Welcome to the 12th Annual Liftoff Houston Start-Up Business Plan Competition Website!
COMPETITION SUMMARY
Liftoff Houston is the City of Houston's annual business plan competition. It is an entrepreneurial initiative that aims to empower Houstonians with business literacy education and mentorship to start their own businesses while contributing to the local growth and sustainability of the Houston economy. The Liftoff Houston competition will be awarding cash prizes equaling $33,000. There are two ways to participate in Liftoff Houston:
- The 2024 Liftoff Houston Start-Up Business Plan Competition
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be in the start-up phase of your business, which means you either must have a business idea or have a business in operation for less than one year
- Must have revenue of less than $10,000
- Must live within the City of Houston limits. Also, if you have a business location, it must be within the City of Houston limits.
- Reward:
- Win $10,000 for your idea/business.
- Gain skills that will help you take your idea or small business to the next level
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
- The 2024 Liftoff Houston Educational Pathway
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
- None
- Reward:
- Gain skills that will help you take your idea or small business to the next level
- Receive Certificate of Completion
- Meet the prerequisite for the annual HCC Business Plan Competition by attending all required workshops and submitting a written business plan in the same calendar year.
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
Both programs will include orientation, workshops and mentoring sessions. However, the competition will have an additional component of presenting and pitching a business plan for an idea or an existing business for a chance to win the cash prize. Contestants and Educational Pathway participants will participate in a myriad of workshops ranging from business plan basics to raising capital, as well as information sessions on essential City of Houston business resources available through the Houston Public Library (HPL) and the City's Office of Business Opportunity (OBO.) The goal is to enable individuals to successfully research and develop their business plans. They will also receive additional support from business professionals.
There will be three award categories: Product, Service, and Innovation.
$10,000 – Awarded for top “Product” Based Business Plan (Retail, resale, merchandise, etc.)
$10,000 – Awarded for top “Service” Based Business Plan (Food, labor, consulting, etc.)
$10,000 – Awarded for top “Innovation” Based Business Plan (Software, Hardware, inventions, new market businesses, etc.)
Meet Our 2023 Liftoff Houston Winners:
Product: Giovanni Garza, Owner of Classic Borrego Retail
Service: Teria Johnson, Owner of Charleston Kitchen
Innovation: Zoey Barker and Mohammadmehdi Mortazavi, Owners of Exobak
WHEN?
2024 Liftoff Houston Start-Up Business Plan Competition will be launching soon. Stay tuned for a launch date!
WHERE?
Workshops will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams. Upon completion of the application, you will receive information on how to register for orientation and workshops. Contestants/participants are required to register for ONE session of each topic. Each topic is offered multiple times to allow all contestants more than one opportunity to attend. Please do not sign up for more than one session.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Step 1: Click "Register" on the top right of this page to create an account. (Once you finish creating an account the website will send you a confirmation email to confirm that you have a working email.)
Step 2: Complete the "Eligibility Test" to determine the program you are eligible for.
Step 3: Complete an application either for the Liftoff Houston Start-Up Business Plan Competition or the Liftoff Houston Educational Pathway.
CONTACT
Liftoff team members are available Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Calls or e-mails outside of these hours will not be returned until the following business day.
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
Twitter/Facebook: @Liftoffhouston
Telephone: 832-393-0954
liftoffhouston@houstontx.gov