by EGBI Tech Team | Mar 20, 2018 | Community Partner Events
April 5th, 2018 from 11:30 AM- 1:00 PM – Women’s Club Creative Ways to Delight Customers
Guest speaker Crystal Matterson, President and Founder of CrystalRaven Consulting LLC will share creative ways to set your business apart by delighting your customers and turning them into Raving Fans for your business.
Crystal is an international business consultant with an MBA from the University of Dallas. She lived in Asia for ten years and consults in management, business structures, project management, operations, trade import/export, Asia sourcing and manufacturing, and digital marketing.
Registration fee is $15 and includes lunch.
This club is for our women entrepreneurs to learn from, network with and support each other. If you’d like to attend and are not a member, you will need to sign up for membership first. Find out more
HERE.
April 6th, 2018 from 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM
April 11th, 2018 from 8:00 AM- 4:15 PM – Local U sponsored by Google
Attend Local University–a full-day workshop about Internet marketing for Austin area businesses.
Featuring a presentation by Google: Learn how to use Google’s local products to acquire new customers, while also engaging and retaining existing ones. We’ll start by walking through claiming your Local Plus page, and then explore other local products.
We’re bringing in some of the leading online marketing experts for an intensive eight-hour crash course in Internet marketing that will help you navigate the possibilities for marketing your business on the web. You’ll learn Search & Social Marketing tips and techniques that will lead to sustained, long-term search engine rankings (and new customers) in your local markets and world wide. Receive a FREE review of your website.
For more details, click HERE.
April 21st, Saturday 10 AM to 1 PM
Join PeopleFund for a free credit review. Confidential and personal credit checks are available through the experts at BB&T! On Thursday, April 20th, experts from BB&T will be on site to review your personal credit and evaluate credit reports for FREE. Available in English or Spanish.
Here’s your chance to access your free credit report, notice any errors or discrepancies, and learn what you can work on to improve your credit!
Contact dbranch@peoplefund.org to reserve your spot.
April 30th, Monday 8 AM to 10 AM State of Small Business in Austin Breakfast
The City of Austin Economic Development Department will host the 5th Annual State of Small Business in Austin breakfast at the Norris Conference Center on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 8:30 to 10:00am.
As the kickoff to National Small Business Week, the program will focus on small businesses issues in Austin. Keynote speaker Rosa Rios Valdez, President and CEO of Business and Community Lenders (BCL). Ms. Valdez will discuss the role of economic development organizations to ensure equitable economic development for all small businesses (including creatives). Ms. Valdez will discuss how small businesses are dealing with affordability challenges, funding/ finance issues and trends toward social entrepreneurship. Our intention is that Austin’s civic leaders and small business partners will be able to translate this message into actionable items to prepare our entrepreneurs for upcoming opportunities.
Following the discussion, City of Austin Small Business Awards will be presented to recognize entrepreneurial excellence in our community.
RSVP HERE .
May 9th, Wednesday 9th at 9 AM to 12 PM 8 AM to 10 AM Vietnam and Southeast Asia Briefing
Join us for a briefing on Vietnam and Southeast Asia by US-ASEAN Business Council and Becamex IDC. They will present on business opportunities and resources for entrepreneurs looking to expand to Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Who should attend?
• Manufacturers
• Supply Chains Enterprises (packaging, components, parts)
• Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare
Related Industries
• High-Tech, Electrical & Home Appliances
• Electronic & Telecommunication Equipment, IT, Gaming, Software
• Food & Agri-Business (machinery, processing technology, animal feed)
• Property Developers (retail, condo, hospitality, entertainment & sports)
• Investment & Banking
Agenda
9:00 AM Registration & Networking
9:30 AM Welcome & Program
11:00 AM Q&A
11:30 AM One-on-One meetings
This event is presented by in partnership with the Global Business Expansion City of Austin Economic Development, World Affairs Council of Austin, Becamex, and US ASEAN Business Council.
RSVP HERE.
by EGBI Tech Team | Jan 3, 2018 | Success Stories
Gabriel Orozco Goes from Technician to
Proud Owner of S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair
Austin, TX: After working at S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair for more than 20 years, on January 2, 2018, Gabriel Orozco bought the business from the retiring owners, Eileen and Larry Smith.
Larry and Eileen are happy to see Gabriel take over the business that has been serving the Austin area since 1986. “We wish nothing but the best for Gabe,” said former owner, Larry Smith. The Smiths will be helping Orozco through a three-month transition period, to prevent any disruption in service as Orozco makes the transition from technician to owner.
For the last 6 months, Gabriel Orozco has consulted with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), an organization that provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners. He completed EGBI’s business workshop series and will continue to be coached by EGBI staff to sharpen his business skills through the changeover. EGBI helped Orozco qualify for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan from PeopleFund for the purchase, and connected Orozco to the University of Texas School of Law Entrepreneurship & Community Development Clinic for legal support.
Orozco looks forward to providing the same excellent service S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair clients are accustomed to. “As a longtime customer, we are excited to hear Gabriel will be taking over the business and preserving the excellent customer service he has always provided us,” said Roy Reyes at Double R Sport Imports.
About S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair: S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair has served the Austin area as the rock damage repair specialist since 1986. Their mobile service has a lifetime money-back guarantee and provides insurance deductible waivers. For more information, contact the new owner, Gabe Orozco, at 512-576-5154.
by EGBI Tech Team | Nov 7, 2017 | EGBI News & Events
by EGBI Tech Team | Oct 24, 2017 | Success Stories
Sitotaw Degefaw, EGBI’s recent graduate of the Emerging Enterprises Training Progam, wanted to open a butcher shop similar to his family’s shop in Gonder, Ethiopia. His desire was for a place where his customers could get fresh, high quality beef and also a place of community for people from East Africa that now live in the Austin area. In October, Sitotaw made his dreams come true with the opening of Salam’s International Mart & Café at 10009 North Lamar Blvd, Austin Texas 78753 (less than a mile north of Rundberg Ln).
Salam’s offers grass fed beef perfect for people who are looking for a healthier option or who delight in a raw meat cuisine. According to the American Grass Fed Beef Organization, this meat is lower in total fat than grainfed animals, lower in calories and contains extra Omega-3s, which may reduce cancer risks.
Along with his butcher shop, Salam’s has a dine-in area where visitors can enjoy traditional Ethiopian food such as Injera, Kurt, Tibs, Kitfo and Ethiopian coffee. Visitors who can’t stay to eat can pick up their favorite Ethiopian spices to prepare their own meals at home.
Sitotaw graduated from EGBI’s program in June, which propelled him forward to meet his business goals. “Taking the classes helped open my mind. I knew having enough money wasn’t enough to open a business. Studying at EGBI gave me the info to move in the right direction.” Sitotaw described how Joni Foster, EGBI’s Program Director, helped him face his many hurdles in their one-on-one coaching sessions. “She connected me to the supplier that slaughters the specialty meat according to my countries custom.” The advice Sitotaw shares with other entrepreneurs is to save money, as financing a business can be a big challenge when starting a business.
by EGBI Tech Team | Oct 17, 2017 | EGBI News & Events
We want to thank everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and sponsored our 7th Annual Celebrating Success fundraiser. Each year this event honors the achievements of our clients and their contributions to the local economy.
We were joined by our amazing mistress of ceremonies, comedian, and former rocket scientist, Shayla Rivera, Austin Community College Board of Trustees & Celebrating Success Committee Chair, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D., and Consul for Political and Economic Affairs, Jorge Salcido Zugast. We heard inspirational video testimonials from our clients with ATX Co-op Taxi and Barbon’s Barbershop. Christina Paz, owner of Siller Preferred Services, led the audience through her entrepreneurial journey and relationships created along the way through EGBI’s support.
Celebrating Success luncheon also included a business expo, where EGBI clients had an opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services. We were so excited to bring this opportunity to our clients. We have been nurturing our family-owned businesses through education and resources. This was a great way to continue our support by connecting them with a number of community leaders, business consultants, professionals and other entrepreneurs.
We also had the opportunity to honor our volunteer of the year, Fernando Labastida. As a staff of three, EGBI relies on volunteers as expert instructors, support, and more. We wanted to acknowledge all of our volunteers’ efforts and assistance throughout the year.
We want to once again thank our sponsors for all your support in helping us connect individuals to the resources and education they need to make them successful business owners. We are proud to announce that more than half of our sponsors were EGBI alumni.
We appreciate the continued support of sponsors, donors, community partners, and volunteers in our efforts to create, grow and sustain successful grassroots businesses, contributing to Austin’s economy and the prosperity of their families.
Thank you to our Title sponsor:
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor:
Thank you to our Gold Sponsors:
Barbra Boeta, Judy & Al Lopez, Statefarm – Agent Alejandra De la Torre
Thank you to our Silver Sponsors:
Austin Community College, BB&T Bank, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Digi.City, El Paso Oncology and Internal Medicine*, Nora de Hoyos Comstock, Ph.D., PeopleFund, The Critical Update*
Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors:
Austin STEM Academy*, Balam Construction*, BCO Consulting Group*, Chago’s Caribbean Cuisine*, First Citizens Bank, Law Office of Mario Flores, Method Hair Salon*, Peacock Salon*, Ranger Dash Productions*, Red Carpet Productions*, Round Top Bank, Siller Preferred Services*, SouthStar Bank, Tamale Addiction*, The Law Office of Ana Estrada*, Victory Framing*
*EGBI Clients
