Winners of 11th annual Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition revealed

The city of Houston announced the three startup entrepreneurs who secured $10,000 in seed funding for their businesses by winning the 11th Annual Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition. These winners emerged from among nine finalists, chosen from over 100 applicants, who participated in Liftoff's Pitch Day. The competition took place on November 18, 2023.

The competition was structured into distinct segments for optimal evaluation of participants. Entrepreneurs showcased their innovative business ideas during Liftoff’s Pitch Day on Nov. 18, 2023, competing in three categories—Service, Product, and Innovation. Winners included Teria Johnson's Charleston Kitchen, transitioning from e-commerce to a physical restaurant; Zoey Barker and Mohammadmehdi Mortazavi with ExoBraced's ExoBak designed to prevent manual workers' lower back injuries; and Giovanni Garza's Classic Borrego Retail focusing on artisanal cowboy boots and planning to expand with a brick-and-mortar store in Houston. Runners-up were recognized with $500 each for their commendable efforts, according to a press release by the city of Houston.

Mayor Sylvester Turner highlighted the broad reach and impact of the competition on diverse populations. "The program is especially significant as data collected from recent competitions shows Liftoff Houston made an impact on populations that have been historically marginalized," said Mayor Sylvester Turner according to a press release by the city of Houston. "More than 90% of participants identified as people of color, more than 70% were female, 44% had no college degree, and 54% earned less than $50,000 a year."

The organization behind Liftoff Houston isn't new to supporting startup businesses. Sponsored by Capital One Bank and overseen by the Houston Public Library (HPL) and the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), the Liftoff Houston competition has provided over $330,000 in prizes to aspiring entrepreneurs since its establishment, according to a press release by the city of Houston.

Houston Public Library’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurship is unwavering, as stated by their director. "The Houston Public Library (HPL) wishes all the finalists the very best. Liftoff Houston continues to be an outstanding program that is helping people from all over the city realize their goal of starting their own business," said HPL Director Dr. Rhea Lawson, according to a press release by the city of Houston. "HPL is proud to be part of the program, and we remain committed to providing access to great, free business resources and services for anyone wanting to learn more about entrepreneurship."