PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SUPPORTIVE BUSINESS NETWORK
 
Once connected, you’ll have this revelation: “I don’t have to be alone.” You’ll be surrounded by CEOs, like you, who will become your trusted advisors.
PRACTICAL BUSINESS EDUCATION 
 
The City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity brings you the Build Up Houston program, powered by Interise's award-winning StreetWise 'MBA'™ curriculum. This hands-on program provides the knowledge and know-how business owners need to create (and manage) a customized, three-year strategic growth plan.
ACCESS TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES
 
Prepare for opportunities with government and anchor institutions, and learn from experts in the field of both public and private lending.
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National Program Results
Based on 2019 Assessment Data, collected by Interise

  • 64% of alumni businesses increased or maintained their annual revenues, with an average annual revenue growth of 21%. 
  • 80% of alumni businesses reported being profitable. 
  • $526 million in government contracting secured by alumni businesses. 
  • 67% of alumni CEOs stay connected to fellow participants, with 32% doing business with each other. 
  • 63% of alumni businesses added or retained jobs.

Basic Eligibility Requirements 

  • Applicant must be the owner or co-owner of business.
  • Business must be certified with the City of Houston
  • (MWSBE, DBE, PDBE, ACDBE)
  • Business operating a minimum of two years, three years preferred
  • Business has a minimum of two employees
  • Business has a minimum of $150,000 annual revenue
  • Preferred business industries: hospitality, food & beverage, retail, construction 
GET MORE INFO * APPLY TODAY

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Get the knowledge, know-how, and network your business needs. Enroll in the City of Houston's Build Up Houston program. Time to work on your business, not just in it.

MEET THE GRADUATES

"Build Up Houston is a great program for small business owners who want to grow their business organically. During the program, I learned how to reduce my costs and what I was missing in my business.  After this program, I corrected my methodology, procedures, and strategies; as a result, my business is achieving success. Recently, I’ve won some big contracts and as per the projections, I will be able to meet $2 million in revenues this year."
"Prior to BUH, I won only one government project; however, post BUH I’ve won eight more government contracts as a Prime.  In addition to keeping most of the repeating clients, my company gained 12 new public and private clients combined and as a result increased workload volume and created three additional job positions. 

BUH provides all the basic tools a business owner needs to manage, finance, and market his/her business.  Even more important, the program provides the opportunity to know many MWDBE business owners whom you want to build your strategic partnership with to promote business as a team.  The bonding of the partnership is the best marketing effort you will ever invest in."
HUI CHANG
H T & J, LLC

CHARU JAIN

Gasochem International

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