Top Money for Top Business Plans
Winners of Houston Community College’s second business plan competition were announced and awarded their prizes at a reception, May 8, at the HCC Spring Branch Campus.
Newspring, a non-profit organization designed to mentor new businesses in the Spring Branch area, and Houston Community College gave students a unique opportunity. Students with the best business plans could put those plans into action and start their own businesses. Cash prizes of $12,000, $9,000, and $6,000 were awarded to the top three winners with two honorable mentions at $1,000 each. The competition was open to HCC students only, with the stipulation that the proposed businesses be incubated in Spring Branch. Student teams were assigned two established business leaders who served as advisors, plus a faculty sponsor from HCC. The teams attended training sessions that included the basics of business plans, financial indicators and statements and obtaining capital.
The 2009 winners are: 1st Place ($12,000 award) – Building Blocks Day School, Dori Fostok, Lisa Simmons & Feliz Vinluan, HCC Faculty Sponsor: Steven Woodland, Newspring Advisors: Elizabeth Killinger and AJ Phipps; 2nd Place ($9,000 award) – Early Scholars Academy, Merribeth Deaton, HCC Faculty Sponsor: Deanna Teel, Newspring Advisors: Joe Dean Phipps & Bill Kallmeyer; 3rd Place ($6,000 award) – Salt Shaker, Tommy White, HCC Faculty Sponsor: Ken Gurka, Newspring Advisors: Jerry Blurton and John Baldwin; Honorable Mention ($1,000 award) – Living Interiors, Holly Johnson, HCC Faculty Sponsor: Valorie Gehman, Newspring Advisors: Cynthia Albanese, Ricardo Escobar and Kathy Hunt; Honorable Mention ($1,000 award) – BadApp, Marcelo Fallick, HCC Faculty Sponsor: Fidelis Ngang, Newspring Advisors: Chris Skolaut and Mark Hunker
Competition judges: Jack Barry, Consultant, Author, and Retired CEO; Victor Alvarez, Spring Branch Management District Board Member; Richard Fant, President and CEO, New Process Steel; Barbara Duganier, Partner, Accenture Consulting; Janie Barrera, CEO, ACCION Texas
Comments from the contestants:
“I would honestly have to say that this was the very BEST experience I had ever had. I had the opportunity to explore creative ways to put my ideas forward as well as learning from highly talented and amazing advisors how to communicate my ideas in a professional way.”
“You have so many wonderfully experienced advisers - to see their credentials was so impressive. Thank you for involving these people of merit in this endeavor! The training sessions were great and I really loved the video on the T&C website and the poster in the halls; that was great marketing. I saw the poster while I was checking out the school – it convinced me to pursue enrolling!”
“I learned how to take not only an idea but my dream, and pull people I knew that felt the same as me in to believing what a few people working together can do for positive outcomes. I learned to ask for what I believe in, work as a dedicated team, take criticism and learn from it to develop something better and work hard.”
“I feel that this competition is very much needed in this community and at HCCS, because it helps students realize they can be successful, make a difference in the community and listen to people such as our advisors and make the most of what comes before them.”
“A business plan contest enables participants to think about what is possible and how to make it a reality. They experience taking an idea or passion and building a plan to turn it into a business. The participants with the assistance of successful business people acting as advisors learn the business fundamentals necessary to build a successful business. This includes how to organize a plan and how to sell a business concept to an investor. Most importantly the participants learn that they personally have the responsibility to make their business successful,” said Mr. Barry.
The idea for the business plan competition started over two years ago, at a meeting with Dr. Zachary Hodges, President of HCC Northwest Spring Branch Campus, and included Robert Westheimer, retired Arthur Andersen & Co. partner and President of Newspring. Dr. Hodges talked with the group about the role Houston Community College plays in community and economic development. Newspring had been established as a 501(c)(3) organization designed to nurture new businesses in the Spring Branch area of Houston with the support of experienced businessmen and women to serve as mentors. Newspring will also help Spring Branch businesses by expanding their market opportunities beyond the borders of Spring Branch.
"We knew that a business plan competition for a community college would present some unique challenges and it did. However, the upside is significant. Student entrepreneurs who participated were helped in ways that don't lend themselves to precise measurement. Most of them were already on track to start businesses, so the competition accelerated their development. The big surprise was the bond that was created between the students and their Newspring advisers. In some cases those bonds are outlasting the competition, providing positive relationships for both the students and their advisers," observed Mr. Westheimer.
For more information visit newspringcenter.org
