYS, OH MY GOD, I JUST BOUGHT THE PERFECT RUG IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I LOOKED, IT WAS SUPER CHEAP, SAID NO ONE EVER.
SO BASICALLY OUR TARGET AUDIENCE OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS, ARCHITECT AND, UH, DECORATORS WHO MIGHT LOOK FOR THESE TYPE OF RUGS FOR THEIR CLIENTS MIGHT HAVE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. WE BELIEVE THAT PROBLEMS INCLUDE LACK OF RESOURCES.
SOMETIME TIME THEY MIGHT HAVE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RUGS AND ALSO LIMITED ACCESS TO THIS TYPE OF SUPPLIERS, SUPPLIES OF THIS TYPE OF RUG, SORRY.
AND ALSO NOT VALUE IMPORTANCE OF VIEWING OF THESE RUGS.
ALSO, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOOKING TO BUY AN ONLINE ONE OF THIS RUG ONLINE MIGHT HAVE PROBLEM NOT KNOWING WHAT FITS WITH THEIR, THE CORE STYLE MIGHT HAVE PROBLEM IN UNDERSTANDING THE QUALITY AND ALSO THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.
AND ALSO, UM, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LIKE OR WHERE THEY TO GO TO BUY THESE TYPE OF PRODUCTS.
SO BASICALLY AS A BUSINESS, WHAT WE DO, WE ASSIST CLIENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ONE OF A KIND RUG.
AND WE DO BASICALLY CONSULTATION AND SOURCES SOURCING.
I THINK WE BASICALLY DO THREE THINGS.
ONE, WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUR INVENTORY AND NEWSO ONE OF A KIND RUGS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF SUPPLIERS OF THESE TYPE OF RUGS.
NUMBER TWO, AS AN ARCHITECT, I PROVIDE A CURATED SELECTION TO MY CLIENTS BASED ON THE STYLE, THE CORE, THE GOALS OF THE DESIGN AND THE FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS.
AND FINALLY, WE PROVIDE TO THE CLIENTS IN NEWTON, IN THE, IN THE AREA, UH, SURROUNDING AREA IN ON VIEWING THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO EVALUATE THE FEET OF THE RUG, ESPECIALLY
[00:05:01]
LOOKING AT THE, AGAIN, STYLE OF THE ROOM DESIGN, BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, LIGHTING THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN, IN THE COLOR OF THE RUG.SO, UM, WE ARE APPLYING FOR THE CASH PRICE TO IMPROVE THE ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE OF, OF, UH, FOR THIS TYPE OF RUGS, WE WANT TO DEVELOP TWO PARTICULAR THINGS.
ONE IS, UM, A BETTER ONLINE SEARCH FUNCTION THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO NARROW DOWN THE OPTIONS IS LIKE A CURATED SELECTION ONLINE.
SO YOU START FROM THE TYPE OF ROOM, THE SIZE OF THE CORD, THE COLORS PALETTE, AND THEN YOU NARROW DOWN TO THE TYPE OF RUG THAT MIGHT FIT.
AND THE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO USE, UM, THE VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY LIKE AUGMENTED REALITY TO BE ABLE FOR PEOPLE THE BUYING ONLINE TO SEE THEIR, UH, HOW THE RUG FIT IN THEIR ROOM VIRTUALLY.
AND THIS IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH GREAT PRESENTATION.
SO WHO ARE YOUR SUPPLIERS, UH, FOR YOUR RUGS? OKAY, SO CURRENTLY MY MAIN SUPPLY IS A WHOLESALER IN TURKEY, BASED IN TURKEY.
BUT HE HAS A NETWORK OF, UM, BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE US.
SO IT IS, UM, I CAN ACCESS THIS PRODUCT, UH, EASILY.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID I HAVE AN ACCESS TO A WIDE NETWORK BECAUSE THROUGH THE SUPPLIER TO THE WHOLESALER THAT IS, IS BASICALLY TURKEY BY WORKS IN THE US I CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT LIKE ME SELL THESE TYPE OF PRODUCTS BECAUSE BEING ONE OF A KIND IS NOT THAT IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING, YOU CAN HAVE IT IN A DIFFERENT SIZE.
SO IF YOU WANT SOMETHING ELSE, AND I DON'T HAVE IT IN MY INVENTORY, I CAN SOURCE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE THROUGH THE CONNECTION THAT I HAVE TO THE SUPPLIER.
SO ARE YOU GONNA DO RETAIL OR WHOLESALER? IF YOU'RE GONNA USE INTERIOR DESIGNERS? I WILL DO MAINLY RETAIL.
AND WITH ALL, SAY WITH DESIGNERS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPE OF WAY OF WORKING.
SOME DESIGNERS LIKE TO PURCHASE FOR THEIR CLIENTS.
SO IN THAT CASE, IN THE PAST I SOLD TO DESIGNER, IT'S A BUSINESS TO BUSINESS.
IN SOME CASES, DESIGNERS LIKE TO ACT AS CONSULTANT TO THEIR CLIENTS, AND THEREFORE I SELL TO THE CLIENT.
AND, UH, IT, IT VARIES ENORMOUSLY BY, PARTLY BY THE TYPE OF BUSINESS I'M WORKING WITH.
SOME DESIGNERS, A VERY LARGE FIRM, SO THEY WORK AS A, THEY PREFER TO BUY A BUSINESS AND THEY RESELL AND MAYBE HAVE A PROFIT THERE FOR THEM.
IN SOME OTHER CASES, ESPECIALLY SMALLER FIRM, THEY PREFER TO JUST ACT AS CONSULTANT TO THE CLIENTS AND SAY, WE ADVISE YOU TO BUY THIS RUN FROM THIS PRODUCT.
IN, IN REVIEWING THE, UM, THE CASH FLOW PROJECTIONS YES.
AND THE, AND THE STARTUP COSTS, I DID NOTICE THAT, UM, THERE, THERE WASN'T AN, I SAW THE, THE USE OF FUNDS THAT SHE PROPOSED FOR THE $10,000 PRIZE, BUT IT, IT WAS NEVER INCORPORATED INTO THE CASH FLOW.
WERE THE EXPENSES, UM, INCORPORATED INTO THE CASH FLOW, THE, UM, THE EXPENSES THAT CORRELATE TO THE $10,000 AS YOU PROJECTED OUT YOUR GROWTH? 'CAUSE I DID SEE SOME OF THE EXPENSES CORRELATED.
SO YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
SO THE CASHFLOW HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST LEARNING POINT.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF LIFTOFF
YES, SOME OF THE MARKETING, I INCORPORATED SOME OF THE MARKETING COSTS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO ANYWAY INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CASH PRICE.
MAYBE I DID NOT INCORPORATE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEARCH AND WITH THE VIRTUAL REALITY.
THOSE ARE NOT IN MY, BUT THE THE MARKETING COST.
SO THE REASON I ASK THAT IS, UM, NOT JUST TO POKE HOLES AND THINGS, I, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS $10,000, UH, AWARD WOULD HELP TO FURTHER INCREASE THE SALES THAT YOU'RE PROJECTING IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR BUSINESS PLAN? SO I BELIEVE THAT THE TWO THINGS, ONE IS LIKE ALL MY PROJECTION ARE, ARE BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA.
MY FIRST NINE MONTHS, UH, BECAUSE I, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND, UM, AN, YOU KNOW, AN ESTIMATE OR SOMETHING LIKE I COULD USE TO ESTIMATE THE PROJECTION.
SO ANYWAY, UM, I THINK MAINLY IT'S GONNA BE MARKETING AND ADVERTISEMENT.
UNTIL NOW, I SPEND APPROXIMATELY $80 A MONTH IN ADVERTISEMENT.
SO IF I HAVE MORE MONEY, I CAN REACH MORE CLIENTS.
THIS IS ONE PLUS IF I CAN DO THE ONLINE SEARCH AND WITH, I THINK THAT WITH A BETTER WEBSITE THAT IS STILL WORK IN PROGRESS.
I THINK I CAN REACH MORE CLIENTS.
IT'S SIMPLY, THOSE ARE BASICALLY HOW I, I AM.
AND OF COURSE, IN MY $10,000, THERE IS ALSO SOME PRICE, SOME, UH, COSTS ASSOCIATED
[00:10:01]
WITH JOINING PROFESSIONAL.I STILL, NOW I'M JUST A MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON INTERIOR DESIGN SOCIETY.
I'M PLANNING TO JOIN OTHER THREE PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY.
THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF REACHING MY TARGET AUDIENCE.
SO THAT'S, I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
HOW DO YOU, SO I WANNA CLARIFY MY FIRST QUESTION.
UM, IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF CLIENTS OR IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THIS INVESTMENT WOULD HELP? SO, UM, I UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD REACH MORE CLIENTS, WOULD IT BE TWICE AS MANY CLIENTS? WOULD IT BE OH, THAT, THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION.
I TRY TO DO MY, I HONESTLY, UH, I THINK THAT IN THE LONG TERM, I PUT IN MY BUSINESS PLAN THAT MY GOAL IS TO INCREASE MY SALES BY 25%.
AND WHAT I DID IS BASICALLY I ESTIMATED WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH SAT ME BUYING CURRENT INVESTMENT LIKE $70 PER MONTH IN ADVERTISEMENT.
I REACH THIS TYPE OF CLIENTS AND THAT NUMBER OF SALES, IF I TRIPLE THAT, I CAN READ.
THAT'S GOOD THAT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT LIKE, UH,
AND SO THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU INTEND TO JOIN, WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THAT THAT WILL HAVE ON YOUR BOTTOM LINE? I THINK, UH, A LARGE IMPACT IN FIRST OF ALL IS A NEW BUSINESS.
VISIBILITY IS THE PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT WE ARE OFFERING.
UH, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR ME ARE LIKE A BIG GATE INTO THE INTERIOR DESIGNER, UM, WALL OF INTERIOR DESIGNER IN NEW.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE, FIRST OF ALL, IN TERMS OF INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF THE BUSINESS AND HOPEFULLY INCREASING ALSO THE TYPE OF SALES, THE PRODUCTS, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF, UH, FIRMS, OF COURSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STYLES AND SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS.
ONE, UM, A FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION.
UH, SO AS FAR AS MARKETING AND DEVELOP AND JOINING AN ORGANIZATION, YOU PLAN TO, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO, UH, ATTRACT BUSINESS FROM, UH, FROM OTHER BUSINESSES THROUGH YOUR CONTACTS OR, UH, BASICALLY AS WE SPEAK, I'M FINALIZING MY MARKETING PLAN THAT IS NOT, UH, FULLY, ACTUALLY THE ONE IN THE BUSINESS PLAN IS NOT THE BEST ANYWAY.
THERE ARE THREE, THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS.
I HAVE MY ACTIVE PRESENCE ON INSTAGRAM CURRENTLY.
IT IS ONE OF THE WAY IN WHICH I CON PROFESSIONAL.
AND THAT'S OUR TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
ALL RIGHT,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR GIOVANNI GARZA, CLASSIC BOREGO RETAIL.
HI GUYS, HOW ARE YOU? I'M GONNA TRY TO SET THIS UP REAL QUICK, SO WE'LL DO ONE OF THESE.
YOU CAN GRAB IT MANIPULATED AS NEEDED.
IT SMELLS BEAUTIFUL, DOESN'T IT? ALL RIGHT, DJ, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ESTEEMED JUDGES, FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS.
WELCOME TO THE CLASSIC BORREGO JOURNEY.
WE ARE CLASSIC BORREGO AND OUR MISSION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR, MAKING COWBOY BOOTS AFFORDABLE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN HIT BY THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FAR-REACHING PANDEMIC, UH, INFLATION, CARS, GROCERIES, GAS, EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP.
COWBOY BOOTS ARE NO EXCEPTION.
UM, HIGH QUALITY COWBOY BOOTS WERE ONCE ASSEMBLED.
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, THEY'RE BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO REACH, TO ACHIEVE FOR, UH, YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR, OR I'M SORRY, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
PERSONALLY, I STRUGGLED WITH THIS CHALLENGE OF FINDING A FAIR PRICE QUALITY PAIR OF COWBOY BOOT THIS PAST RODEO SEASON.
THIS IS WHERE CLASSIC BORREGO STEPS IN AS THE UNWAVERING SOLUTION TO THIS PRESSING ISSUE.
WE ARE TIRELESSLY WORKING TO BRING BACK AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT HAVING TO SACRIFICE QUALITY.
CLASSIC BORREGO ISN'T MERELY JUST LOOKING TO ENTER THE MARKET.
WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, REVITALIZE IT BECAUSE OF OUR DIRECT TO CUSTOMER BUSINESS MODEL ELIMINATES UNNECESSARY MARKUPS.
WE CAN ENSURE TRANSPARENT PRICING THAT ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE TRUE VALUE OF GENUINE CRAFTSMANSHIP.
WE DO ALL OF THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY.
WE'VE ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS WITH GENERATION OF BOOT MAKERS THAT CAN PUT QUALITY AND, UH, CRAFTSMANSHIP AT THE FOREFRONT FOR
[00:15:01]
EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND.UH, THIS ISN'T JUST AN IDEA, OOPS, SORRY.
WE'VE ACTIVELY BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO BRING BACK DOLLARS IN YOUR POCKET.
SINCE WE'VE INITIATED THIS PASSION PROJECT IN 2020 DECEMBER OF 2022, WE'VE HIT MILESTONE AFTER MILESTONE AND ACHIEVED, UH, STRIDE AFTER STRIDE.
AS GREAT AS 2023 WAS, JUDGES 2024 IS IN YOUR HANDS, AND WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN OUR JOURNEY.
SO THE, UH, COWBOY BOOT MARKET IS GLOBAL.
COWBOY BOOT MARKET IS ESTIMATED AT A GLOBAL $2.5 BILLION.
IT'S NOT JUST A HUGE MARKET SIZE, BUT IT'S A RIPE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS LIKE MYSELF TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO OUR BUSINESS PLAN IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND FORWARD THINKING, REINVEST EVERY DOLLAR, UH, METICULOUSLY REINVEST EVERY DOLLAR.
IT'S NOT JUST A FINANCIAL STRATEGY, BUT IT'S A LONG TERM COMMITMENT FOR SUCCESS.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS KING, WE KNOW THAT.
SO OUR ROBUST MARKETING BUDGET ALLOWS US TO AIM TO TAKE COMMAND ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LIKE INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.
UH, THAT ALONG WITH AD TARGETING WILL ALLOW US TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, INACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, WILL ENGAGE AND FOSTER A COMMUNITY.
I'M THE LEADER OF CLASSIC BORREGO.
UH, WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER HELPING US JOIN IN OUR MISSION AND POWER US TO REDEFINE THE COWBOY BOOT INDUSTRY HERE LOCALLY.
BE PART OF OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS MAKING QUALITY STYLE ACCESSIBLE AND ENHANCING, ENHANCING HOUSTON'S BOOT COWBOY BOOT REPUTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.
UM, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHY THE NAME OF THE COMPANY? CLASSIC BOREGO, YOU KNOW, UH, I WISH I HAD A COOL STORY, BUT IT JUST ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE VERY WELL, RIGHT?
CLASSIC BORREGO, UH, BORREGO IS A BIG HORN SHEET FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW.
UM, IT JUST, IT'S GOT A NICE RING TO IT AND, UH, IT KIND OF ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE.
AND, UM, AND WHERE DO YOU, WHERE DO YOU SOURCE THE BOOTS? SO WE SOURCE THE BOOTS IN THE LEATHER CAPITAL OF, UH, THIS HEMISPHERE
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UH, THAT I APPRECIATED ABOUT YOUR PLAN IS THAT BY TAKING OUT THE MIDDLEMAN, IT INCREASES NOT ONLY IT DECREASES THE COST TO THE END USER, BUT IT ALSO INCREASES THE PERCENTAGE THAT IS GOING TO THE ACTUAL CRAFTSMAN.
SO THAT, THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF OUR, UH, MODELS.
OUR DIRECT TO BUSINESS OR DIRECT TO CONSUMER MODEL ELIMINATES UNNECESSARY MARKUPS.
SO, UH, IT IT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT JUST ALLOWS US TO, UH, PUT THAT MUCH MORE INTO CRAFTSMANSHIP AND, AND QUALITY AND LEATHER.
UM, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH LEON GUANAJUATO.
SO, UH, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS YOU DO THE BOOT OVER THERE WITH DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS? NO, MA'AM.
OR YOU BRING THE MATERIAL HERE AND YOU DO IT HERE? NO, SO WE, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE TRAVELED, WE WERE JUST AT MP EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UH, WE'VE TRAVELED AND, UH, SOURCED THE, SO WE SOURCED THE LEATHER, THE BASICALLY THE ENTIRE THING WITH ONE BOOT MAKER.
UH, AND IT'S JUST ONE PERSON MAKING EVERYTHING.
SO WE GO TO HIM, HE SOURCES THE LEATHER, THE QUALITY LEATHER, HE SOURCES THE, UH, THE STITCHING.
SO, UM, IT'S JUST ONE GUY WE DEAL WITH.
BUT YOU BRING, WHEN YOU BRING IT FROM LEON TO HERE, THE BUDDHIST, YOU BRING IT LIKE THAT OR IT IT IS A FINISHED PRODUCT.
UH, WHO ARE YOUR SOURCES AS FAR AS RETAIL OR WHOLESALE? DO YOU WANNA SELL TO THE BIG COMPANIES? LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO NOT THAT GOT THE BOOTS OR YOU WANNA GO TO THE RODEO? WHO, WHO, WHO, WHERE YOU WANNA PROMOTE THE MOST? SO, SO OUR, OUR, OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS DIRECT AND SELLING DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER.
IT ELIMINATES THE UNNECESSARY MARKUPS THAT WE HAVE DURING WHOLESALE, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO INVEST MORE IN QUALITY.
UH, SO AT THIS POINT, WE DO NOT FORESEE GOING INTO A WHOLESALER OR, OR, YOU KNOW, BOOT BARN OR CAVENDERS OR ANY OF THOSE GUYS.
WE KIND OF WANNA STAY INDEPENDENT AND HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER, UH, CREATIVITY AND QUALITY, UH, AND HAVE A MORE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CUSTOMER BASE.
UM, I, UM, I DON'T OWN A SET OF BOOTS.
BUT IF I HAD TO BUY SOME, AND YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN SEE THIS, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S GENIUS.
[00:20:01]
HAVE YOUR BRANDING ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BOOT.IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES IN GU OR THEY DO.
YEAH, THEY, UH, HE, HE DOES THAT ALL TURNKEY.
AND, AND AGAIN, WE'VE KIND OF THOUGHT OUT THIS PROCESS, UH, LEON IS, IS, UH, THE LEATHER CAPITAL, THE, OF, OF THE, YOU KNOW, THIS HEMISPHERE.
AND HE DOES ALL THAT, ALL TURNKEY.
AND HE'S A FABULOUS, UH, BOOT MAKER THAT'S BEEN DOING IT FOR, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE GENERATIONS.
I HADN'T SEEN THAT, UH, ON A BOOT.
UM, ALSO TWO, UH, WHO'S YOUR MARKET? I MEAN, IS IT, YOU MENTIONED IT'S THE CONSUMERS, BUT IT'S CONSUMERS HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
UH, IT, IT, IT IS, UH, PRIMARILY AS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
AGAIN, UM, I, I KIND OF FUMBLED THAT AT THE START OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT, UH, OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT BOOTS ARE INCREASINGLY BECOMING UNATTAINABLE BECAUSE OF, UH, INFLATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO, UM, THAT'S OUR TARGET AUDIENCE HERE IN HOUSTON.
EVENTUALLY WE DO WANNA EXPAND INTO, UH, FURTHER MARKETS, BUT PREDOMINANTLY, UH, SINCE WE ARE AN ONLINE BUSINESS, UH, WE DO WANT TO FOCUS SOLELY HERE IN HOUSTON SO WE CAN, UH, FOCUS ON QUALITY AND, UH, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOT JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON THE REVENUE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP, THERE'S A CERTAIN RODEO COMING TO HOUSTON IN FEBRUARY, MY MAN, WE TAKE A, LIKE, WHAT DOES THE $5,000 INITIAL INVENTORY REPRESENT TO YOU IN TERMS OF, UH, INCOME? I'M SORRY, IN TERMS OF YOUR, YOUR REQUEST IS FOR $5,000 TO PURCHASE THE INITIAL INVENTORY AS A PART OF THE REQUEST.
WHAT WOULD THAT REPRESENT TO THE COMPANY AT, IN TERMS OF THE SALE AT, OF THAT $5,000 OF INVENTORY? WHAT WOULD THAT REPRESENT IN TERMS OF INCOME? UM, IT, IT WOULD, IT WOULD GENERATE, UH, ROUGHLY 20 TO 30% ON THAT INITIAL INVESTMENT.
UM, I'M SO GLAD THAT BIG PART OF THE PERCENTAGE OF THE 10,000 OF THE 5,000 THAT YOU ARE, YOU PUT IN OVER MARKETING, SHE NEARLY A SMALL BUSINESS.
SO HOW YOU PRETEND TO DO YOUR MARKETING.
SO, UH, I'M NOT A MARKETING GENIUS.
I, I I, BUT I AM SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT A MARKETING GENIUS.
UM, SO WE'VE OUTSOURCED MARKETING AND WE'RE, UH, WE'RE IN TALKS WITH A PROFESSIONAL MARKETING COMPANY THAT CAN HANDLE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR US, THAT INCLUDES AD SOURCE OR, UH, AD TARGETING, UH, S-C-A-S-E-O, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. AND THAT IS BUILT INTO OUR, OUR DAY-TO-DAY COSTS.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL COST ON TOP OF OUR, UH, DAY-TO-DAY.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS ABOUT THE POP-UP EVENTS AND, AND, UH, AND PROMOTIONS.
WHAT KIND OF, WHAT KIND OF POP-UP EVENTS WERE YOU ANTICIPATING? SO WE ARE PLANNING A BOOT SHINE, A FREE BOOT SHINING, UH, EVENT AT HAPPY HOURS AFTER WORK TARGETING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.
GIOVANNI GARZA, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I WAS GONNA ASK HIM TO LEAVE A PAIR UP HERE.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE OUR FINAL PRODUCT CATEGORY PITCH UP HERE.
PLEASE WELCOME WARMLY TO THE STAGE, TARA MCKINNEY.
I AM A RELATIONSHIP MARKETING CONSULTANT WHO HAS BEEN CREATING GRAPHIC DESIGNS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
I DESIGNED T-SHIRTS, TEA BAGS, TEA CUPS, SWEET TEA NOTES, AND BUBER SHOOTS THAT WILL BE BUNDLED IN THE BUSINESS SURVIVAL KIT FOR TODAY'S BUSY GIRL.
SO HARDWORKING WOMEN CAN CONVENIENTLY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED IN ONE PLACE WITH AN OPTION TO BUY SEPARATELY.
CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE THEIR FAVORITE SHIRT OR BY DESIGNS THAT ARE ALREADY PRE-DESIGNED FOR THEM, OR THEY CAN BOOK A PHONE OR A VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT ON MY WEBSITE FOR A DESIGN CONSULTANT, UH, TO ACHIEVE AN IDEAL LOOK.
UM, IN APRIL, I JUST THOUGHT, WHAT DO BUSY WOMEN NEED TO GET THEM THROUGH A DAY? UH, COFFEE MUG FOR THAT MUCH NEEDED CUP OF JOE
UM, UH, AN UMBRELLA OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE LIVE WHERE
[00:25:01]
IN HOUSTON, UH, SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH AND ON A BAG THAT CARRIES OUR PHONES AND KEYS.ALL OF OUR STUFF, LAPTOPS, SUPPLIES MY SON'S LUNCH.
HE LEFT
SO FOR, UM, I'M SORRY, FOR GEN X AND MILLENNIAL BUSINESS WOMEN, PATRICE, UH, WILL SERVE AS A CREATIVE CANVAS TO A MARKETED PROMOTER LIFELONG DREAM FOR WOMEN AGES 18 TO 54.
UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, PATRICE WILL OFFER ITEMS THAT MAKE A STATEMENT WITH CLASS AND STYLE.
AND FOR MEN LOOKING FOR AN ELOQUENT GIFT, PATRICE IS AIMS TO DELIVER ONE OF A KIND PRODUCT THAT WILL BE SURE TO MAKE MOM, WIFE, OR FEMALE FRIENDS SMILE.
BUT STILL WITH ALL OF THE PLAYERS IN RETAIL, WHAT MAKES PATRICE SO DIFFERENT? WELL, MY PRODUCTS ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, THEY ARE VERSATILE, AND THEY ARE AUTHENTIC BECAUSE THE DESIGNS ARE MINE.
I ALSO DEAL WITH SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIERS SUCH AS CANVA.
THEY HAVE A ONE PRINT, ONE TREE PROGRAM FOR EVERY ORDER THAT'S PLACED.
THEY PLANT A TREE AND THEY'VE PLANTED OVER 4 MILLION SO FAR.
SO THIS ADDS A SENSE OF INCLUSION AND A FEELING OF WHOLESOMENESS FOR MY, FOR MY CUSTOMERS.
UM, ALSO, UH, CONTENT MARKETING, INFLUENCER COLLABORATION, UH, I'M SORRY,
THE SELLING ONLINE ON SHOPIFY WILL ONLY JUST CONNECT IT TO MORE, MORE MARKETS.
SO FINANCIALLY, PATRICE CAN CAN MAINTAIN 44 TO $48 IN DAILY SALES PER CUSTOMER PER MONTH.
IN YEAR ONE, THEY CAN, WE CAN EXPERIENCE, UH, INCREASE IN REVENUE OF 3% IN YEAR TWO AND A 2% INCREASE IN REVENUE IN YEAR THREE.
SO THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS SHOULD BE SUSTAINABLE ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN A POP-UP STORE IN THE HEIGHTS AND ALSO IN RICE VILLAGE.
SO AFTER WINNING THE $10,000 CASH PRICE, I WILL BUY A WORKSTATION PC
AND I BEGAN TESTING IN THIS MARKET IN SEPTEMBER.
I'VE ACHIEVED ABOUT $200 IN SALES SO FAR WITH ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PENDING ORDERS FOR PROMOTIONAL T-SHIRTS.
SO THIS SAYS TO ME, AND IT INDICATES AN AFFORDABLE LUXURY MODEL BUSINESS MODEL WILL HELP SUSTAIN MY CUSTOMERS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
SO WHY PATRICE? WHY NOT? IT MAKES SENSE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PINK HEART.
IT SAYS YOUR BUSINESS, IT SAYS YOU, IT SAYS YOUR STYLE.
AND ONCE I HIRE A GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT, I WILL BE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME AND WELCOME TO PATRICE.
SO, UH, AGAIN, IN LOOKING AT THE, AT THE CASHFLOW PROJECTIONS, YES.
UM, IN YOUR FIRST MONTH, YOU WERE STARTING OFF WITH A VERY SPECIFIC NUMBER.
I THINK IT WAS 345 CUSTOMERS AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $44 EACH.
HOW DID YOU COME TO THAT NUMBER? WELL, I HAVE A VERY GOOD WAY OF, UH, PUTTING MY EXCEL SPREADSHEETS TOGETHER.
UH, IT WAS LIKE A FORMULA THAT I KIND OF DID SOME RESEARCH ON TO FIND OUT WHAT IS SPECIFIC BECAUSE I DESIGNED THINGS ON MY OWN.
THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT I ADD THAT TO THAT NUMBER, LIKE DESIGN FEE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
AND IT KIND OF, THAT'S FOR THE 44? YEAH, THE 44.
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A REASONABLE, UH, I MEAN, UH, A, A REASONABLE ESTIMATE.
UM, HOW DID WE, HOW DID YOU COME TO THE, THE 300, UM, UNIQUE CLIENTS WITHIN, WITHIN THAT PERIOD? I KIND OF DID AN ESTIMATE OF BASICALLY THE SMALLER SHOPS WHO I WOULD SAY MIGHT BE COMPETING WITH TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THEIR CUSTOMER FLOW IS.
UH, AND I DID A DI DIVIDE DIVIDED THAT BY HOW MANY CUSTOMERS WE CAN ANTICIPATE PER YEAR.
JUST LIKE YOU SAY, IF IT, IT MAKES SENSE ABOUT 300 OR SO PEOPLE PER MONTH JUST ONLINE.
SO I KIND OF DID LIKE AN, I ENGAGED WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPANIES JUST TO KIND OF SEE WHAT THEIR FLOW WAS.
AND THEN I KIND OF DID LIKE A COMMON SENSE BALANCE AND THAT JUST MADE SENSE.
I GUESS I WOULD BE ONE OF THE MEN THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BUYING A GIRL GIFT.
SO THIS, THIS PACKAGE THAT YOU HAVE, THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DELIVERED TO, UH, UH, LADIES THAT YES, IT
[00:30:01]
WOULD BE.WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TIERS.
SO THERE'S LIKE A REGULAR PACKET BECAUSE I HAVE THE SHIRTS THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM.
ONE IS JUST THE REGULAR T-SHIRT.
IT'S A BRAND T-SHIRT, BUT IT'S JUST A REGULAR T-SHIRT.
THE SECOND WOULD BE MORE OF A PREMIUM SHIRT, WHICH IS, THIS SHIRT HERE IS SOFTER MATERIAL, A LITTLE BIT MORE VERSATILE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MIX IT ANYWHERE TO WORK.
AND THEN THERE'S A PIMA TEA, WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
SO THEY CAN GET A MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT ITEMS IN EACH KIT.
AND YOU, AND YOU SAID YOU ALSO SELL TEA ALONG WITH IT? I'M JUST, I JUST HAVE THE TEA THAT'S ALL
THAT'S NOT A GOOD, BAD IDEA THOUGH.
MY, MY, ACTUALLY MY TOTE BAG DIDN'T SHOW UP, BUT WE HAD A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS.
SO
I HAVE, UH, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON MY STAFF WHO WOULD REALLY LOVE THIS AND I WOULD HAVE TO SOURCE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THE, FOR THE OTHER HALF OF MY STAFF WHO MIGHT NOT BE AS ENGAGED WITH THE, WITH THE MARKETING, WHICH IS A LIMITATION FOR ME AND MAYBE A REASON THAT I CHOOSE TO GO WITH A DIFFERENT COMPANY.
SO, UM, I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW, UM, WITH THE, THE SAME, WITH THE SAME MATERIAL, WITH THE SAME STRUCTURE.
IF YOU, UM, IF YOU DID OPEN IT UP AND UH, TO A, A LITTLE BIT BROADER TARGET MARKET, UM, WELL I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD YOU OPT TO TO KIND OF LIMIT IT IN IN THAT SENSE AND NOT OPEN IT UP TO A LITTLE BIT BROADER MARKET FAIR? BECAUSE WELL, UM, NAH, WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS, YOU KNOW HOW YOU PLAY AROUND WITH AN IDEA AND IT JUST GROWS
UM, SO MY MARKET, I'M NOT AVERSE TO BROADENING TO ANYWHERE SIMPLY BECAUSE MY SUPPLIERS GO ALMOST ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD.
YOU GOT ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IT KIND OF STARTED OFF WHERE I WAS LIKE, OOH, THE HEIGHTS AND THEN ALL RICE VILLAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT SINCE I'VE SUBMITTED EVERYTHING, YEAH, IT'S KIND OF GROWN WHERE I CAN SEE EUROPEAN SECTOR AND DIFFERENT PLACES LIKE THAT ARE REALLY INTO THE DECORATED APPAREL MARKET.
SO THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT I COULD OPEN UP TO THAT MARKET.
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SHOPIFY AND PRINTFUL AND ZAZZLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT IS, YEAH, IT'S PRETTY OPEN.
YOU COULD BE DEFINITELY BE ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS.
UM, SO YOU WILLING TO EXPAND TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WILL BE THE CHANGE IN YOUR PRODUCTS IF YOU EXPAND TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ARE NOT MENTIONING IN YOUR MARKET? I PROBABLY WOULD FOCUS MORE ON BUNDLING, MAYBE, UM, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE CORPORATE GIFTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO A T-SHIRT, A CUP, A PIN, NOTEPAD MIGHT COME IN HANDY.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE A SPECIALTY OFFERING FOR YOUR DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES OR WHATEVER.
JUST SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE AS A UTILITY.
SO MAYBE HAVING A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH PRODUCTS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT I'VE CONSIDERED
ANYBODY ELSE DO THAT? YOU HAD MENTIONED THE HEIGHTS ARE, ARE YOU GONNA YOUR EVENTUAL GO TO OPEN UP A STORE IN A STOREFRONT OF THE HEIGHTS AREA? YES.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT ON 19TH AND ASHLAND, I BELIEVE
WELL THE HEIST IS, HAS THE INCOME THEY FIT MY SCOPE OF.
'CAUSE THIS IS KINDA LIKE YOU THINK ABOUT KATE SPADE AND MICHAEL KORS AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE.
SO THAT AREA, INCLUDING RICE VILLAGE, THEY, THEY ALL FIT MY CRITERIA.
AND SO YOU, ARE YOU DOING ANY POPUPS RIGHT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY OR? I AM.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO ONE BY LIKE 2026.
YOU GOTTA GO TO THE HEIGHTS, TARA.
IS THIS YOUR PHONE GIRL? IT IS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY.
AND OF COURSE OUR JUDGES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR OUTGOING JUDGES.
JUDGES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR ALL THESE OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OWNERS.
CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE RESULTS.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE PICK OUR FAN FAVORITE.
IT'S ONE FAN FAVORITE FROM EACH CATEGORY, GANG.
ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE DIFFICULT TIME.
[00:35:01]
WORD NOT DEBILITATING.UH, WE'RE GONNA CHOOSE A WINNER, BUT AUDIENCE, YOU GOTTA WEIGH IN ON WHO PROVIDED THE BEST PITCH OUTTA THE THREE THAT YOU JUST SAW.
SCAN THE QR CODE, USE YOUR WIRELESS DEVICE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR WHO OUTTA THESE THREE PEOPLE ARE GONNA WIN THAT $500 FAN FAVORITE IN THAT FIRST CATEGORY.
REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE GONNA WIN SOME BIG MONEY.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND CATEGORY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHICH IS SERVICE.
THIS IS GONNA BE AN EXCITING ONE.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT THREE BIG CONTESTANTS THAT ARE READY TO COME UP HERE AND PITCH, BUT FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT THREE JUDGES.
FIRST UP WE HAVE DANIEL LOU FROM AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, SANDRA LUER FROM HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND KEIRA HARDWICK FROM THE KEIRA COMPANY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME OUR JUDGES FROM THIS TIME AROUND.
THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE JUDGES' TABLE.
WE GOT A MICROPHONE ON THE COFFEE TABLE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU CAN SHARE DURING THE Q AND A SECTION.
WE'RE GONNA WATCH A BRIEF VIDEO INTRODUCING THE SERVICE CATEGORY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND THEN I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR NEXT CONTESTANTS UP IN SERVICE.
I'VE, UM, I MOVED TO HOUSTON IN 2010.
WE REALLY FELT THAT LIFTOFF HOUSTON WOULD GIVE US A REALLY CLEAR ROADMAP TO COMPLETING OUR BUSINESS PLAN WHILE OFFERING TONS OF GREAT RESOURCES ALONG THE WAY.
UM, WE REALLY THOUGHT THAT THE CASH PRIZE WOULD JUST BE AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE GAINED AND THE MENTORS WE RECEIVED.
SO, UM, AND WE HOPED THE EXPOSURE THAT WE WOULD GET FROM MAKING IT TO PITCH DAY
I ENROLLED IN LIFTOFF HOUSTON BECAUSE I SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMPOWER MYSELF AND TO EMPOWER MY BUSINESS.
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR CHARLESTON KITCHEN.
I AM SELF-MOTIVATED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AFTER UH, READING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, I REALIZED THAT THIS IS THE STRUCTURE I NEED.
THESE ARE THE SUPPORT, UM, AND MENTORING I NEED.
THE COVER WILL SAY NATIVE CHARLESTONIAN LAUNCHES HER FOOD EMPIRE AT 60 YEARS OF AGE.
FOLLOW HER JOURNEY FROM PROPERTY MANAGER TO RESTAURANT REMOVAL.
I THINK WE WOULD WANTED TO SAY THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGING THE PET DEATH CARE INDUSTRY AND THE FUTURE OF IT.
HOUSTON BASED SILVER SOLVER IS EXPANDING BEYOND TAXES NOW.
EVEN MORE OLDER ADULTS CAN REACH FUN FILLED YET SCIENCE BACK ACTIVITIES AND MAKE THEIR FUN, UH, AND MAKE THEIR LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL AND MORE FUN.
DO NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST MOMENT.
ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR ASSIGNMENT OPEN ON THE WEBSITE, JUST GO IN ADVANCE, SEE WHAT'S THERE BECAUSE YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF WORKING ON ONE PART OF AN ASSIGNMENT.
IT'S CLOSELY TIED TO ANOTHER ONE.
UH, PLEASE GET ALL THE RESOURCES POSSIBLE FROM YOUR MENTORS, FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVEN CLASSES.
ASK THEM TO DIRECT YOU TO PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.
JUST ASK QUESTIONS AND DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MOMENT.
IT REALLY IS JUST LEARNING EACH STEP OF THE WAY ONE STEP AT A TIME AND JUST REALLY LEANING INTO THE SUPPORT THAT LIFTOFF PROVIDES.
WE HAD SO MANY GREAT MENTORS THAT WERE IN TURN ABLE TO TURN US TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO HELP US.
SO WE'VE MADE TONS OF CONNECTIONS AND MET SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.
SO I WOULD JUST ADVISE EVERYONE TO JUST TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.
MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO ATTEND EVERY WORKSHOP, UM, APPLY THE INFORMATION PROVIDED THE RESOURCE PROVIDED TO THEIR OWN PARTICULAR BUSINESS, UM, AND THEN BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR TELL THEIR STORY
[00:40:01]
WITH SIMPLICITY AND CLARITY.ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GET THESE PITCHES STARTED FOR THE SERVICE CATEGORY.
I'M GONNA LET YOU KNOW WHO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BRING UP OUR VERY FIRST PITCHER.
PITCHER, I THINK I JUST MADE THAT WORD UP.
ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SERVICE CATEGORY FINALISTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
WE HAVE TATIANA V FROM FOX MAJEURE, WE HAVE TO JOHNSON FROM CHARLESTON KITCHEN, DIANA ELLA AND HAILEY TROMBLEY FROM THE GOOD AS GOODBYE.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BEFORE THEY GET THEIR PITCHES STARTED.
GOOD MORNING MY DEAR FUTURE SENIORS.
THIS B***H IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US.
MAYBE IT'S YOUR MOM WITH HER, ALWAYS THEIR ADVICE.
JUST THAT ALL THE COUPLE THAT GIVES OUT FULL SIZE CANDY BARS AND HALLOWEEN, THINK ABOUT IT.
EVERYTHING AROUND US WAS MADE BY NOW SENIORS, YET ONE DAY THEY BECOME INVISIBLE.
THIS IS UNFAIR AND JUST WRONG.
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR US AND NOT REALLY UNLESS THIS TECTONIC SHIFT IS INITIATED TODAY.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF FOX MAJEURE.
WE HELP LIVE IN FACILITIES TO BRING THE TRULY ENRICHING PROGRAM TO THEIR SENIOR RELATIVES.
THE POPULATION IS RAPIDLY AGING.
IF TODAY, 56 MILLION OF AMERICANS AS 65 AND OVER IN JUST 20, UH, IN 20 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO GO TO 80 MILLION AND ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING FACT, 10,000 BABY BOOMERS ARE TURNING 65 DAILY AND THIS CALLS FOR A MILLION OF NEW SENIOR FACILITIES IN JUST NEXT 17 YEARS.
WHAT 2060 HAS FOR US UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH OF DEMAND FOR SENIOR SERVICES.
HOUSTON IS NOT EXACTLY THE DESTINATION YET THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO RETIRE HERE ARE PRETTY COMFORTABLE.
AS A NEWER COMPANY, WE FOCUS ON THE NICHE OF JUST 20 HOUSES IN THE PRICE RANGE OF SIX AND HALF TO $12,000.
THIS FACILITY COMMIT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CARE AND THEY HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO INVEST IN THE WELLBEING OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.
THIS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, IT'S NOT JUST FOR FUN, IT'S A MUST MANDATED BY THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
MANY FACILITIES, THEY'LL STILL SETTLE WITH A MINIMUM REQUIRED BY THE LAW.
AND IMAGINE IT'S THE SAME REPEATING FAC UH, ACTIVITIES, BINGO, CHEER YOGA AND TRIVIA WITH JUST SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS IS WHERE FOX MAJEURE COMES TO THE RESCUE.
WE BRING IN A TRULY CUSTOMIZABLE PROGRAM OF SCIENCE BACKED ACTIVITIES.
40% OF THE DECISION WHEN CHOOSING A FACILITY IS BASED UPON THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM OFFERED.
FOX MAJOR STRENGTHENS THIS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SENIOR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR INTEGRATED WELLNESS PROGRAM.
INTEGRATED IT MEANS PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF WELLBEING.
WE EMPLOY CONCIERGE SERVICE CONCEPT TO TRULY MEET THE NEEDS AND ALIGN WITH THE ESSENCE OF EVERY FACILITY.
SOMEONE'S MOM AND DAD, MAYBE YOURS.
WE ARE CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIFE THROUGH JUST COUPLE HOURS PER DAY.
BUT IN THOSE HOURS, ALL THE ADULTS REINSTATE, I CAN DO THIS ATTITUDE.
THEIR LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, ILLNESSES, YIELD TO SELF-CONFIDENCE, CURIOSITY AND COMPANIONSHIP.
BIG SCIENCE STANDS BEHIND FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND THESE ARE OUR CORE CLASSES.
THEY HELP PEOPLE TO BECOME HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND STAY INDEPENDENT LONGER.
AS A NEWER COMPANY, WE START CAUTIOUSLY YET WITH A STEADY GROWTH IN MIND.
WE'RE SEEKING FUNDING TO SECURE THE SALARY FOR OUR TEAM.
BY VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.
UH, WE ARE BREAKING EVEN IN FOUR MONTHS AND LISTING ONLY THREE FACILITIES.
FOX MEASURE ADDRESSES A RAPIDLY EXPANDING NEED OF SERVICES THAT CALL FOR HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.
MANY SAY I'M CHOOSING THIS FOR MY OWN PARENTS.
I RAISE IT UP FOR WHAT WOULD I WANT FOR MYSELF.
SO MY DEAR FUTURE CLIENTS, DO YOU, DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A QUITE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOURSELF? IF YOU DO, THEN PAY IT FORWARD.
SUPPORT FOX MAJORITY TODAY AND WATCH US EXPAND INTO A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE TO OVERCOME THEIR AGE LIMITATIONS BECOME HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[00:45:04]
WONDERFUL JOB.UM, AS I SCREWED UP, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS SO SHORT.
UM, MY QUESTION, AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED IN THE LAST STATEMENT, WHICH WAS WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MODEL AND YOU IDENTIFIED, OBVIOUSLY WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED, BUT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE MODEL, WHO DID YOU HAVE IN MIND? AND I ACTUALLY LOVE THE WAY YOU LANDED THAT, NOT DID YOU JUST THINK ABOUT YOUR PARENTS, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU WANT? AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS A LITTLE BIT, I LOVE THE LOVE STORY BEHIND THE, THE THE, THE BUSINESS.
GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON HOW YOU CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THIS SOLUTION WOULD BE, UM, I REALLY, I GUESS A SOLVE FOR YOUR FUTURE.
WELL, YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO BE AT THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY OR THEIR FAMILY, THAT'S THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THEIR FAMILY.
UH, USUALLY, UM, LET ME SCOOT BACK.
SO USUALLY PEOPLE ARRIVE THERE IN A PRETTY GOOD HEALTH BECAUSE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE IS PRETTY DEVELOPED.
SO, AND NOW IMAGINE ALL YOUR LIVING NECESSITIES ARE PRETTY COMFORTABLE AND YOU HAVE THAT MUCH FREE TIME.
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO? AND I WAS WATCHING MY RELATIVES AND MY FRIENDS WHO WERE AGING AND UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US DID NOT STAY LONGER ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT STIMULATED ENOUGH.
THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR EVERY ONE OF US.
SO UNFORTUNATELY THE USUAL STAFF OF THOSE FACILITIES, THEY CANNOT HAVE AN EXTRA TIME TO EVEN TALK TO THOSE SENIORS.
NOT TO MENTION TO HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.
THE STAFF IS USUALLY OVERWORKED AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO RUN OUT OF IDEAS OF WHAT TO OFFER.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO STEP IN.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE THE CHILD, BUT IT ALSO TAKES A VILLAGE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERLY.
ONCE THEY TOOK CARE OF US, NOW WE NEED TO GIVE IT BACK AND, UH, THIS ACTUALLY WORKS BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DO, WE EMPLOY FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
IT DOUBLES THE PROTOCOLS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY.
THE ONLY THING PEOPLE WANT TO DO IT, IT'S NOT AS BORING AS JUST WORKING WITH BUGS, YOU KNOW.
AND, UH, I WAS WORKING WITH KIDS FOR 10 YEARS.
MANY OF THEM HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CERTAIN THINGS IN THEIR LIFE.
IT IS WORKING AND IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN THAT THE SAME METHODS WORK FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.
BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT SENIORS ANYMORE.
THE PREFERRED WAY TO CALL PEOPLE OVER 65 IS OLDER ADULTS.
SO MAKE SURE TO EMPLOY THIS SENIOR SPEECH.
IT'S NOT REALLY SENIORS ANYMORE.
WHO'S YOUR COMPETITOR? MY COMPETITORS, I HAVE, UH, TWO TYPES.
UM, MAY I PLEASE GO BACK IN THE SLIDE? SO, UH, BUT JUST RIGHT NOW, THOSE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED MOSTLY IN OUTSIDE FACILITIES.
SO MY DIRECT COMPETITORS ARE THE ONLY, UH, I WOULD SAY COMPETITOR WHO ACTUALLY BRINGS THE SERVICES INTO THE FACILITY.
THOSE ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, SO PEOPLE WHO COME AND DO WATERCOLOR PAINTING OR WHO DO SOME NEEDING, BUT THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT OFFER A PROGRAM.
THEY OFFER, LET'S CALL IT A DISCIPLINE, A SUBJECT.
AND SOMETIMES LIBRARIES COME TO THE FACILITIES, BUT THE SCOPE OF DISCIPLINES, THEY'RE STILL LIMITED.
SO ALSO MY COMPETITORS ARE CHURCHES, YMC, SENIOR CENTERS.
BUT PEOPLE NEED TO GET THERE AND IT'S JUST EASY.
WE BRING IT TO WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE.
ALSO, I HAVE THOSE INTERACT COMPETITORS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, UH, PEOPLE WHO COME FOR SPEECH THERAPY AND MENTAL WELLBEING.
THEY ALSO ENRICH THEIR LIFE, NOT ONLY BY SPENDING TIME NICELY, RIGHT? UH, IT HAS A LOT OF VALUE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN DO ON DEMAND, WE CAN OFFER MANY, UM, IT'S NOT REALLY DISCIPLINE, BUT WE CAN OFFER DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
WE COME TO THEIR PLACE AND WE ARE READY TO ALIGN WITH THEIR PHILOSOPHIES AND THEIR ACTUAL NEEDS DEPENDING ON THE GROUP OF THE RESIDENTS.
OKAY, SO, UH, YOU ARE IN THE EXACTLY AWESOME HEALTHCARE BUSINESS AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, SALUTE YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT WHAT'S STOPPING, YOU KNOW, THOSE, UH, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.
JUST COPY YOUR MODEL, ADD ONTO THE FEATURING AND SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'RE GONNA DO IT OURSELF AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT MONEY OURSELF.
HOW YOU DEFENDED YOUR BUSINESS MODEL? WELL, THE THING IS, THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE OFFERING, I'M NOT COPYING IT FROM SOMEONE WITHOUT WATCHING, UH, AN INTERNET.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHATEVER I OFFER, THIS IS THE UNIQUE PROGRAM THAT WAS WORKED OUT BY ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.
I DEEPLY CARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
I VOLUNTEER A LOT, SO I KNOW THAT THEY WILL NEED ME.
AND ANOTHER BIG THING, COPYING IS ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE, BUT LET ME BE VERY, VERY BOLD.
NOW I AM HERE, I'M DOING IT ALREADY.
WHY WOULD YOU NEED SOMEONE ELSE,
[00:50:03]
BY THE WAY, TO OFFER THIS QUESTION? I'M SORRY, JUST A QUE JUST A SECOND.I WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION, WHY DO YOU PICK TO WORK WITH SENIORS? THIS IS CHALLENGING.
IF NOT ME, THEN WHO WILL DO IT? SO THIS IS THE SAME.
AND SO YOU HAVE, THAT'S YOUR WHY, YOUR EMO YOUR EMOTIONAL MOTIVATION.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR, YOU, I KNOW THE SERVICES THAT ARE THE STANDARD OUT THERE AND TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR SERVICES ARE SO DIFFERENT AND HOW THAT COMBINATION OF THEM TOGETHER HIT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT POINTS.
CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT? YES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, ALL THE PICTURES THAT YOU'VE SEEN THERE, ONLY THE FIRST ONE, IT'S A STOCK.
THERE'S THE ACTUAL PE PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH JUST A SAMPLE OF A, OF A CLASS.
WE START WITH NEURO GYMNASTICS.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE EXERCISES DONE BY HANDS.
AND UH, MY WONDERFUL, I STILL CALL THEM STUDENTS, THEY MEET ME NEXT WEEK AND THEY SHOW ME THIS AND THEY SAY IMPROVE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, VERY GOOD.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO OUR SECOND PITCH TO JOHNSON CHARLESTON KITCHEN.
DID YOU KNOW ONE OUT OF THREE FAMILIES DO NOT EAT TOGETHER? DID YOU ALSO KNOW THAT MILLENNIALS DESIRE TO HAVE FOOD ON TO GO TO FIT THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE AND OUR SENIORS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FOOD THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COOK THAT PROVIDES A SOURCE OF COMFORT.
I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF CHARLESTON KITCHEN HOME OF THE SWEET AND SAVORY MINI PIES I BRING TO YOU OVER 27 YEARS OF MANAGERIAL SKILLS AND LEGAL REAL ESTATE EVENT PLANNING AS WELL AS THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.
IN JANUARY OF THIS PAST YEAR, I ENDED MY FOUR YEAR STAY AS A PROPERTY MANAGER WHERE I MANAGED 113 UNITS, UM, SENIOR FACILITY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAIN A FRESH FOOD PANTRY FOR SENIORS FEEDING OVER 50 FAMILIES A MONTH.
THE PROBLEM WE IDENTIFY IS CONVENIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY.
MILLENNIALS LOVE FOOD ON THE GO TO FIT THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES AND OUR SENIORS DESIRE TO HAVE FOOD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PREPARE.
THE SOLUTION IS CHARLESTON KITCHEN.
WE PROVIDE WRAPPED INDIVIDUALLY CUSTOMIZED MINI PIES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, OUR PIES ARE MADE FOR RICH AND FLAVORFUL FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.
WE HAVE THE CLASSIC SWEET POTATO, THE PEACH BOURBON, SWEET POTATO, THE SEAFOOD MINI QUICHE, AND THE EGG, BACON AND JALAPENO, UH, MINI PIES.
WE HAVE A THREE PHASE PROJECT.
OUR FIRST PHASE WILL BE BY WORD OF MOUTH, ONLINE SALES, AS WELL AS FARMER'S MARKET.
PHASE TWO WILL BE TO PURCHASE A VAN AND THEN PHASE THREE OF OUR BUSINESS WILL BE TO EVOLVE INTO A RESTAURANT AND THEN GO INTO THE GROCERY STORES.
OUR WAY OF DEVELOPING OUR CLIENTS WILL BE THROUGH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FIRST.
WE ARE PLANNING A SOFT LAUNCH IN JANUARY, WHICH WILL GROW US BETWEEN 200 AND 250 INDIVIDUALS.
FROM THERE, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE FARMER'S MARKET.
WE'RE HOPING TO PURCHASE OUR VAN, ULTIMATELY GOING INTO OUR OWN RESTAURANT.
MARKETING WILL BE THROUGH VARIOUS PLATFORMS, SOCIAL MEDIA, FARMERS MARKETS, BILLBOARDS, CONFERENCES, BARBERSHOPS.
WE WILL UTILIZE ALL OF THOSE PLATFORMS FOR MARKETING.
WHO WILL WE SERVE? WE WILL SERVE MILLENNIALS.
WE WILL SERVE FAMILIES AND WE WILL SERVE SENIORS.
INDIVIDUAL PROFIT MARGIN, OUR MINI PIES, OUR PEACH BOURBON SALES FOR SIX.
THE PROFIT MARGIN FOR THAT IS 70 POINT 29%.
ALL OF OUR PIES ARE EXTREMELY PROFITABLE.
PRODUCT IMPACT, CURRENTLY THE BAKING INDUSTRY
[00:55:01]
IS $239 BILLION.BY 2018 IT WILL BE 600 BILLION.
WE'RE GONNA UTILIZE OUR CASH PRIZE TO BUY COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT.
OUR PROP, OUR PROPOSED TEAM IS AS FOLLOW FRANK MAPLE ATTORNEY, THE, UM, KEVIN SIMMONS IS OUR BANKER.
YOU MAY CONTACT CHARLESTON KITCHEN AT 8 3 2 403 8 8 6.
WELL, I'M GONNA GET US STARTED BECAUSE I REALLY AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GEN XERS ARE IN HERE.
BUT ANYWAY, I GUESS WE FALL IN THAT FAMILY CATEGORY.
BUT MY SERIOUS QUESTION IS WONDERFUL, UM, PRESENTATION.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR BUYER, YOU SAID THAT ONE OF YOUR EVENTS WOULD YIELD 250 NEW CUSTOMERS.
CAN YOU TAKE US INTO WHAT YOU THINK YOUR PRICE POINT IS PER CUSTOMER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VALUE WOULD BE? SURE.
OUR PRICE POINT PER CUSTOMER, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE ASPECT OF THE RESTAURANT, UM, EVEN THE PIE SELLING ITSELF, WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST $25 PER PERSON.
SO WHEN WE CALCULATE THAT, IF WE USE, LET'S JUST SAY ROUGHLY A HUNDRED PEOPLE, UM, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, 25, 20 $500.
THE INDIVIDUAL PURCHASE THAT SOMEONE CAN MAKE AND BUYING AND WALKING INTO A STORE TO PURCHASE A PRODUCT FROM US.
WITH ANY OF THESE PRODUCT, THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING TO BUY ONE PIE AT $5 OR A PEACH BOURBON PIE AT SIX.
THEY MAY ACTUALLY END UP WITH SEVERAL THINGS.
AND ONCE WE EVOLVE INTO THE RESTAURANT, WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND FIGURED OUR NUMBERS, WE WERE LIKE, THE AVERAGE PRICE THAT A PERSON COULD PAY PER DAY COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
I WAS GONNA ASK YOU REALLY ABOUT THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF SALES OR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY GALVANIZING THROUGH COMMUNITY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S YOUR, I SAW WORD OF MOUTH ON THERE AND FAMILY AND REALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE IT LOOKS LIKE THE WHAT, WHAT FOOD DOES, WHICH JUST BRINGS US BACK TOGETHER.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, THE TOOL THAT DRAW FAMILY BACK TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE TAKING THAT SAME CONCEPT AND WE'RE APPLYING IT TO CHARLESTON KITCHEN BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE WANNA BRING FAMILIES BACK TO THE TABLE.
FOOD IS THE ONE THING WHEN EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER, THERE'S LAUGHTER, THERE'S JOY, THERE IS, UH, COMMUNITY.
UM, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A HEALING TAKES PLACE WHEN FAMILY COMES TOGETHER AND THERE'S FOOD.
UM, YOU TAKE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, PACIFICALLY THE HOLIDAYS, UH, CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF UNITY THAT TAKES PLACE.
AND WHAT IS THE CORE ROOT OF THAT FOOD IS? YEAH.
TIARA, THIS IS EXCELLENT BECAUSE YOU MAKE ME HUNGRY,
SO LET'S COME DOWN TO THE QUESTION THAT'S, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT TASTE, RIGHT? HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE PEOPLE THAT YOUR PIE BETTER THAN THE NEXT NEXT PERSON THAT CREATED THE SAME PIE? PERFECT QUESTION.
I THINK THAT OUR PIES ARE BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S MADE OUT OF LOVE.
BUT I, I AM ORIGINALLY FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
OUR FOCUS IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE GULLAH GEECHEE CUISINE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE ARE RICH AND FLAVORFUL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPICES, A LOT OF, UM, THE CULTURE ITSELF IS BROUGHT INTO OUR FOOD.
UM, WE GREW UP WHERE OUR GRANDPARENTS COOKED THREE HOT MEALS A DAY.
SO IT'S A PART OF THE CULTURE AND BRINGING THAT CULTURE HERE TO HOUSTON IS MAJOR.
I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR 26 YEARS AND FOR 26 YEARS I HAVE PREPARED ONE OF OUR FAVORITE DISHES, WHICH IS RED RICE.
THAT'S NOT OFFERED HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT IT'S A VERY STRONG PART OF MY CULTURE FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS WITH THE WIN PRICE RIGHT HERE, HOW DO YOU THINKING THE UH, $10,000 WILL HELP YOUR BUSINESS? OH MY GOD.
THE $10,000 WILL HELP OUR BUS MY BUSINESS IMMENSELY.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, WE WILL UTILIZE THE, THE PRIZE MONEY FOR ALL COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT, COMMERCIAL, REFRIGERATOR, FREEZER, OUR STORAGE AREAS, OUR TABLES, UM, EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO UPGRADE US SO THAT WE CAN PRODUCE MORE MINI PIES.
UM, SO THE, THE WINNINGS FROM THIS PROCEED WILL BE, UM, ACTUALLY A BLESSING FOR US.
[01:00:01]
THE THREE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU'RE GROWING.ONE IS ONLINE AND AT FARMER'S MARKETS, AND THEN THE NEXT PHASE IS A MOBILE UNIT, AND THEN AFTER THAT, A BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU GO FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR A WHILE, SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU CONCENTRATING ON A CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, SECTION OF TOWN TO DO FARMER'S MARKETS AND ABSOLUTELY.
HOW ARE YOU GETTING THE WORD OUT AND GOING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER? ABSOLUTELY.
SO FOR ME, UM, MY CONCENTRATION INITIALLY WILL BE IN THE HEIGHTS THAT'S CURRENTLY WHERE I RESIDE.
AND I SEE THAT AREA TO BE A VERY MARKETABLE AREA.
I HAVE VISITED THE FARMER'S MARKET THERE AND I SEE IT BEING SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TARGET INTO.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVE FROM ONLINE PRESENCE, WORD OF MOUTH, FARMER'S MARKET, THEN THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE FOR US TO GET INTO A VAN.
THE VAN WILL GIVE US UNLIMITED VISIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, UM, OF TEXAS.
SO WHEN WE CAN SET UP OUR VAN AND PARK OUR VAN SOMEWHERE, SOMEBODY SEES THAT BIG COLORFUL VAN, IT'S GOING TO DRAW PEOPLE TO US.
ULTIMATELY, WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY TO A RESTAURANT BECAUSE WE WANNA BRING THAT FAMILY, FEEL THAT CULTURE, EVERYTHING IN THE RESTAURANT WILL REFLECT CHARLESTON AND WHAT WE KNOW TO BE OUR CULTURE.
SO MY QUESTION WAS, WELL I WON'T ASK THIS QUESTION 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE LONGER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO JOHNSON CHARLESTON KITCHEN, YOU'RE SHARING SOME OF THOSE WITH ME,
WE'VE GOT OUR FINAL SERVICE CATEGORY PITCH TO SEE.
IT'S FROM DIANA, ELLA AND HALEY TROMBLEY, THE GOODEST.
GOODBYE YOU COULD EVER GOODBYE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DIANA AND I'M HALEY.
THE GOODEST GOODBYE IS A PET WATER CREMATION OR ACCLAMATION FOR A SHORT FACILITY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE PET DEATH CARE SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC PETS IN, UM, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? I'M SURE MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED A PET LOSS IN OUR LIFE AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT THERE WAS OPTIONS OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL CREMATION OR A BURIAL.
SO WE WANNA OFFER ANOTHER OPTION THAT IS MORE ECO-CONSCIOUS, PRODUCING NO EMISSIONS, AND ALSO FEELS LIKE A GENTLER GOODBYE.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANNA THINK ABOUT THEIR PETS, WHETHER FLAMES OR FIRE.
SO ACCLAMATION IS A WATER-BASED PROCESS THAT USES AN ALKALINE AND TO BREAK DOWN ORGANIC MATTER.
IT IS ALSO USES 95% LESS ENERGY THAN FIRE BASED CREMATION.
AND YOU GET, UH, 20% MORE OF THE ASHES RETURNED AT THE END.
REGULAR CREMATION PRODUCES ABOUT 540 POUNDS OF HARMFUL GASES A YEAR.
SO THIS IS CLEARLY A MORE CLEAN OPTION.
AND WHO ARE WE DOING THIS FOR? REALLY ANYONE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH PETS.
THERE ARE OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, OVER 1 MILLION PETS IN HOUSEHOLDS.
AND WE WOULD BE HONORED TO SERVE ANY OF THEM IN THE FUTURE.
BUT ALSO THIS IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO TREATS THEIR PET LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO MAYBE CELEBRATES THEIR BIRTHDAYS, WHO, OR TREATS THEM ALIKE, THE QUEEN OF SOCIAL MEDIA, A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA PET PAGES, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VERY ECO-CONSCIOUS AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IN THE FUTURE THEIR FOOTPRINT IS A POSITIVE ONE.
SO WITH THAT LARGE OF A MARKET, HOW DO WE PLAN ON MAKING A PROFIT? WE PLAN TO GROW QUARTER OVER QUARTER, NOT ONLY IN NUMBER OF CONSUMERS, BUT ALSO AN AVERAGE SALES DOLLAR PER PET THAT WE SERVE.
WE INTEND TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR AS WELL, BASED ON OUR STRATEGIC MARKETING STRATEGY, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE PET INDUSTRY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS OUR CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE AT PET CENTERED EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE ALL AROUND TOWN.
WE ALSO INTEND TO SERVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE PETS PER HOUSEHOLD.
OVER A QUARTER OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE MORE THAN ONE PET.
ONCE WE SERVICE ONE PET WITHIN THESE FAMILIES, WE ANTICIPATE THEIR RETURNING BUSINESS BASED ON THE QUALITY, THE VALUE, AND THE COMPASSION OF THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE THEM.
WE ALSO PLAN ON THEIR REFERRALS TO THEIR OTHER PET LOVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WILL NEED OUR SERVICES IN THE FUTURE, AND WILL BE REFERRED TO US BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE, SERVICES AND MERCHANDISE THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE GOODES GOODBYE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE PLAN TO TURN A PROFIT ON MONTH 25 WITH A YEAR ONE GROSS REVENUE OF OVER $55,000 WITH A $300,000 BUSINESS LOAN.
WE PLAN TO PUT A MAJORITY OF THAT TOWARDS MACHINERY.
ALTHOUGH ACCLAMATION MACHINERY COSTS MORE UPFRONT THAN TRADITIONAL CREMATION EQUIPMENT, IT IS MUCH MORE ENERGY
[01:05:01]
EFFICIENT AND THEREFORE A BETTER INVESTMENT LONG TERM.WITH THE BUSINESS LOAN, WE ARE ASKING YOU JUDGES FOR A $10,000 CONTRIBUTION TO OUR BUSINESS, NOT ONLY TO FUND A FULL COMPREHENSIVE BRANDING KIT TO KICK OFF OUR MARKETING STRATEGY, BUT ALSO FOR NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY THAT WE NEED TO RUN OUR BUSINESS.
DIANA AND MYSELF BOTH HAVE A COMBINED EXPERIENCE OF OVER 10 YEARS IN THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY.
THIS RANGES ALL THE WAY FROM CREMATORY OPERATION TO FUNERAL DIRECTING TO MARKETING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
WE KNOW AND OUR FULLY CONFIDENT THAT WITH OUR SKILLSET, KNOWLEDGE, LOVE FOR ANIMALS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR OUR PETS TO EXPERIENCE, WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THAT TERRIBLE TIME OF LOSS, THAT WE ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO CHANGE THE FACE OF PET DEATH CARE.
AND THANK YOU FOR REALLY EDUCATING US ON, ON THE, ON THE EXPERIENCE.
AND MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE FACILITIES.
AND SO WE THINK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT MM-HMM
AND I GUESS THE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UM, HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW ARE YOU ALL GOING TO HOUSE THE EXPERIENCE? WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO ACTUALLY PERFORM THE ACCLAMATIONS? SURE.
UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT VERY SPECIFIC PROPERTY TYPES.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT FACILITIES THAT REPRESENT MORE OF A HOME.
SO THAT HOUSE STYLE, WE WANT IT TO BE COZY, INVITING, FRIENDLY, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN INTIMATE EXPERIENCE.
SO WE EXPECT WHEN YOU WALK IN THE BRANDING, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE VERY LIGHT PASTELS, BUT STILL VERY COLORFUL PLAYING ON THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING A LITERAL RAINBOW BRIDGE IN OUR FACILITY TO WELCOME FAMILIES IN, MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.
WE'LL HAVE MULTIPLE COMFORT ROOMS WHERE WE CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THEM, WHERE WE CAN HAVE FINAL VIEWING SERVICES AND OFFER OTHER SERVICES AS WELL.
UM, AND AS FAR AS THE MACHINERY IS CONCERNED, IT REALLY DOESN'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH SPACE.
THE MACHINERY REALLY ISN'T THAT LARGE.
IT WOULD SUFFICE TO HAVE ITS OWN SEPARATE ROOM, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPERTIES THAT DO HAVE A SEPARATE OFFSITE SPACE WHERE WE COULD FULLY SEPARATE IT FROM THE ORIGINAL FACILITY.
HOWEVER, UM, THAT'S NOT DETRIMENTAL IF IT DOES NEED TO BE JUST IN A SEPARATE ROOM.
UM, I'LL LET DIANA SPEAK ON THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO.
YES, WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS AREAS IN IDO, UH, SPRING BRAND, UM, INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, MORE UP AND COMING AREAS OR AREAS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PET OWNERS THAT CAN WALK THEM OUTSIDE.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE NECESSARILY A SHORT FRONT THAT YOU SEE IN OUR LIKE WALK-INS, BUT WE DO WANNA BE VISIBLE TO WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE, OH, WHAT IS THIS? LET ME LOOK IT UP.
AND, UM, GET MORE INFORMATION ON OUR BUSINESS.
SO YOUR BUSINESS IS VERY EMOTIONAL BUSINESS.
RIGHT? SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE, HOW DO YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU APPROACH THE, UH, UH, WHAT DO YOU SAY, THE OWNER, THE PARENT MM-HMM
TO POTENTIAL YOUR, YOUR CUSTOMER.
WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ABOUT HOW TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE? YEAH.
I THINK I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, HALEY HAS EXPERIENCE AS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND, UM, HAS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ABOUT 10 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY.
SO THE FIRST STEP OF HAVING THAT EMOTION IS ALREADY, SHE'S ALREADY BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH HAVING TO HAVE THOSE VERY DEEP AND SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILIES.
BUT WE ARE ALSO PET OWNERS AND WE'RE VERY OBSESSED WITH OUR PETS.
AND WE WOULD TALK TO THE FAMILIES THE WAY, WAY THAT WE WOULD WANNA BE TALKED TO DURING THESE TIMES.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH A VETERINARIAN.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE MIDDLEMAN BETWEEN YOUR PET PASSING AND WHERE THEY END UP.
AND SO, UM, A BIG PART OF IT IS JUST THE EMOTIONAL FACTOR AND HOW WE WOULD APPROACH THE FAMILIES THE WAY THAT WE WOULD WANNA BE APPROACHED.
IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IF YOUR ANIMAL IS, UM, YOU KNOW, NEAR IN, IN DIRE HEALTH PROBLEMS, YOU'RE GOING TO A VET AND YOU'RE GOING TO A HOSPITAL AND THAT KIND OF THING.
AND, UM, WHEN MY ANIMALS PASSED AWAY, UM, WE NEVER HAD ANY CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY PERFORMED THIS KIND OF SERVICE.
IT WAS MORE, UM, LIKE THEY WERE YOUR, YOUR CHAMPIONS WHERE THEY, THE, THE VETERINARIAN.
UH, MADE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS, UH, IN TERMS OF VERBAL, YOU KNOW, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT IT WITH THE FLYER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO HOW MUCH OF YOUR BUSINESS DO YOU THINK WILL BE PASSED THROUGH LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU'LL JUST BE PERFORMING THE SERVICE, BUT THEY WON'T BE COMING INTO YOUR BRICK AND MORTAR? SO WE ANTICIPATE HAVING ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT WITH EACH OF OUR FAMILIES.
EVEN IF WITH THE RA RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILD WITH VETERINARIANS, THE FAMILIES ARE REFERRED TO US.
WE PLAN TO TALK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM.
'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR GOAL IS COMPASSION WITH THESE FAMILIES.
I'VE MADE OVER 600 ARRANGEMENTS WITH FAMILIES WHEN IT COMES TO FUNERALS, AND I HAVE REALLY DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THE COMPASSION NEED THERE.
AND I FEEL, WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S EXTREMELY LACKING IN THE PET INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU SAID, UH, THERE IS NO CONTACT DIRECTLY WITH WHO'S PERFORMING THE SERVICES, AND YOU ALSO DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE BEING PERFORMED.
SO THAT KIND OF TRAILS BACK INTO THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE PLAN ON SETTING IT UP.
BUT WE PLAN ON HAVING DIRECT INTERACTION WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE FAMILIES, OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OUR MARKETING.
HOPEFULLY THEY COME DIRECTLY TO US MM-HMM
HOWEVER, IF THEY DON'T, AND WE DO RECEIVE THEM THROUGH A VET, WE WILL CONTACT THEM
[01:10:01]
DIRECTLY.AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS, UM, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, I KNOW I, FROM READING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN, I KNOW THERE'S EMISSIONS IN THE AIR, THERE'S THAT WHOLE THING ABOUT FIRE AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING MORE GENTLE, THE FLOWING WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONE IS THAT EMOTIONALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE A GENTLER WAY TO HANDLE THIS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EMIT, YOU KNOW, EMISSIONS INTO THE AIR.
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN DOING THE ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE MOST USED TO NOW AND THE WAY YOU'RE DOING IT? IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE AND, AND SO YOU NEED TO SELL THE, THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE, AND THE, THE, AND IS IT THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE IS WELL, UM, BASED UPON, YOU KNOW, UH, LAWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? MM-HMM
I WOULD SAY THAT IN REGARDS TO BEING THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, THAT IS VERY TRUE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MORE ECO-CONSCIOUS.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE DRIVING MORE TOWARDS THEIR FOOTPRINT.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE COST IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN ALL, LET HALEY TOUCH ON THE COST.
BUT I THINK A BIG PART OF IT IS EDUCATION.
YOU NEVER REALLY SEE ADVERTISING OR MARKETING FOR ANY CREMATION OR PET OR TRADITIONAL SERVICES.
SO A BIG PART OF PEOPLE JUST UNDERSTANDING WHY AND MORE OF IT AND THE BENEFITS OF IT, I THINK THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE JUST TO BE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVEN 20% MORE OF THEIR PET'S.
ASHES IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME, SO I KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, I WILL SAY TOO, AS FAR AS THE EXPENSE OF RUNNING IT, THE MACHINE DOES COST MORE UPFRONT, BUT AS FAR AS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION, IT COSTS LESS THAN TRADITIONAL CREMATION EQUIPMENT.
SO REASON BEING TO YOU CAN KIND OF ADJUST FOR THAT BASED ON HOW WE PERFORM THESE ACCLAMATIONS.
SO BASED ON THE COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF THE MACHINE, HOW MANY PETS WE HAVE, BASED ON THE RETURN TIME THAT WE'VE PROMISED TO THAT FAMILY, WE CAN REALLY CUT DOWN ON HOW MANY TIMES WE'RE RUNNING THAT MACHINE IN A WEEK.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY EFFICIENCIES IN HOW WE'RE RUNNING IT, BUT IT IS MORE COST EFFICIENT BECAUSE IT USES FAR LESS ENERGY, UH, LESS ELECTRIC BILLS.
UM, AS FAR AS WATER USAGE GOES, THE MACHINE ITSELF, WHEN IT RUNS ACTUALLY USES LESS WATER IN A DAY THAN A HOUSEHOLD DOES.
SO IT'S REALLY EFFICIENT, THE COST OF THE FAMILIES, AND OF COURSE THE COST OF THE FAMILIES, UH, DEPENDS ON THAT TURNAROUND.
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT MY ALLERGIES WERE KICKING UP.
UH, I GOT FOUR FRENCH BULLDOGS AT HOME AND I WAS LIKE, OH, NO, NO.
GOD, LANGLEY AND RALPHIE AND BENNETT AND FRANK.
ALL OF OUR, UH, ALL OF OUR SERVICE CATEGORY PEOPLE, LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, TATIANA, TO DIANA AND HAILEY AND OUR JUDGES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO AND FIGURE OUT WHO OUR WINNER IS GOING TO BE IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY.
ALRIGHT, NOW IT'S YOUR CHANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO, UH, DEFINITELY SCAN THE QR CODE THAT YOU COULD SEE RIGHT HERE.
AND REMEMBER, IT'S, UH, TIME TO FIND OUT WHO PROVIDED THE BEST PITCH IN THAT LAST ROUND.
ONE GROUP OR ONE PERSON GONNA WIN THAT $500 IN THE FAN FAVORITES.
AND, UH, THAT IS AN EXCITING, EXCITING PROSPECT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE DEFINITELY VOTE ONE VOTE PER CATEGORY PER PERSON.
FAN FAVORITES CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT USE OF VOTE.
AND IF YOU LIKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, PLEASE LIKE AND FOLLOW HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
KEEP UP WITH THE EXCITING PROGRAMS AND SURFACES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED, LIKE LIFTOFF HOUSTON, BECAUSE HONESTLY, LIFT OFF HOUSTON DOES SUCH TREMENDOUS WORK THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS LIVE THEIR DREAMS AND HELP THEM DO WHAT MEANS THE MOST TO US.
AND LOOK, I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT CAPITAL ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN MAKING ALL THIS COME TOGETHER.
ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL PITCH DAY CATEGORY IS INNOVATION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THESE IDEAS BECAUSE INNOVATION IS AN EXCITING, EXCITING CATEGORY.
AND I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR THREE INNOVATION JUDGES.
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE KYLIE SUMMERS FROM SPEND DEBT, KIM ADAMS, THE BUSINESS TEAM AND GRACE RODRIGUEZ FROM IMPACT HUB HOUSTON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR NEXT PANEL OF JUDGES.
WE'RE GONNA WATCH A QUICK VIDEO INTRODUCING OUR NEXT CONTESTANTS, AND THEN WE'LL INTRODUCE THEM.
WE'RE REALLY MOTIVATED BY THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN FLOURISHING, WHICH DESCRIBES LIVING A SATISFYING AND MEANINGFUL LIFE ENCOMPASSING BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND THE PURSUIT OF OUR OWN POTENTIAL AND PURPOSE.
[01:15:01]
ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT MEDI AND I HAD THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.UM, SO I'M SUPER FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND TO HAVE MET MUDDY, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH RELIEVING LOWER BACK PAIN FOR THEM.
WHAT INSPIRED ME TO START A BUSINESS WAS MY MOM.
SHE DIDN'T BUY A HOUSE UNTIL LATE IN LIFE BECAUSE OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE MORTGAGE PROCESS, ALL THE FEES, ALL THE DOWN PAYMENTS, ALL OF THE BITS WHERE THEY NICKEL.
AND I KNEW, UH, IT TOOK HER A LONG TIME TO BUY A HOME.
SO I DECIDED TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE THAT, DO IT GET STARTED.
I WAS COMPLETELY LOST BEFORE I FOUND LIFTOFF, AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M EQUIPPED ENOUGH TO REALLY START AND RUN A BUSINESS.
YOU ONLY NEED TO SUCCEED ONCE.
AND EVEN IF YOU FAIL, YOU WILL HAVE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU WILL NOT LEARN IN SCHOOL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF INTERIM DEADLINES, SO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE DEADLINES, UH, TO MEET PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEN I FOUND THE OPTIONAL WORKSHOPS TO BE QUITE INSPIRING, WHERE PAST PARTICIPANTS SHARED THEIR STORIES, THEIR JOURNEYS AND TIPS.
SO I ENCOURAGE, UM, EVERYONE TO JOIN THOSE.
THE NEXT STEP IN OUR BUSINESS IS GETTING OUR NEXT BATCH OF INVENTORY MADE FOR MORE TESTING.
SO THAT'S WILL BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT IT GOES TO.
AND THE NEXT PLACE THAT WE'LL USE THE REST OF THE FUNDING FOR IS DEFINITELY MARKETING AND TRADE SHOWS TO GET IN FRONT OF MORE POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND, UH, GET MORE TESTS DONE WITH THEM.
IT WILL BE FOUNDATIONAL AND A CATALYST TO, UH, DEVELOPING THE NEXUS TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS OUR FLAGSHIP OFFERING AND THE BEDROCK OF OUR INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODEL.
SO WITH THIS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTRACT OUR SOFTWARE DEVELOPER TO, UM, PROVIDE THIS TECHNOLOGY.
THE CASH PRIZE IS GOING TO HELP WITH DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION TO BEGIN TESTING, AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
WE HAVE SOME AMAZING, AMAZING CONTESTANTS IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY.
I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THEM AND I'M GONNA BRING UP OUR FIRST CONTESTANTS IN INNOVATION.
WE HAVE ZOE BARKER AND MOHAMMAD MEDI AVI FROM EX OBRA, DARIEN KUND WITH ALO AND DIANE WYNN FROM FLOURISHING NEXUS, LLC.
PLEASE WELCOME ZOE AND MOHAMMAD MEDI.
I'M, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR PRODUCT EXO BACK.
OUR DEVICE AIMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF OVEREXERTION BACK INJURIES AND MANUAL LABOR WORKERS ACROSS AMERICA.
NOW IMAGINE YOU'RE AT WORK AND SUDDENLY YOU TWEAK YOUR BACK WHILE LIFTING SOMETHING HEAVY.
I MEAN, WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE, RIGHT? THIS CAN BE A VERY PAINFUL INCONVENIENCE THAT CAN PUT YOU OUT OF COMMISSION FOR DAYS.
BUT FOR SOME, THIS ISN'T JUST A PAINFUL INCONVENIENCE.
IT CAN MEAN LOST TIME, LOST PRODUCTIVITY, AND EVEN COSTS THEIR JOBS.
NOW THINK ABOUT THE WORKERS THAT HAVE TO RELY ON THEIR STRENGTH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
FROM DELIVERY DRIVERS TO SHELF STOCKERS TO WAREHOUSE WORKERS.
THEIR BODY IS IMPERATIVE FOR THEIR JOB.
SO AN INJURY LIKE THIS CAN MEAN LOST PRODUCTIVITY, BUT ALSO LOST LIVELIHOOD.
EVERY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE OVER 95,000 CASES OF OVEREXERTION BACK INJURIES REPORTED IN THE WORKPLACE.
THESE INJURIES CAN END UP BEING VERY EXPENSIVE TO THE COMPANIES THAT THESE WORKERS WORK AT.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS, IT CAN COST UP TO $25,000 FOR EVERY INJURY AND FOR DIRECT COSTS, AND SHOCKINGLY UP TO $80,000 IN INDIRECT COSTS.
EXO BACK IS AN UNPOWERED EXOSKELETON DESIGNED FOR MANUAL LABOR WORKERS TO PREVENT OVER EXERTION, LOWER BACK INJURIES.
BY PROVIDING LIFTING ASSISTANCE, OUR PRODUCT NOT ONLY HELPS REDUCE THE IMPACT OF LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS ON THE USER'S BACK, IT ALSO HELPS 'EM IMPROVE THEIR LIFTING POSTURE TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURIES.
OUR PRODUCT VAC IS EASY TO USE, IT'S COMFORTABLE, IT COMES IN MULTIPLE SIZES, AND IT IS MACHINE WASHABLE.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO US COMPARED TO OUR COMPETITORS, WHAT REALLY SETS US APART IS OUR LOW TECH AND AFFORDABLE DESIGN.
SO EVEN THOUGH OUR PRODUCT IS RATED FOR LESS WEIGHT THAN OUR COMPETITORS, OUR PRODUCT STILL SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDED CARRYING WEIGHT BY OSHA OF 51 POUNDS.
SO THE COMBINATION OF COST EFFECTIVENESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND EFFICACY
[01:20:01]
IS REALLY WHAT GIVES US OUR EDGE.MY CO-FOUNDER MEDI AND I, WERE INTRODUCED TO EACH OTHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHERE WE COMPETED IN AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPETITION.
WE ENDED UP WINNING THAT COMPETITION AND WENT ON TO PITCH OUR INNOVATION IN THE DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, SUCH AS HOUSTON, AUSTIN, DALLAS.
WE'VE EVEN BEEN TO DETROIT AND SILICON VALLEY.
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING AROUND PITCHING OUR INNOVATION.
AND WE'VE ALSO RECENTLY JOINED THE RESEARCH GROUP AT THE A-S-T-M-F 48 COMMITTEE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING EXOSKELETAL REGULATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR FIRST BATCH OF MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS, AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED OUR FIRST PILOT TESTING WITHIN A COMPANY IN OHIO.
BUSINESSES ARE APPROACHING US TO INTEGRATE OUR PRODUCT INTO THEIR COMPANIES, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO DO ANOTHER PILOT TESTING WITH ANOTHER COMPANY IN CANADA.
WE'RE ALSO RUNNING A PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH HAS SEEN SEVERAL SALES.
AND AN ACADEMIC RESEARCH GROUP IN FRANCE IS ALSO CONDUCTING STUDIES ON OUR PRODUCT.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START THE SECOND BATCH OF MANUFACTURING BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE NEED $150,000 TO FULLY DEVELOP OUR PRODUCT AND DEPLOY IT ON THE MARKET.
THIS MONEY WILL GO TO FULLY GETTING OUR UTILITY PATENT TO PROTECT OUR IP, AS WELL AS HIRING A GRANT WRITER TO GET SOME MORE FUNDS.
WE'LL ALSO BE PUTTING A LOT OF OUR FUNDING TOWARDS MARKETING AND INCREASING OUR PRESENCE AT TRADE SHOWS TO GET IN FRONT OF MORE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
WE'LL BE USING THIS MONEY IF WE WIN IT FROM LIFTOFF, THE 10 K TO GO TOWARDS OUR SECOND BATCH OF MANUFACTURED GOODS.
AND WE'LL ALSO USE SOME OF THE MONEY TO PAY OURSELVES A CONSERVATIVE SALARY TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THIS COMPANY FULL TIME.
OUR MISSION AT EX OBRA IS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AT WORK AND ERGONOMIC INNOVATION TO PROTECT WORKERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME.
I WAS VERY COMPELLED BY YOUR PRODUCT WHEN I READ ABOUT IT.
UM, IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN ANY WAY IN THE LABOR, UM, UH, AREA LIKE THIS HAS COME FROM EXPERIENCE OF BACK AND, AND MUSCULAR ISSUES THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED OR SEEN? I CAN, I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THAT.
SO I'M, I'M A PRODUCT DESIGNER AND I DO HAVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNING MULTIPLE VARIABLE PRODUCTS.
AND, UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A SCREW PROJECT THAT CAME TO US AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THE AMERICANS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW IS ACTUALLY BACK PROBLEM.
SO I MIGHT AS WELL DESIGN SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP THEM.
AFTER GRADUATION, UH, I SAW MARY IN IT AND DECIDED TO JUST PURSUE IT AND TO FINALIZE THE DEVICE, I ACTUALLY GOT A JOB AT A SUPERMARKET TO JUST LIKE DO THE SHELF STOCKING TO SEE LIKE WHAT PART OF THEIR BACK THEY'RE, THEY'RE HURTING AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT THAT.
UH, AND THIS IS THE FINAL DESIGN THAT YOU SEE.
ARE YOU NOTICING A DIFFERENCE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR, YOUR BEACHHEAD CUSTOMERS.
AND WHICH INDUSTRIES, WELL FIRST, WHICH INDUSTRIES HAVE MET HAVE THE MOST WORKERS, UH, COMP CLAIMS? HAVE YOU RESEARCHED THAT? UM, YEAH.
SO WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE, WHAT THEY CALL THE INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES, SO PEOPLE THAT USE THEIR BODIES FOR THEIR JOBS, UH, WE'VE NOTICED THAT WAREHOUSE WORKERS, DELIVERY DRIVERS AND SHELF STOCKERS ARE THE TOP THREE THAT WE'RE REALLY TARGETING.
WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED NURSES AND OR DOCTORS AND NURSES AND DENTISTS HAVE A LOT OF BACK PAIN TOO.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON DEVELOPING A SECOND PRODUCT TO ALSO ADDRESS THOSE BACK PAIN.
SO SOLVING BACK PAIN FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S FEELING IT.
MY MOM WAS A NURSE, SHE'S LIKE FIVE FOOT TALL AND LIKE LESS THAN A HUNDRED POUNDS.
SO SHE MENTIONED THAT WAS A, A REAL NEED THERE.
'CAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE PICTURES THAT YOU SHARED AND YOU HAD AUTO MECHANICS AND HOME BUILDERS MM-HMM
AND THINKING THAT THESE BIG WAREHOUSES, UM, ARE AUTOMATING, RIGHT.
THEY'RE USING ROBOTICS TO DO PULL, PUT AND PULL PRODUCTS FROM SHELVES.
UM, IF YOU, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE THE PUCK IS HEADING AND THINK OF CAPTURING THAT MARKET VERSUS GOING TO WAREHOUSES WHERE YOUR COMPETITORS ALREADY ARE? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED A FEW TIMES FROM DIFFERENT JUDGES, BUT THAT IS A CONCERN OF OURS THAT WE WANTED TO TEST THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIABILITY OF WHEN ARE MANUAL LABOR IS GOING AWAY, WHEN IS THAT COMING? AND AFTER TALKING TO A LOT OF SUPPLY CHAINS PROFESSIONALS, SPECIFICALLY WHEN AT CISCO, HE REALLY ENLIGHTENED US AND TOLD US, HE ASSURED US THAT NOT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS THAT THEY WON'T BE FULLY AUTOMATING THEIR WAREHOUSE AND THEY'LL BE KEEPING THEIR MANUAL LABOR WORKERS FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND UH, I MEAN I WORKED IN MANUFACTURING, SO, UH, I KNOW THE KIND OF THE MANUAL LABOR ASPECT.
SO JUST A FOLLOW UP TO WHAT GRACE ASKED IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT
[01:25:01]
THE AUTOMATION AND THINKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY'RE RELIEVING SOME OF THE STRESS IN, IN THOSE HIGH INTENSE ENVIRONMENTS MM-HMMUM, WHAT ARE YOUR COMPETITORS DOING OR WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM A MARKET TREND PERSPECTIVE OUTSIDE OF AUTOMATION, UM, THAT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU GUYS, UH, HAVE PRODUCING, UM, YOU KNOW, WHO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST PLACE OR SECOND PLACE, UM, COMPETITOR THAT YOU GUYS ARE CHASING? THERE'S ACTUALLY ONLY ONE DIRECT COMPANY IN THE US FOR US.
AND, UH, THEIR SUPPORT LEVEL IS ABOUT LIKE 100, 200, 300 POUNDS.
UH, SO THAT THE WORKER WOULD, UH, PURELY RELY ON THE DEVICE AFTER A WHILE.
THEY DO LOSE THEIR MUSCLE MASS, THEY DO LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO JUST LIFT WITHOUT THE DEVICE.
SO WE WANTED TO STAY ON THERE, UM, AND JUST HELP THEM A LITTLE BIT WHILE ACTUALLY, UH, ENGAGING THE USER'S MUSCLE, UH, BACK MUSCLES AS WELL.
IN EUROPE THERE ARE, UH, A BUNCH OF OTHER COMPETITORS THAT DO NOT HAVE MARKET SHARE IN THE US YET, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO EXPAND TO THE US AND, UH, THE EUROPEAN MARKET FOR EXOSKELETONS IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST ONE AS OF RIGHT NOW.
ANOTHER UH, THING TOO TO ADD ONTO THAT IS OUR PRODUCT IS MORE DESIGNED TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE MANUAL LABOR WORKER PROCESSES THAT ALREADY EXIST, RATHER THAN INCREASING THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WOULD BE LIFTING WITH A NEW DEVICE.
SO ALREADY BEING PUT IN PLACE IN SYSTEMS THAT ARE PREEXISTING AND FOLLOWED THE OSHA RECOMMENDED CARRYING WEIGHT.
THIS ALSO ACTUALLY, UM, DOES NOT ALLOW THE, UH, THE EMPLOYERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE IT ON AND I WOULD LOVE IF YOU WOULD TURN AROUND FOR US SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY MOST IS IMPACTIVE.
AND IF YOU WOULD DESCRIBE IT FOR US.
SO THERE'S A FEW COMPONENTS THAT REALLY COMPRISE, COMPRISE OF THE WHOLE PRODUCT.
SO WE HAVE OUR SHOULDER STRAPS HERE.
IT ACTS AS A POSTURE CORRECTOR.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LIFTING, YOU SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANNA LIFT WITH THEIR BACK.
THEY EITHER ARE LAZY, TIRED, ARE A LITTLE BIT FORGETFUL, AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN THESE INJURIES HAPPEN BECAUSE THESE WORKERS KNOW TO LIFT WITH THEIR LEGS, NOT THEIR BACK, IT'S THEIR JOB.
SO WHEN THEY'RE IN A RUSH AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT GET IN THE WAY, THAT'S WHEN THESE PEOPLE GET HURT.
SO WE HAVE A POSTURE CORRECTOR, A LUMBAR SUPPORT BAND THAT'S REALLY SIMILAR TO THAT AS IF YOU WERE WEIGHT WEIGHTLIFTING AT THE GYM.
AND SO ALL OF THESE TWO STRAP COMPONENTS ARE ANCHORED IN OUR SPINE AND IT'S MADE OUT OF A POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC.
WE EXPERIMENTED WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PLASTICS, BUT WE WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WAS A GOOD COMBINATION OF RIGID AND FLEXIBLE.
SO YOU COULD STILL GET SUPPORT, BUT IT NOT KEEP YOU IN THE WAY FROM DOING YOUR JOB OR BE A NUISANCE, BUT THIS IS LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW PROFILE AND PROVIDES THAT COMBINATION OF FLEXIBILITY AND RIGIDITY THAT WE WERE REALLY GOING FOR.
AND THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT THAT HELPS WITH THE IMPACT LIFT
SO WHENEVER YOU'VE BEEN DOWN TO PICK SOMETHING UP, THEY CREATE THAT POTENTIAL ENERGY AND AS YOU'RE STANDING BACK UP, THEY KIND OF SNAP YOU RIGHT BACK UP.
SO, UM, IT HELPS WITH LIFTING POSTURE AS WELL AS THERE IT IS LIFTING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ZOE AND MEDI, EVERYBODY WITH EX OBRA THE EXO BACK.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PITCHING ALO DARIEN KIFF, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
TODAY I'M THRILLED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU A TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY.
ALO IS A MOBILE ORIGINATION APP, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN APP.
IT IS A REVOLUTIONARY USER-FRIENDLY GAMIFIED PLATFORM DESIGNED TO EMPOWER THE BORROWER BY PROVIDING A STREAMLINED AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE.
THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY FACES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
BANKS SPEND $1.4 TRILLION ANNUALLY JUST TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN WITH RISING INTEREST RATES AND LOAN ORIGINATIONS, TANKING.
WE'RE SEEING A HUGE ISSUE IN THIS SECTOR.
46% OF AMERICANS ARE ALREADY SEEING THAT THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES.
SO THAT POSES A REASON FOR A SOLUTION.
ALO IS THAT SOLUTION ALO STEPS UP, STREAMLINES THE PROCESS, ELIMINATES INEFFICIENCIES AND REDUCES COST.
SO WE KNOW THAT 46% OF AMERICANS NEED ALO, BUT DO THEY WANT IT CONSIDERING THAT 78% OF AMERICANS ALREADY PREFER MOBILE BANKING? I WOULD SAY THAT THEY DO.
ALO NOT ONLY MEETS THE EXPECTATIONS, BUT IT EXCEEDS THEM USING A GAMIFIED MOBILE FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE.
WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER THE CALL FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE.
[01:30:02]
IMAGINE IF TURBOTAX AND UBER HAD A COUNTERPART IN THE MORTGAGE INDUSTRY.WE'RE NOT JUST ENTERING THE MARKET, WE'RE DISRUPTING IT.
OUR INNOVATIVE APPROACH SETS US WITH THESE TRANSFORMATIVE SUCCESS STORIES.
ELO'S VALUE-BASED PRICING STRUCTURE OFFERS A REWARDING WHOA, SORRY, OFFERS FLEXIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR NUMBER OF LOAN OFFICERS.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT EFFICIENCY, IT'S ABOUT REWARDING OUR BORROWERS.
OUR GAMIFIED PLATFORM PROVIDES INCENTIVES AND REWARDS AND A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT THROUGHOUT THE MORTGAGE ORIGINATION PROCESS.
LET'S TAKE A PEEK INTO THE FUTURE.
OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST SHOWS STABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND A LOW MANAGED COST THROUGHOUT THE NEXT NEXT DECADE FOR FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS, ALO POSES A THREE YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT ENSURING CONTINUOUS SUPPORT UPDATES AND A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CLIENTS.
ANTICIPATING CONSERVATIVE GROWTH, ALO PREDICTS SERVING 2% OF OUR TARGET MARKET FOR THE 10 YEAR FINANCIALS.
IT'S A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO MARKET UTILIZATION, ENSURING STEADY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
MY ASK IS THAT ON THIS TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY, YOU INVEST $2 MILLION FOR 5% STAKE IN EQUITY.
HERE YOU'LL SEE THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE STARTUP EXPENSE, THE YEAR ONE NET LOSS IN THE CONTINGENCIES BUILT IN WITH THE 23.6% UNSEEN CIRCUMSTANCE AS WELL.
I LOVE TO DO RESEARCH, AND WHEN I LOOKED UP ALO AND MORTGAGE, THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT ALREADY EXISTS FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND LOANS.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO, UH, PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL BRAND OR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT OR AT LEAST CONFUSION OF THE TWO? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
ALO STANDS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENT LOAN OFFICER.
BREAKING IT UP WITH A PERIOD BETWEEN AI, LO KIND OF SMOOTHS THAT OVER, BUT WHEN PEOPLE STILL SEARCH FOR IT, THEY'LL FIND THAT OTHER COMPANY THAT DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR.
UM, HOW, HOW CAN YOU TALK THROUGH YOUR COMPETITORS? OBVIOUSLY AI IS A KIND OF A BIG CATEGORY TODAY.
EVERY COMPANY IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY GETTING ON, ON THE BANDWAGON TO, TO REALLY PUSH, UH, THEIR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH, UH, AI.
CAN YOU TALK THROUGH HOW YOUR COMPETITORS ARE USING IT OR, UM, HOW YOU PLAN TO COMPETE WITH, UH, OTHERS IN THE MARKET? ABSOLUTELY.
RIGHT NOW, AI IS BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE MARKET THROUGH JUST TOUCH POINTS.
SO A LOT OF AI IS BEING USED IN LIKE GENERATING AUTOMATED EMAILS FOR WHENEVER YOU NEED TO UPDATE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS LISTING A A PROPERTY DESCRIPTION, IT'S NOT YET BEING USED TO GUIDE SOMEBODY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MAKING IT TO WHERE THEY FEEL COMPLETELY INFORMED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
UM, AND ANOTHER QUESTION IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW YOU PLAN TO MAKE MONEY.
OBVIOUSLY YOU PLAN TO, UH, TARGET, UH, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OR BIG BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS, UM, BUT IN TERMS OF JUST THEIR, THEIR LOAN ORIGINATION, UH, DO YOU HAVE OTHER, UM, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT YOU WILL OFFER THEM VERSUS JUST THE PRODUCT ITSELF OR OTHER WAYS TO USE A PRODUCT WITHIN THEIR, UH, INSTITUTIONS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO OUR MAIN POINT IS TO, TO CONNECT WITH THOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, BUT ON THE BACKEND, WHENEVER WE'RE SCALING FOR GROWTH, WE DO WANT TO TURN ALO INTO A, UH, A TPO OR A THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION SYSTEM OR EVEN A, UM, FUND OUR OWN LOANS.
THAT WOULD BE THE PINNACLE OF WHAT WE SHOOT FOR.
OH, AND, AND LASTLY, SORRY,
UM, THIS IS A VERY, VERY VAST MARKET.
WELLS FARGO'S IS VESTING INTO THIS SPACE.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH A LOT OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, CREDIT BUREAUS, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW DO YOU PLAN TO KIND OF PENETRATE AND ESTABLISH YOUR, YOUR BRANDING AND YOUR COMPANY WITHIN THIS SPACE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WELLS FARGO DEFINITELY IS LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE OF, OF AI AS WELL AS LOAN DEPOT AND ROCKET MORTGAGE.
ROCKET MORTGAGE IS ONE OF PROBABLY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE OUR MOST STABLE COMPETITORS.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A FINANCIAL LITERACY APP THAT WILL GUIDE YOU INTO MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS, BUT IT DOES NOT SAVE YOU MONEY ON ORIGINATIONS BY REDUCING COSTS.
[01:35:01]
THAT'S WHERE I AM TRYING TO CORNER THE MARKET AND BUILD UP THE COMMUNITY BY BUILDING THIS PLATFORM.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
HOW DO YOU FORESEE BEING ABLE TO DIVERSIFY YOUR PRODUCT? IS IT ONLY GOING TO BE FOR LOAN ORIGINATIONS OR IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD DIVERSIFY IT FOR OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS LENDING? AND SECONDLY, TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IS YOUR PRIMARY CUSTOMER THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW IN STARTING, IS IT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OR IS IT THE CONSUMER ITSELF? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO WITH AI EXPLODING THE WAY IT IS, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY STRATEGY THAT WE INTEND ON EMPLOYING, BUT GO TO MARKET.
I BELIEVE IT'S STRONGEST WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSIFYING AND OFFERING OTHER PRODUCTS.
I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT IT'S SET RIGHT NOW, OUR GO-TO IS THROUGH THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
EVENTUALLY WE WILL OPEN THAT UP OF COURSE, BUT THE MAIN WAY TO TO ONBOARD A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND SHOW THEM VALUE IS THROUGH THE CONSUMER.
SO BRINGING THEM SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT WORTH IT AND HAVING A SERVICE FOR THEM, I THINK BRIDGING THAT GAP IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO YOU NOW IS GOING TO BE, DID YOU COME FROM THE FINANCIAL, DO YOU HAVE A A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BACKGROUND? I'VE BEEN IN REAL ESTATE FOR FOUR YEARS AND I'VE BEEN A MORTGAGE BROKER FOR FOUR YEARS.
SO IN THE INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT EIGHT, KIM MADE ME THINK ABOUT SOMETHING.
LOOK, I I COME FROM VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND MY MOM DIDN'T BUY A HOUSE UNTIL I WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE END CONSUMER, HOW YOU REALLY THINKING ABOUT LOW, MODERATE INCOME LEVEL COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW ARE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, FIRST GENERATION WEALTH BUILDERS, LIKE HOW, WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR SENSITIVITY? OR DO YOU HAVE A SENSITIVITY TO THINK ABOUT, UM, UH, YOUR, YOUR PLATFORM TO REALLY BRING PEOPLE INTO THE, UH, HOME BUYING PROCESS? YEAH, THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY I, I STARTED ALO TO, TO INTRODUCE MORE PEOPLE INTO THE HOME BUYING PROCESS.
MY MOM DIDN'T BUY UNTIL LATE IN LIFE.
AND SEEING THAT PROCESS WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING JUST FOR PEOPLE MY AGE, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO, TO COME IN.
I WORK IN MORTGAGE, I SEE IT ALL DAY LONG.
SO BUILDING SOMETHING THAT CAN REDUCE THE COST NOT ONLY TO THE INSTITUTION, BUT TO THE BORROWER THROUGH LOWER FEES AND RATES, I THINK WILL BRING IN THAT FIRST TIME HOME BUYER THAT, YOU KNOW, A PRICE SENSITIVE CUSTOMER.
YOU MENTIONED ARM SYSTEMS AS YOUR CTO, IS THAT A PERSON OR IS THAT A COMPANY? IT'S A COMPANY DEV SHOP.
SO HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR, YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY? WE ARE WORKING ON PATENTS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PITCH, ONE FINAL PITCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
DIANE WYNN, FLOURISHING NEXUS, LLC.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL YOU TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE THE HEALERS NEED HEALING, WHERE THE EDUCATORS NEED TIME TO LEARN AND THE GIVERS SEEK SUPPORT.
AS A PEDIATRICIAN AND EDUCATOR FOR NEARLY THREE DECADE, MY MOST PROFILE JOY COME FROM MOMENTS OF TRUE CONNECTION.
WHEN I CAN EASE THE WORRIES OF THE CHILD'S PARENTS, WHEN I SEE THE LIGHT OF UNDERSTANDING IN MY STUDENTS' EYES, BUT HERE IS THE HARD TRUTH.
THIS MOMENT ARE BECOMING RARER.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS OF MORAL DISTRESS HELP PROFESSIONALS STRIVING TO DO RIGHT FOR ARTHUR.
GRAPPLE WITH A SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN LEAVE US FEELING STUCK, UNDERVALUED, AND BURNED OUT.
THIS ISN'T JUST OUR STORY, IT'S A GLOBAL NARRATIVE.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION WANTS A LOOMING SHORTFALL OF 10 MILLION HEALTH WORKERS BY 2030.
WHY? BECAUSE THE VERY SYSTEM MEANT TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT THEM IS WILLING TO DO SO.
AS A PHARMACIST AND DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH, I'VE WITNESSED THE RESILIENCE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD PERSEVERING WITH WHATEVER LITTLE THEY HAVE.
BUT WHAT IF THEY HAD MORE? WHAT IF THEY HAD A COMMUNITY THAT IGNITED THEIR POTENTIAL AND FOSTERED THEIR GROWTH? THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AT FLOURISHING NEXUS.
SATIT AND I ARE ON A MISSION TO FOSTER A MOVEMENT HUMAN FLOURISHING.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING A SPACE WHERE EDUCATION BREAKS DOWN WALLS WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS BOUNDLESS, WHERE
[01:40:01]
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CAN HEAL, THRIVE, AND INSPIRE OUR FLAGSHIP INNOVATION.THE NEXUS PLATFORM IS A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CAN UNLOCK THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS AS INNOVATIVE AS OUR TECHNOLOGY.
WE'RE NOT JUST SELLING A SERVICE, WE'RE CREATING A COMMUNITY.
OUR RESEARCH CONSULTATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WILL GENERATE REVENUE AND BUILD THE COMMUNITY THAT FUELS THE NEXUS, CREATING A SELF-SUSTAINING CYCLE OF GROWTH AND IMPACT.
THE NEXUS IS STRUCTURED AROUND FIVE KEY PERFORMANCE ZONES IDENTIFIED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR THE FUTURE, ENABLING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NOT JUST TO SURVIVE CHANGE, BUT DRIVE IT.
LET'S LOOK AT HOW THE NEXUS TRANSFORMS THESE ZONES INTO REALITY.
LINKEDIN SUPERCHARGED IN THE NEXUS, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION.
LIVE UPDATED ENDORSEMENTS AND SKILL BADGES WHERE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FIND YOU.
THE NEXUS INTEGRATES AI SEAMLESSLY STREAMLINING YOUR WORKFLOW AND AMPLIFYING CREATIVITY SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHAT HUMANS DO BEST.
INNOVATE AI POWERED GPS DECISION MAKING IN HEALTHCARE CAN BE AS COMPLEX AS THE DATA IT RELIES ON.
THE NEXUS DASHBOARD IS LIKE HAVING A GPS THAT NAVIGATES COMPLEX DATA INTO CLEAR DECISIONS POP-UP TEAMS. YOU CAN CREATE AGILE TEAMS BY MATCHING SKILLS AND MINDSETS FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE.
THINK OF IT AS DYNAMIC MATCHMAKING FOR COLLABORATION.
AND FINALLY, KHAN ACADEMY ON STEROIDS.
IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HUB AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY ALL IN ONE.
OUR MARKET FOCUS STARTS IN HOUSTON.
THE BUZZ FROM OUR BETA HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED SIX CUSTOMERS.
WE'RE GONNA SCALE UP IN THE US AND THEN EXPAND INTERNATIONALLY WITH EXISTING CONTACTS IN ASIA, EUROPE, AND AFRICA.
THE LI THE LIFTOFF FUNDING IS KEY TO DEVELOPING THIS TECHNOLOGY AND UNLOCKING THIS GROWTH.
THE NEXUS IGNITES A HOPE, A HOPE THAT WE CAN.
SO I, THE REAL, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF GREAT FEATURES, BUT I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT IN, IT'S JUST A FEW LIKE EASY SENTENCES? YES.
SO THERE ISN'T A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENGAGE IN CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER.
SO WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL OPTIONS RIGHT NOW, LIKE MICROSOFT TEAMS THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER OR INTRANET SYSTEMS LIKE JIVE THAT BRING EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE COMPANY TOGETHER, UM, OR SLACK THAT CAN HELP WITH COMMUNICATION OR CANVA OR BLACKBOARD.
THESE ARE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, BUT THOSE ARE TARGETED TOWARDS CORPORATE CO COMPANIES.
AND ALSO MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU'RE PART OF ONE INSTITUTION, IF WE HAVE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ACROSS DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, ACROSS COUNTRIES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS MICROSOFT TEAMS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO DO WORK TOGETHER.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND COLLABORATION TOOLS, UM, AND HAVING THE EXPERTISE OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACCESSIBLE TO PROFESSIONALS.
UM, SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE MORE OF YOUR REVENUE MODEL? YES.
SO OUR REVENUE, OUR INNOVATIVE, UM, FLAGSHIP OFFERING IS THE NEXUS AND THAT'S THE TECHNOLOGY AND TO SUPPORT, UM, THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE SUBSCRIPTION BASED.
OUR TARGET AUDIENCE ARE INSTITUTIONS, AND THEN OVER THE YEARS WE HOPE TO OPEN UP A FREEMIUM MEMBERSHIP TO, UH, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE NOT ASSOCIATED TO ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS.
SO THESE ARE OFTEN THE UNDERSERVED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING WITH NGOS, THINKING IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO SUPPLEMENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE, THE NEXUS TECHNOLOGY WITH OUR RESEARCH CONSULTATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO BOTH SATIT AND I ARE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATORS, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO DO THE CONSULTATION AND, UM, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE EARLY DAYS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS MOM.
[01:45:01]
UM, I REALLY AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I'M HEARING.I HAVE A BRILLIANT SISTER WHO IS IN AUSTRALIA YES.
AND IS A RETIRED NURSING PROFESSOR AND ALSO A RESEARCH SCIENTIST.
AND SO I'VE LISTENED TO HER TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF COLLABORATING NOT ONLY AROUND THE WORLD, BUT ALSO COLLABORATING IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT AFFECTED OR INFLUENCED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES.
AH, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY REALLY, UM, INFLUENCES HOW AND WHO OTHER MEDICAL PROVIDERS CAN COLLABORATE WITH.
HOW DOES YOUR PRODUCT OR YOUR SERVICE PLAN TO ELIMINATE THAT INFILTRATION BY THE INSURANCE BANDITS
YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT THAT INSURANCE AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY OFTEN HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE US UM, ON HEALTHCARE PRACTICE.
I WOULD SAY THIS TECHNOLOGY AND THE KEY AUDIENCE ARE, ARE TARGETED TOWARDS THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND THERE'S NO KIND OF OUTSIDE INTEREST THAT IS SUPPORTING THE FUNDING.
UM, SO OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROFESSIONALS.
UM, AND SO I THINK AS WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A SOMEWHAT CLOSED SYSTEM OF SUBSCRIPTIONS, INSTITUTION BASED, MOST ACADEMIC CENTERS ARE NON-PROFIT.
THEY'RE DRIVEN BY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND THAT'S, I THINK THE, THE MISSION AND THE COMMON THREAD THAT WE'LL, WE'LL BRING US TOGETHER.
I ACTUALLY TOOK THE MIC BACK SO I CAN ASK THAT VERY QUESTION.
UM, BUT WITHIN INSTITUTIONS, THERE COULD BE FACULTY WHO ARE INITIATING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO WE SAY OUR TARGET MARKET IS THE HEALTH SCIENCE, UM, INSTITUTIONS WITH DIFFERENT TIERS, WHETHER IT'S THE LARGE INSTITUTION MAY BE PROGRAM BASED OR MAYBE SPECIFIC FACULTY.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY WITH THE FREEMIUM MEMBERSHIPS THAT WILL OPEN UP TO INDIVIDUAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH LARGER INSTITUTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY OR AT THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION LEVEL.
UH, I, I LOVE THE AMBITION, UH, BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE BUILDING AND TO CONNECT THE WORLD, UH, TO BE ON ONE PLATFORM TO COMMUNICATE OBVIOUSLY IN THE, NOT THE WHOLE MEDICAL FIELD.
SO I WANT, UM, TALK, TALK LIKE IT IS, BUT WHAT I WILL ASK IS AROUND TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT? YES.
TECHNOLOGY WE NEEDED WHEN ESPECIALLY BUILDING A PLATFORM, UM, WHO DO YOU PLAN TO, TO BE YOUR KIND OF YOUR CLOUD PROVIDER? AND THEN HOW DO YOU, UM, KEEP THEM FROM INFRINGING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD AND HOW YOU'RE TRYING TO CONNECT, UM, THE WORLD.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE LIKES OF FACEBOOK WANT TO CONNECT THE WORLD, RIGHT? MICROSOFT AS WELL.
I MEAN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE KIND OF THE WORLD INNOVATORS WHEN IT COME TO CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO KEEP THEM FROM INFRINGING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD? OR DO YOU YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SPACE.
UM, I THINK THE, THE BIG DOGS OUT THERE THAT YOU'VE NAMED, WE'D LOVE TO BE NAMED ALONG ONE ALONGSIDE THEM ONE DAY, BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT FOCUSED IN THIS AREA YET.
SO, UM, WE ARE PARTNERED WITH INDUSTRIAL IMAGINATION, WHO I'VE WORKED WITH FOR THE PAST DECADE, AND THEY HAVE, UM, EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING, UM, CREATING TECH.
DIANE WYNN, FLOURISHING NEXUS, LLC, AND THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR INNOVATION PITCHES.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU TO OUR INNOVATION JUDGES, KYLIE, KIM, AND GRACE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA SEND THEM OFF TO DICKER ABOUT THE WINNER AND WE WILL GET SOMEBODY AND SOME ANSWERS VERY, VERY SOON FOR THAT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO HELP US FIND OUR FAN FAVORITE IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY.
WE GOT THE QR CODE UP HERE, SO MAKE SURE YOU SCAN THAT QR CODE DISPLAYED ON YOUR SCREEN OR IN YOUR PROGRAMS. REMEMBER TO PLACE YOUR VOTE, JUST ENTER THE ACCESS CODE PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN.
AND REMEMBER OUR FAN FAVORITES CAN'T WIN WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR HELP.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME OR YOU'RE STREAMING, PLEASE VOTE.
AND EVERYBODY HERE IN THE GALLERY, REMEMBER, UM, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THIS IS A $500 PRIZE IN EACH CATEGORY.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK BRIEF BREAK, STRETCH YOUR LEGS, GO OUTSIDE FOR SOME AIR.
WE WANNA COME BACK HERE IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AT 1230 TO
[01:50:01]
ANNOUNCE OUR WINNERS, GIVE AWAY SOME MONEY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN WITH LIFTOFF HOUSTON AND PITCH DAY.I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PUERTO RICO, UM, BUT I REALLY CONSIDER MYSELF A, A LOCAL TEXAN.
UH, I MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS SEVEN AND, AND HAVE REALLY GROWN UP IN HOUSTON.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DRIVES ME IS, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ONE OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS BEHIND THIS IS KIND OF THE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH, UM, THE, THE TWO OF US.
UM, BUT ME PERSONALLY IS REALLY, UH, A GOOD EDUCATION.
NOW WE STAND AT ABOUT 125,000.
WE HAVE A ALMOST 210 SCHOOLS AND WE'VE HELPED COUNTLESS STUDENTS, UM, NATIONWIDE AND, AND I OWE A LOT OF THAT TO, TO THIS COMPETITION.
OUR COMPANY IS CALLED SWIFT LOGISTICS AND WE ARE A NON-ASSET BASED THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDER.
WE ALSO PROVIDE DISPATCH AND BACK OFFICE SERVICES TO TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVERS.
OUR DASHBOARD MODEL OF SERVICES INCLUDES TWO SIGNATURE PACKAGES OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN JUNE OF 2014, AND AT THE END OF THE SIX MONTH YEAR, WE CLOSED OUR SALES AT $16,000 YEAR TO DATE FOR 2015.
WE'LL BE CLOSING THE YEAR AT OVER EIGHT TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS WHICH WE HAVE BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS ONE OF THE 2014 WINNERS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE CREATING EBOOKS AND APPS TO HELP SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND CAREGIVERS OF PEOPLE WITH LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS IN THE US 8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE US HAVE A FORM OF LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT SUCH AS AUTISM, STROKE, AND ALZHEIMER'S.
TO ME, THIS BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER HAD A STROKE AND HE LOST HIS LANGUAGE ABILITIES.
I LEARNED THAT DISABILITY IS MORE CULTURAL THAN MEDICAL BECAUSE IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
HEY, WHEN I PITCHED MY IDEA, UM, A YEAR AGO, UM, I PITCHED FOR EBOOKS AND APPS, BUT THANKS TO THE PRIZE MONEY, I WAS ABLE TO BUDGET AND SEE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE TO CREATE A PHYSICAL PRODUCT.
AND CREATING A PHYSICAL PRODUCT REALLY DID, UH, CREATE A LASTING IMPRESSION, UH, WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE INTRODUCED TO IT.
FOOD TRUCKS IS THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT IN THE, IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.
AND HERE IN TEXAS WE HAVE THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING MARKET WITH A 15.3% ANNUAL GROWTH RATE.
A GOURMET FOOD TRUCK IS ONE THAT STRIVES TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF FROM THE STEREOTYPICAL ROACH COACH.
UM, AND THEY DO THAT BY FALLING REGULATIONS, KEEPING A, UH, THEIR, THEIR TRUCK CLEAN AND OFFERING INNOVATIVE AND ORIGINAL, UH, MENU ITEMS. AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE, THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A, A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE.
UH, MY NAME IS GEE DE, UM, AND I WAS IN YOUR SHOES, THE PARTICIPANTS LAST YEAR, UM, FULLY CAFFEINATED, SLEEP DEPRIVED, AND, UH, VERY, VERY, VERY NERVOUS.
UM, SO, SO NERVOUS IN FACT THAT I ALMOST FELL OFF THE STAGE.
UM, I WAS SHAKING AND UM, I BLURRED OUT MY SPEECH AT A RIDICULOUS SPEED.
SO TRY NOT TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.
UM, NOT TO SAY THAT BEING NERVOUS IS BAD BECAUSE, UM, IN FACT I THINK THAT LEARNING THE DAY BEFORE THAT I WAS GONNA PITCH AT LIFTOFF, UM, IRONICALLY GAVE ME AN ADVANTAGE.
IT, UH, MADE ME APPRECIATE THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY I HAD THAT SUDDENLY SHOWED UP AND I WAS RESOLVED TO GIVE IT MY ABSOLUTE BEST.
I'M A PROVI AND WE'RE AT THROTTLE MEET JASON.
JASON RECENTLY GRADUATED AND STARTED WORKING AS A TEACHER.
HOWEVER, HE HAS $125,000 WORTH OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT AS WELL AS OTHER DEBTS.
NOW THIS IS A TYPICAL WORKING CLASS.
AN EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL WORKING CLASS AMERICAN.
CONSUMER DEBT IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
$11 TRILLION IN GROWING CREDIT CARD RATES ARE EVER CHANGING.
[01:55:01]
NOW NO MA NOT MANY PEOPLE READ THE FINE PRINT OF THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES.NOW KEEP IN MIND, MORE AND MORE STUDENTS ARE PLAGUED WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBTS IF YOU REALIZE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN, UH, IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.
WE RECENTLY POLLED SOME STUDENTS AS WELL AS SOME MILLENNIALS AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF THEM DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR INTEREST RATES ARE ON SOME CERTAIN DEBTS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST SAVINGS WOULD BE IF YOU TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY AND PUT IT TOWARDS A CERTAIN ACCOUNT TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBTS.
NOW WE AS CONSUMERS NEED A PLAN OF ACTION.
WE NEED A TOOL THAT WILL HELP US BUDGET AND SAVE.
SO ME THROTTLE, UM, WE'RE A, A SIMPLE MOBILE APP THAT ANALYZES ALL OF YOUR DEBT ACCOUNTS AND SHOWS YOU THE COST OF YOUR INTEREST AS WELL AS HELPS YOU DEVELOP A PLAN TO SAVE MONEY.
SO LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT WORKS.
SO FIRST THINGS FIRST, YOU SIMPLY LOG IN USING YOUR ACCOUNT CREDENTIALS AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WE CREATE A DASHBOARD THAT SHOWS YOU YOUR TRUE COST OF INTEREST, NO FANCY CHARTS OR GRAPHS, JUST REALLY WHAT YOU OWE EVERY YEAR ON HOW MUCH THE DEBT THAT YOU CARRY.
OUR WINNER IN THAT CATEGORY IS THROTTLE ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF STAGE.
I HAVE A LITTLE CHECK FOR YOU.
HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE COFFEE? COME ON, RAISE YOUR HAND.
MY NAME IS MARIO GARCIA AND TOGETHER WITH MY MY FAMILY AND WIFE, WE CREATED MANDINO'S COFFEE.
SPECIALTY COFFEE FROM OUR FAMILY FARM IN HONDURAS TO COMMERCIALIZE IT HERE IN HOUSTON.
ONE CONTAINER, 37,000 POUNDS OF GREEN BEANS THE FIRST YEAR.
HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITIES IN THE NATION, YET ACROSS AMERICA.
HATE CRIMES INVOLVING VICTIMS IDENTIFIED AS JEWISH SOAR IN 2022.
MORE THAN HALF OF RELIGIOUS-BASED HATE CRIMES TARGETS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
AND MORE THAN HALF THE ETHNIC HATE TARGETS THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
AN ATTACK AGAINST ANY FAITH OR ETHNIC GROUP IS AN ATTACK AGAINST ALL OF US.
THERE IS NO PLACE IN AMERICA FOR HATE AGAINST ANYONE AS HOUSTONIANS.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER WHEN YOUR GOAL IS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY.
BOOK ONLINE WITH ECOPARK AND ECO PARK TWO.
TRAVEL SMARTER, PARK, SMARTER ECOPARK AND ECOPARK TWO AT IAH HOUSTON 3 1 1.
NOW AVAILABLE AS A MOBILE APP.
TAKE A PHOTO, ENTER YOUR LOCATION REPORT AN ISSUE, THE QUICK AND EASY WAY TO REPORT NON-EMERGENCY ISSUES OR REQUEST CITY SERVICE INFORMATION.
DOWNLOAD TODAY ON THE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY READY TO SPICE UP YOUR DAY.
DOWNTOWN HOUSTON HAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE CRAVING.
SWAP YOUR WEEKDAY DINNER FOR AWARD-WINNING TAKEOUT.
TREAT YOURSELF TO BOLD, UNIQUE FLAVORS OR FRESH FROM THE OVEN CLASSICS.
DRINK OUTSIDE THE BOX FROM BREWERIES TO COCKTAIL BARS.
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO TASTE WHEN YOU JOIN US DOWNTOWN.
VISIT DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.ORG TO FIND RESTAURANTS AND BARS FOR YOUR NEXT DELICIOUS ADVENTURE AT METRO.
YOUR SAFETY IS JOB ONE EVERY DAY.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING YOUR RIDE EVEN SAFER.
WITH SECURITY CAMERAS ON OUR TRANSIT VEHICLES AND LIVE MONITORS ON MANY OF OUR BUSES, BUSES, BLUE LIGHT CALL BOXES AT OUR BUS AND RAIL FACILITIES.
METRO POLICE PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND AND MPD CONNECT THE APP THAT LETS YOU REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY INSTANTLY TO METRO POLICE.
METRO IS BUILDING A SAFER TRANSIT SYSTEM SO YOU CAN DRIVE LESS AND DO MORE.
WE GET TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF CULTURES IN OUR CITY.
THEY CHALLENGE US TO REALLY RETHINK THE WAYS WE DO THINGS.
WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE, WE LEARN, WE GROW.
AND WORK IS ONE TO GET THE JOB DONE AND BUILD A BETTER FUTURE HERE IN HOUSTON,
[02:00:34]
IN THE CATEGORY OF PRODUCTS, OUR WINNER IS MENDON COFFEE.ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THOSE KNEES UP AND KEEP IT WORKING.
GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS KEISHA THOMPSON AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE DEAN'S LIST FIT CLUB.
THIS IS WHERE HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPERIENCE MEETS ACADEMIA, THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AND HOPEFULLY TO WIN.
WE WILL MARKET IT, PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS EMAIL TELEMARKETING AS WELL, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
THIS WILL ALLOW EACH PARTICIPANT TO BE ABLE TO GET ONLINE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN ACCOUNT, THEIR PROGRESS, AND EVEN TO PAY THE MONTHLY BALANCE THAT THEY HAVE, PURCHASE ADDITIONAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED, AS WELL AS TO PAY AND COVER INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR FEES.
SO REMEMBER THE DEANS LIST FIT CLUB.
IT'S AN EXPERIENCE, IT'S A MOVEMENT.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SECTOR MEETS ACADEMIA.
IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY, OUR WINNER IS DEAN'S LIST.
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, IF I'M ON THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL COVER, IT'S GONNA SAY LOCAL HOUSTON.
HOUSTON WOMAN, UM, SETS THE SKINCARE MARKET ABLAZE SPEND DEBT SUCCESSFULLY, HELPED PEOPLE PAY BACK OVER $1 BILLION OF THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
THE AWESOME BITES COMPANY IS AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HEALTH CONSCIOUS BAKERY THAT HELPS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH OUR UNIQUE BAKED GOODIES, MADE WITH BETTER INGREDIENTS AND ARE SAFE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.
OUR STORY STARTED WITH THAT CUTE, FUNKY LITTLE GIRL IN THE MIDDLE WHO GAVE ME THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD BECOMING HER MAMA.
AURORA IS LIKE ONE IN EVERY 13 KIDS IN THE US WHO HAS A FOOD ALLERGY.
AND WHEN I SENT OUT TO LOOK FOR SAFE FOODS, EVERYTHING I FOUND WAS EITHER FULL OF CROSS-CONTAMINATION OR SUGAR SHORTENING TERRIBLE THINGS.
I DIDN'T WANNA FEED A CHILD, I KNEW SHE DESERVED BETTER.
SO I GOT INTO THE KITCHEN AND 18 MONTHS LATER I DEVELOPED THESE AWESOME RECIPES FOR TRADITIONAL BAKED GOODS MADE WITH SOME RATHER UNTRADITIONAL YET HEALTHY INGREDIENTS, AWESOME BITES.
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PREVALENCE IN INGROWN HAIRS AND SCARRING FROM SHAVING, AND I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO INGROWN HAIRS ALSO KNOWN AS PSEUDOFOLLICULITIS, IS WHEN, UM, A HAIR FOLLICLE IS A HAIR IS TRAPPED UNDER THE FOLLICLE AND IT BEGINS TO BECOME INFLAMED AND CAUSES, UM, BACTERIA BUILDUP AND SKIN IRRITATION.
IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE ON THE BODY AND IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, BUT IT'S MORE PREVALENT IN AFRICAN AMERICANS OR PEOPLE WITH CURLY HAIR BECAUSE THE HAIR TENDS TO, UM, CURL UNDER INSTEAD OF GROWING STRAIGHT OUT.
[02:05:01]
OF EXPERIMENTED WITH DIFFERENT, UM, IDEAS, DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS, AND FOUND A SYSTEM THAT WORKS AND I HAND MAKE ALL OF MY PRODUCTS.THE WINNER IS CAMILLA ELISE, HOW MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT OR KNOW SOMEONE WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT? THAT'S ABOUT HALF THE ROOM.
MY NAME IS KYLIE SUMMERS AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF SPEND DEBT JUST LIKE YOU.
THERE'S 43 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE US WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT, WHICH 67% ARE NOT MAKING PAYMENTS, UH, TO REDUCE THEIR, TO REDUCE THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND THEY'RE NOT, UM, PANDER LOANS ON TIME.
SO DID YOU KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN OR THE AVERAGE STUDENT GRADUATE WAS AROUND $28,000 OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT? MYSELF, I GRADUATED WITH ABOUT $30,000 OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
SO WHAT'S A SOLUTION FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY? SPEND IT, OF COURSE.
IT IS A FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY DESIGNED TO ASSIST PEOPLE TO PAY OUT DEBT, LEVERAGE YOUR MICRO PAYMENTS THROUGH EVERYDAY TRANSACTIONS.
THE WINNER IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY IS SPEND DEBT.
THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS HERE THAT WE'RE GONNA GET SEED MONEY.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET, TO GET MONEY TO START THEIR DREAMS AND THAT, AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY HUGE IN THE, IN THE PROCESS OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE TONIGHT.
AND BEING IT'S THE FIFTH YEAR, I THINK THAT'S AMAZING THAT, UH, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR AND IT'S BEING SPONSORED AND, AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATED AND I'VE HAD A GOOD FORTUNE OF INTERVIEWING SOME OF THESE PARTICIPANTS AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING JUST WATCHING THEIR EXCITEMENT AND WATCHING THEM TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
ARE YOU READY TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE FAN FAVORITE? THE FAN FAVORITE WILL WIN $500, RIGHT? AND THAT $500 WILL BE WHETHER THEY WIN OR NOT.
IF THEY WIN THAT CATEGORY, THAT'S FIVE.
THAT'S PLUS $500 ON TOP OF THE 10,000 FAN FAVORITE FOR THE CATEGORY OF SERVICE IS 4.0 GPA.
THAT FIGURES, YOU KNOW, 4.0 GPA WOODWINDS SOCIAL MEDIA, WOULDN'T IT? ALRIGHT, OUR FAN FAVORITE FOR PRODUCT IS EXCEL LIFESTYLE.
GIRL, BRING YOUR SNEAKY BEHIND UP HERE.
AND WE NEED TO ANNOUNCE OUR FAN FAVORITE FOR OUR INNOVATION IS WONDER HOUSTON.
COME UP HERE WITH YOUR LOUD PEOPLE SELF AS $500 EACH.
I'M THE FOUNDER, CEO OF EXCEL LIFESTYLE.
WITH MY PASSION FOR FITNESS AND FASHION AND MY BACKGROUND IN CHEMISTRY, I'VE CUSTOM DESIGNED FABRIC AND FITNESS APPAREL THAT DOES NOT SMELL.
SO THE WORKOUT CLOTHES TODAY, WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE MAJOR, MAJOR PROBLEMS GOING ON.
ONE OF THEM IS THE SMELL THAT IS JUST AS BYPRODUCT OF THE SWEAT.
OUR WINNERS FOR THE PRODUCT CATEGORY FIRST PLACE, $10,000, $2,300.
MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE FROM SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE.
JUST FINISHED THE SERVICE CATEGORY OF THE LIFTOFF COMPETITION.
AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR, UM, CONTESTANTS TODAY.
TELL ME, HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF PITCHING TO THIS AMAZING AUDIENCE? THIS BEING MY FIRST TIME, I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS AWESOME AND PHENOMENAL.
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF SOME EARLY JITTERS, BUT I STILL FEEL CONFIDENT.
OUR WINNER OF THE SERVICE CATEGORY IS $10,000 4.0 GP, A BIG CHECK.
[02:10:01]
POSITIONED IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT AREA OF HOUSTON, WHERE THE AVERAGE HOTEL IS $130 PER NIGHT.THAT COST IS JUST MUCH TOO HIGH FOR MILLENNIAL TRAVELERS AT WONDER HOUSTON.
OUR PRICE POINT IS ATTRACTIVE TO OUR TARGET MARKET AUDIENCE, WHICH IS TRAVELERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 35 YEARS OLD.
AND THE 10,000, $10,000 2300 MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE OF COURSE, TIME FOR THE PITCHES TO BEGIN.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF HOW ALL OF THIS IS GONNA WORK FOR THE COMPETITION.
WE HAVE THREE PITCH CATEGORIES, SERVICE, PRODUCT, AND INNOVATION.
I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A SECOND AND THINK BACK TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
YOU'RE HOLDING YOUR LUNCH, YOU'RE LOOKING OUT INTO THE ABYSS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LUNCHROOM.
HOW DO YOU FEEL? AWKWARD, NERVOUS, UNCOMFORTABLE.
WELL, THIS IS HOW MY ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES FEEL LIKE ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO IT IS THIS PERSONAL TOUCH THAT'S REALLY IS GONNA MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
AND WE'RE AGAIN, SO PROUD AND HAPPY AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND FOLLOWING THIS STORY.
HARVEY TOOK MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES FROM HOUSTON'S LUXURY CAR INDUSTRY, AND THOSE CARS COULD HAVE BEEN UPCYCLED AND MADE INTO WATCHES AND PUT TO BETTER USE.
EACH WATCH WILL INCLUDE THE MAKE MODEL AND VIN NUMBER SO OUR CUSTOMERS WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHICH LUXURY CAR IT CAME FROM.
A WINNER IN THE PRODUCT CATEGORY IS OLYMPUS WATCHES.
NOW IMAGINE THAT YOU HAD A TOOL THAT SERVED YOU AS YOUR SOCIAL CONCIERGE, THAT HELD YOUR SOCIAL FOOTPRINT, YOUR SOCIAL DNA, SO THAT YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT FINDING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT YOU LIKE.
NOR WOULD YOU HAVE TO SURF THE INTERNET TO MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS, TO BUY TICKETS, TO BOOK A HOTEL.
YOU COULD DO IT ALL IN ONE PLACE AND THAT'S WHY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOCIAL BEVY.
THE WINNER IN INNOVATION CATEGORY IS SOCIAL BEVY.
IN HOUSTON, WE MAKE TOMORROW TOGETHER, BUT FIRST WE MAKE DINNER TOGETHER.
WE MIX INGREDIENTS AND CULTURES, WE CREATE EXCITEMENT THAT YOU CAN TASTE AND EXPERIENCES TO SAVOR.
HOUSTON FIRST CORPORATION INTRODUCES LYNN WYATT SQUARE IN THE HOUSTON THEATER DISTRICT WITH OAK TREES, WATER FEATURES, AND PROGRAMMING.
[02:15:48]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.MY NAME IS SHAHARA DOWNING AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF LEVEL COM, LLC AND THE MASTER TRAINER AT CHAMPAGNE SHOW.
NOW WE ALL SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUT THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER GROUP.
THERE'S, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE GROWN BY AN EPIC 58%.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A GROUP THAT'S GROWN THREE TIMES THAT NUMBER BUSINESSES RUN BY BLACK WOMEN HAVE GROWN BY 164%.
GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE LADIES IN FIRST PLACE.
WE HAVE LEVEL COMMUNICATION, MY PRODUCT.
HELLO, PTOS IS A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION BOX FOR WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME.
PTOS IS A HORMONAL IMBALANCE OF WOMEN.
THERE'S CURRENTLY NO CURE AND THERE'S NO APPROVED MEDICATION TO TREAT PT OS IN FIRST PLACE.
WE HAVE HELLO PIKAS, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EDUCATE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MARKET TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHURCHES ARE FRIENDLY SPACES FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT? WELL, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTENT THAT WE PUT OUT.
UM, A LOT OF OUR CONTENT AND OUR CONTENT STRATEGY MODELS THAT WE WORK FORMAT.
SO WE BASICALLY, WE'VE NOTICED THAT WITH THE MEGA CHURCHES, THOSE ARE THE BIG CHURCHES WITH THE GYMNASIUMS AND THE CLASSROOMS THAT WE THEN OFFER TO THEM.
AND WE DO THAT IN SUCH A STRATEGIC WAY TO WHERE IT'S NOT CHURCHY, IT'S NOT STUFFY, BUT IT'S MORE SO A OPEN SPACE THAT ANY ENTREPRENEUR AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR CUSTOMER SEGMENT OF ENTREPRENEURS ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
IN FIRST PLACE, WE HAVE THE CHURCH SPACE.
PIPELINE INCIDENTS ARE A CONTINUOUS SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE INTENSE ENERGY, HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURIZED ENVIRONMENTS.
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, NEARLY 3000 SIGNIFICANT PIPELINE INCIDENTS CLAIMED OVER 117 LIVES AND INJURED OVER 620 PEOPLE AT A COST OF OVER $6.7 BILLION IN DAMAGES.
TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OPERATORS NEED A FLUID TECHNOLOGY THAT'S TRULY RESISTANT TO FIRE, DIFFICULT TO IGNITE YET SELF EXTINGUISHING.
HELLO, MY NAME IS WENDELL MATTHEWS AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF GOD BEAR SEEING, SEE, IN 2019, I WANTED TO GROW A BEARD FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
SO I GO DOWN TO MY LOCAL RETAILER TO BUY PRODUCT.
WHEN LOOKING AT THE PRODUCT LABEL, I IMMEDIATELY SEE WORDS I CAN'T PRONOUNCE.
I SEE INGREDIENTS THAT I WOULD USE TO WASH MY CAR.
AND AT THAT MOMENT I KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS PUTTING ON THIS PRODUCT ON MY FACE, YET ALONE IT BEING MADE FOR ME.
SEE, ALL I WANTED WAS A PRODUCT THAT WAS SIMPLE, NATURAL, AND SAFE.
MY STORY IS NOT TO SCARE YOU, BUT TO PREPARE.
YOU PREPARE WOMEN FOR A HEALTHY AND SPEEDY RECOVERY WITH MY BUSINESS IDEA.
COSMETIC CONCIERGE NURSES, A BOUTIQUE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES HOLISTIC NURSING CARE AFTER COSMETIC AND PLASTIC RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY SERVICE CATEGORY WINNER, CHEMICAL AND DISTRIBUTION PRODUCT CATEGORY WINNER GO AND BEAR GROOMING INNOVATION CATEGORY WINNER, COSMETIC CONJURE NURSES.
AGAIN, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
NOW I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO ERICA SIMON, CONGRATULATIONS.
CAN I JUST SAY, I LOVE SEEING ALL OF THE SILENT CLAPS AND HEARING SOME OF THE CLAPS.
THIS IS VIRTUAL AT ITS FINEST.
WELL, IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE PITCH BATTLES TO BEGIN.
AND COVID REALLY CHANGED THE WAY THAT OLDER ADULTS THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY,
[02:20:01]
AS SO MANY OF THEM HAD TO RELY ON IT TO STAY CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES WHEN THEY COULDN'T SEE THEM IN PERSON.AND FINALLY, SENIORS ARE OPENING UP THEIR WALLETS AND THEY ARE SPENDING ON TECHNOLOGY YEAR OVER YEAR, TECH SPENDING IS UP OVER 200% FOR SENIORS.
AND THE AMOUNT THAT THESE SENIORS ARE SPENDING ON TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY GONNA INCREASE IN THE FUTURE.
THE 2021 LIFTOFF HOUSTON WINNERS ARE IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY.
CLARA TECH, LLC OPEN IN SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF SAFETY K ANIMATION VIDEOS FOR CHILDREN.
AS A CERTIFIED SAFETY PROFESSIONAL AND SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS PROMOTING SAFETY IN WORKPLACES, IN SCHOOLS AND IN HOMES, MY COMPANY OFFERS A PRODUCT TO HELP DECREASE CHILD ACCIDENT AND FATALITY RATES BY TEACHING THEM CRITICAL SAFETY SKILLS.
THE 2021 LIFTOFF WINNER FOR THE PRODUCT CATEGORY SAFETY, KLLC, THE WORLD'S FIRST AND ONLY US UTILITY PATENTED GLUED TONING DUMBBELL, THE TONER BUM.
WHAT MAKES THE TONER BUM SO AMAZING AND UNIQUE IS ITS PATENTED ERGONOMIC SHAPE THAT CONTOURS TO YOUR BODY, ALLOWING IT TO SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY STAY PLACE WHILE PERFORMING THESE FOUR SUPER EFFECTIVE GLU TONING WORKOUTS IN JUST FIVE MINUTES A DAY.
AND THE INNOVATION CATEGORY IS BETTER WAY BODY.
HOW HEALTHY THIS EVENT COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR GENEROUS SPONSOR, CAPITAL ONE BANK.
AND IT'S DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STARTUP CAPITAL TO ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS.
I SEE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF 'EM HERE TODAY, GETTING READY TO MAKE THEIR PITCHES.
NEARLY EVERY THRIFT STORE HAS TOO MUCH INVENTORY AND CAN'T SELL UP TO 80% OF THEIR ITEMS. FOR BUYERS, THERE IS A COMMUNITY OF 90 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE THRIFT SHOPPING, NOT BECAUSE OF PRICE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S UNIQUE AND SUSTAINABLE.
SO TO THEM, UPCYCLED CLOTHING IS SO DISTINCT, NEVER BEFORE SEEN, AND LETS 'EM SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE ENVIRONMENT TODAY RATHER THAN DEPEND ON RECYCLING OR LOCK AT A THRIFT STORE.
ANTI-AGING SERVICES HELP YOU LOOK AND FEEL GREAT AND BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE.
WE FOCUS ON THREE DIFFERENT MARKETS.
THE IVY HYDRATION MARKET, TELEHEALTH MARKET, AND THE MED SPA MARKET IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY IS ACTIVATE DRIP SPOT.
BUT WE WANNA DO OUR PART TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY, REACH ITS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY GOALS, WHILE ENSURING THE SAFETY OF LIFE, PROPERTY AND SEA AND ENVIRONMENT.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE TO HANDS-ON TRAINING.
HOWEVER, WE WANT TO BRING THE NEXT BEST THING TO THE INDUSTRY.
THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER IS MARITIME XR.
OH, THAT'S MY FRIEND ADDIE ADDIE, COME ON DOWN, MAN.
[02:25:15]
GOING OVER HERE FOR THIS SIDE.I KNOW WE MADE YOU WAIT A LITTLE BIT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS JUST SO STRUCK WITH BEING HERE AND, AND JUST MOVING THROUGH THIS ROOM AND MOVING THROUGH THE, UH, THE LUNCH AREA WHERE WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, WAS THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION THAT'S GOING ON AMONGST ALL THESE PEOPLE.
EVERY ONE OF THESE ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THEY'RE COMPETING FOR THIS SAME $10,000 BRASS RING, THIS GRAND PRIZE, RIGHT? BUT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE WE'RE SO COLLABORATIVE, THEY WERE SO SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER.
EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TODAY IS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS MONEY AND TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS, BUT ALSO SO SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT LIFTOFF IS ALL ABOUT.
LAUNCHING BUSINESSES, GROWING THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO SEE.
WE'RE HERE ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITNESSING TOMORROW.
AND THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE BEING STARTED HERE TODAY ARE JUST THAT THIS IS THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON'S ECONOMY.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED, SO PLEASED AND HONORED TO BE HERE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST THE SECOND YEAR.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON 11 YEARS.
AND, AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO, TO NOTE THAT'S REALLY BEEN ON MY HEART AS I WITNESSED THIS TODAY AND WITNESSED THESE PITCHES IS JUST THE WHY FROM EACH ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES.
YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE, THEY START BUSINESSES, MANY ENTREPRENEURS, THEY'RE CHASING THAT ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
AND AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO IN BUSINESS IS TO MAKE MONEY.
WE LIVE IN A CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY.
EARNING MONEY IS AT THE VERY CRUX OF WHAT WE DO.
BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE PASSION, YOU CAN FEEL THE, THE REAL FOCUS AND THE GOAL FOR EACH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE IN BUSINESS AND OUR FINALISTS TODAY IS MORE THAN JUST CHASING THAT DOLLAR.
IT'S HELPING PEOPLE DEAL WITH TRAGEDY AND LOSS FOR A FAMILY MEMBER AS, AS A, AS AN PET.
IT'S, IT'S FOR HELPING PEOPLE FIND AFFORDABLE FASHION.
AND, AND IT'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
THOSE WHYS ARE BIGGER AND BOLDER THAN JUST CHASING THE DOLLAR.
AND THAT'S WHY THESE FINALISTS ARE HERE TODAY.
AND THAT'S WHY THESE FINALISTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW HUGE, SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GONNA IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, IMPACT OUR CITY, AND CHANGE LIVES AROUND THEM.
AND I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THAT.
AND I THINK ALL OF OUR FINALISTS DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LIFT OFF HOUSTON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN TWO AMAZING CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND WE LIVE IN A FANTASTIC CITY.
AND WHEN TWO DEPARTMENTS COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, WE CANNOT BE STOPPED.
THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
AND OF COURSE, WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSOR, CAPITAL ONE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS WHAT THE MAGIC IS ALL ABOUT.
IN JUST A MOMENT, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM BOTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, DR.
RIA BROWN LAWSON AND HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, UH, MARCIA MURRAY, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, REALLY, REALLY EXCITED THAT BOTH OF THESE AMAZING, AMAZING INDIVIDUALS ARE GONNA COME UP HERE AND SPEAK TO YOU.
AND COMPANIES LIKE CAPITAL ONE BANK WHO INVEST IN THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES, TRULY AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO CAPITAL ONE ON BEHALF OF THE LIFTOFF HOUSTON TEAM.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DIRECTOR MARCIA MURRAY UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO EVERYBODY.
DIRECTOR MURRAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, KEVIN.
I MEAN, YOUR ENERGY IS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.
SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE A REALLY GREAT JOB AND SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO, UH, JOIN US FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
SO WHAT AN EXCITING TIME THIS HAS BEEN SO FAR.
[02:30:01]
I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN BE A PART OF THIS WONDERFUL EVENT.THIS COMPETITION HAS BEEN A HUGE, HUGE SUCCESS FOR OVER A DECADE DUE TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSOR, CAPITAL ONE BANK AND OUR STRONG COLLABORATION WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HT V HOUSTON, HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION.
LIFT OFF HOUSTON AND OUR FINALISTS HAVE ALSO MADE IT THIS FAR BECAUSE OF OUR WORK WORKSHOP PARTNERS, ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN US THE INVALUABLE GIFT OF TIME, THE BUSINESS, FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND MARKETING EDUCATION THEY HAVE PROVIDED, HAS ALLOWED OUR PARTICIPANTS TO DESIGN A ROADMAP THAT CAN GUIDE THE SUCCESS OF THEIR BUSINESSES.
SOME OF OUR WORKSHOP PARTNERS, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS THEMSELVES AND THEIR STORIES HAVE BEEN INSPIRATIONAL TO SO MANY STARTUP ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM TO PEOPLE FUND, LIFT FUND, THE CHIRA COMPANY, THE SBA, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WARD COMMUNICATIONS, DUMPLING DUDES, TRAVIS HOLDER, AND BIG POWERFUL MEDIA.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES WITH LIFTOFF PARTICIPANTS.
A THANK YOU AS WELL TO SCORE HOUSTON FOR PROVIDING INSIGHTFUL BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MENTORSHIP TO LIFT OFF PARTICIPANTS AND FOR BEING A KEY SOURCE OF SUPPORT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
YOUR INPUT HAS HELPED ALL PARTICIPANTS BUILD THE FRAMEWORK FOR THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL AS ASPIRATIONS.
AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO ANNOUNCING OUR WINNERS, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR JUDGES, JENNIFER, KIM, GRACE, DANIEL, SANDRA, KYRA, ANTHONY, ADRIANA, AND LINDSAY.
WELL, LINDSAY, I DON'T THINK WAS HERE, WAS HERE TODAY.
UM, JUDGES, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING OUR FINALISTS WITH YOUR INSIGHTFUL FEEDBACK.
WHETHER OR NOT THEY BRING HOME $10,000 TODAY, THE QUESTIONS YOU POSED WILL BECOME IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS AS THEY WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THEIR BUSINESS GOALS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TEAM, SEVERAL WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED.
SEVERAL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO SPEND THEIR SATURDAY WITH US.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND YOUR SATURDAY.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH THE FLOW OF TODAY'S PROGRAM.
YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL TO TODAY'S SUCCESS.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, TO THE WOMEN WHO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AND CAPITAL ONE BANK TO MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS, JESSICA DEL GRECO AND NELLY PENA.
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE TWO.
THE SYNERGY OF THIS FANTASTIC DUO HAS TRULY ELEVATED THE QUALITY OF LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
YOU HAVE RUN THIS PROGRAM WITH A LOT OF HEART AND GRACE AND I HAVE TO SAY TENACITY AS WELL.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION HAS BEEN APPARENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
OIOS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES EXTEND TO ALL LIFTOFF HOUSTON PARTICIPANTS, PLEASE KNOW THAT AFTER YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, MY OFFICE WILL REMAIN AS A RESOURCE.
DO KEEP IN TOUCH NO MATTER WHERE YOUR JOURNEYS TAKE YOU.
AND REMEMBER THAT SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN HOUSTON STARTED AS DREAMS BY LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ENTER COMPETITIONS LIKE LIFTOFF HOUSTON.
I WISH ALL OF YOU OUR PARTICIPANTS AND FINALISTS THE VERY BEST.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR. RAY LAWSON, WHO HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR LIFTOFF HOUSTON SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
DR. LAWSON HAS SERVED IN HER ROLE SINCE 2005 AND IS KEENLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN GENERAL AND HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IN PARTICULAR, REMAIN ESSENTIAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES.
AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY THAT HAS, UM, BEEN WITH US THE ENTIRE 11 YEARS.
I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS JUST A GERM OF AN IDEA.
UM, I WORKED AT THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THIS, BUT HOUSTON, WE'VE TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
GIVE YOURSELVES AHEAD WHAT AN EXCITING DAY.
AND, UM, IT HAS BEEN MY ABSOLUTE
[02:35:01]
JOY AND PLEASURE, UM, TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, UH, TO COMBINE THE TALENT AND RESOURCES OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE ENTREPRENEURS, UH, A CHANCE, UM, JUST A LITTLE JUMPSTART TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS COME TRUE.UM, UH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WH WHY THE WHY, UM, WE ARE IN A SERVICE INDUSTRY AND OUR WHY IS PROMOTING PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND SO THIS IS, IS IS A MAJOR PART OF MAKING, HELPING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S DREAM COME TRUE.
UM, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING US TO THIS EXCITING DAY AS, UH, DIRECTOR MURRAY MENTIONED.
AND I'D LIKE TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK SOME OF THEM.
A CITY CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT THE INVESTMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND WITH A SHARED VISION.
THAT IS WHY THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS SO GRATEFUL.
WE CAN'T THANK CAPITAL ONE ENOUGH.
THEY JOINED US FROM THE BEGINNING AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE ENTIRE 11 YEARS.
PLEASE JOIN ME AND THANKING CAPITAL ONE ONCE MORE.
AND SO SOME SPECIAL MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, UM, THANKS TO BELINDA COX AND OPHELIA GOMEZ.
THEY'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY JOINING IN WITH THE, UH, HARD WORK AND TENACITY OF THE, UM, THEIR PARTNERS IN OBO.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY ENTIRE HARDWORKING AND TALENTED AND DEDICATED TEAM AT THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY'S HOUSTON TELEVISION DEPARTMENT'S ENTIRE STELLAR TEAM, UH, HTV, WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM YEAR ONE.
SPECIAL THANKS TO DIRECTOR TED IRVING, DARRELL HUGHES, AND KEITH JACKSON.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US EVERY YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR TALENTS TO THIS EXCITING AND IMPORTANT EFFORT.
HTV AND FINALLY TO THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TEAM.
I JUST WANNA SAY FROM MY HEART THAT IT HAS BEEN, UH, A COMPLETE JOY WORKING WITH YOU.
WE, WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO GETTING TO THIS DAY, BUT WITH OUR TEAMS WORKING TOGETHER, WE MAKE IT HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO THANK YOU MARSHA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THOSE OF OUR TEAMS. SO FOR THE TWO DEPARTMENTS, PLEASE HELP, HELP US CELEBRATE HPL AND OBO.
SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR HOST.
YOU KNOW, MAN IS AN ISLAND AND WHEN YOU'RE STARTING A BUSINESS, YOU'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING YOUR HEART AND SOUL INTO IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS DONE, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS WITH THE COMING TOGETHER WITH THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO BRING US LIFT OFF HOUSTON.
AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION, AN INCREDIBLE SITUATION.
AND I HAVE IN MY HANDS, YOU DON'T WANT ME TO PONTIFICATE ANYMORE.
THIS IS THE RESULTS OF EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE.
WE GOT OUR FAN FAVORITES, WE'VE GOT OUR WINNERS, AND WE'VE GOT THREE CATEGORIES.
OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY, OUR SERVICE CATEGORY, AND OUR INNOVATION CATEGORY.
ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS VOTED FOR THIS IN OUR PRODUCT CATEGORY, OUR FAN FAVORITE WINNER.
WHEN I CALL YOU OUT, PLEASE COME UP AND GET YOUR CHECK.
[02:40:01]
BOOTS WERE MADE FOR RUNNING MAN.A GREAT PITCH FROM CLASSIC BORREGO ABOUT AFFORDABLE BOOTS.
AND WHO DOESN'T WANT TO PAY LESS FOR BOOTS.
I MEAN, YOU GO INTO ONE OF THESE RETAILERS, THEY'RE JUST GETTING OUTRAGEOUS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BANK, DRIVE THROUGH TO DEPOSIT THAT.
YOU'RE GONNA ACTUALLY HAVE TO WALK IN.
AND I ALWAYS WONDERED, WHEN YOU SIGN A BIG CHECK, DO YOU USE YOUR REGULAR SIGNATURE OR DO YOU GOTTA DO THIS? STAY UP HERE.
LET'S GET OUR DIRECTORS INVOLVED IN A PHOTO.
IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY, OUR FAN FAVORITE, AS SELECTED BY YOU, THE GOOD IS GOODBYE.
DIANA AND HALEY FROM THE GOODEST.
NO, SHE WAS JUST STANDING UP HERE TAKING A SELFIE
ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL FAN FAVORITES IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY AS VOTED ONCE AGAIN BY YOU FLOURISHING NEXUS, LLC.
DIANE, COME ON UP HERE, BRING THAT BABY BUMP.
YOU GET IN THE MIDDLE FOR THE FIRST ONE.
I NEED BOTH OF Y'ALL IN THE PHOTO.
THESE ARE OUR RUNNER UP WINNERS FROM EACH CATEGORY.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE RUNNER UP WINNERS ARE EACH GONNA RECEIVE $500.
IS THAT RIGHT? WE'VE GOT BIG CHECKS FOR YOU TOO.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA CALL YOU OUT IN THE PRODUCT CATEGORY.
CONGRATULATIONS IN THE SERVICE CATEGORY.
EVERYONE'S AT THE EDGE OF THEIR SUITS.
I HOPE YOU DIDN'T GET COMFORTABLE SITTING BACK DOWN DIANA AND HAILEY FROM THE GOODES GOODBYE.
[02:45:22]
SO THAT'S HOW I STARTED.AND THEN AFTER, AND I TOOK ON AND ON AND ONE THING ANOTHER.
AND THEN I STARTED WRITING AND I STARTED RECORDING MUSIC.
AND FINALLY, OUR SECOND PLACE RUNNER UP CATEGORY HERE IN INNOVATION.
ONCE AGAIN, FLOURISHING NEXUS.
COME ON UP AND GET YOUR AWARD.
YOU ARE SITTING ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.
WHAT IS THAT? YOU GOTTA GET YOUR STEPS IN.
GIOVAN GAZA CLASSIC FOR EVERYONE.
I I WASN'T TRYING HUGE $10,000.
I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE FUTURE OF THAT BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IN OUR SERVICE CATEGORY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER, FORIA JOHNSON AND CHARLESTON KITCHEN, COME ON DOWN.
AND IF WE WAIT, YES, HERE YOU ARE, MAYOR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR TURNER.
WE HAVE ONE MORE TO ANNOUNCE AND THEN I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO THE MAYOR.
FIRST PLACE, $10,000 RECIPIENT IN THE INNOVATION CATEGORY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR ZOE BARKER AND MANY MORE.
[02:50:06]
THANK YOU.ALRIGHT, LET'S GET ALL OF OUR FIRST PLACE WINNERS BACK UP ON STAGE TO GET A PHOTO WITH THE MAYOR.
OUR PRODUCT, OUR PRODUCT, FIRST PLACE WINNERS.
LET'S JUST, WE NEED TO GRAB OUR PRODUCT FIRST PLACE WINNERS.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET A, UH, UH, A PICTURE.
SO LET'S, LET'S GET, UH, CLASSIC BORREGO, COME ON BACK UP HERE WITH YOUR, GRAB YOUR CHECK.
YOU GOTTA DO IT FOR THE GRAM FOLKS, OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
LOOK, LET ME JUST, UM, TO ALL THE WINNERS, LET ME CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, UH, AT THE LIFT OFF HOUSTON EVENT.
SO EXCITING, UH, TO SEE ALL THE WINNERS AND THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
AND, UM, I WAS LEAVING, WELL, I WAS AT A, I'VE BEEN AT SEVERAL FUNCTIONS TODAY.
AND, UM, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE TO AT LEAST TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ALL OF THE WINNERS.
'CAUSE EVEN IN THEIR ABSENCE, SO GIVE IT UP TO CAPITAL ONE.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, FOR 11 YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN MAYOR NOW FOR ALMOST EIGHT.
SO EIGHT OF THE 11, 11 YEARS HAVE BEEN WITH, WITH ME AS MAYOR.
AND CAPITAL ONE HAS BEEN, UH, AN ANCHOR IN THE LEFT OFF PROGRAM.
AND THEN FOR ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE, UM, THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED.
AND I WANNA THANK ALL EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE EVERYONE BECOMES A WINNER.
UM, AND THEN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WON IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, UH, LET ME ESPECIALLY THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, UH, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, UH, CITIES ARE MADE UP OF SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED.
YOU ARE THE ONES WHO HIRE THE INDIVIDUALS AND YOU'RE THE ONES WHO HELP GET THIS, KEEP THE CITY GOING.
AND THEN, SIR, I WANT TO THANK OBO, UH, MARCIA MURRAY, UH, AND HER TEAM, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ADDED AND DILIGENT.
AND THEN DR. LAWSON, UH, WITH THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
UH, LET ME THANK YOU FOR ANCHORING THIS, FOR ANCHORING THIS PROGRAM.
UH, I WILL MISS IT NEXT YEAR, BUT I KNOW IT'LL BE EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER, UH, NEXT YEAR.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND I KNOW I'LL SEE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU AT THE PARADE ON THURSDAY MORNING.
I, I JUST KNOW WHEN I LOOK OUT, I'M, I'M GONNA SEE, I, I
[02:55:01]
I GUESS I I CAN JUST SEE YOUR FACES RIGHT NOW, UH, ON THURSDAY MORNING, UH, AT THE PARADE.OKAY, LEMME GIVE IT BACK TO, LEMME GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GET ALL OF OUR FINALISTS AND ALL OF OUR CONTESTANTS UP HERE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE MAYOR AND THE DIRECTORS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU PARTICIPATED, COME ON UP HERE AND LET'S GET A PHOTO, A BIG GROUP PHOTO OF ALL Y'ALL TOGETHER.
THESE ARE THE FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS, THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER FOR LIFT OFF HOUSTON TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND IT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT ALL OF YOU AND WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF OUR ENTREPRENEURS.