THE PLATFORM

PRO-ACTIVE COACHING.

The Pearland Innovation Hub (PIH) Pro-Active Coaching Program is application-based, with specific requirements that must be met to participate in this signature program. Members and potential Coaches who apply must meet our business support requirements. Please see below. 

Selection Criteria 

Existing or Aspiring Small Business Owners (SBOs): 

Must be a SBO based on the PIH’s definition listed below.

A small business is an organization that is “small” (less than 200) in employees and/or revenues (less than $3M), which offers a product, service or process. A small business may or may not have the intention to grow, but currently has a small number of employees, smaller revenue, and has taken limited financial risk in the formation, operation, or expansion of their business.

•  Small businesses can overlap into 4 categories:
• Entrepreneurs: An individual or team seeking to start a business or exploring whether to start a business.
• Small Business: An organization with a small number of employees and/or revenue that may or may not be seeking to grow or expand.
• Self-employment: An individual or organization created primarily to provide income to founders, i.e., sole proprietorships.
• Startup: A new organization created to grow and have employees. In The beginning stages “startups” can be considered small businesses  based on limited revenue and employees, and extensive fundraising  efforts existing throughout the investment cycle. Startups may also  have the intentions of merging or being acquired by a large company
• To receive coaching, you must be a member of the PIH. To apply for PIH membership and apply to join the program, please click here.
• Your intent is to use this program to address specific needs, milestones or deliverables associated with your existing or future business.
• You are seeking to use the program for recommendations, guidance and advice from coaches, rather than using coaches as consultants to complete business needs.

Coaches: 

• Should have a proven track record of mentoring, coaching, or consulting
• Must provide 3 references and sample work, where applicable
• Must be considered a subject matter expert (SME) in at least one function, domain, and/or industry vertical
• Must have a business license and/or be certified in their respective functional, domain, or industry of expertise
• The PIH has the right to conduct a background check on all potential coaches and their affiliated companies.

General Guidelines:

• Coaches are meant to help provide guidance, advice, strategy, and can assist in helping to resolve business issues. Coaches can also help guide members to work towards achieving business goals.
• Coaching will be available for selected members.
• Coaches are selected based on their skillset(s), functional, domain and industry knowledge, level of experience, proven track record of success, feedback from references, and quality of sample work, where applicable.

Hub Members can submit a request to be paired with a Coach on Pearland Connect.

Helpful Links:

• Preparing the Perfect Pitch Deck
• Lending Presentation
• Growth Strategies for Startups and Small Businesses
• Online Marketing
• May 2023 - Pitch Prep Event
• Exploring Different Types of Innovation

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP.

Hub Members will have exclusive access to learning opportunities as they relate to starting or scaling their business.

Whether you represent an established company, a venture capital firm or a service provider, if your organization is looking to influence the future of startups, small businesses and innovation, we want to hear from you.

Thought leadership topics can include, but are not limited to:

• Tax Advisory
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Operations
• IP and Patents
• Fundraising Vehicles
• Angel Investing
• Venture Capital
• Corporate Venture Capital
• Crowdfunding
• Business Banking
• And more!

INNOVATION FOCUSED EVENTS.

The Pearland Innovation Hub will host various innovation-focused events across the City of Pearland.

Events can include:

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITIONS.

This type of competition is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to submit their ideas and have them evaluated. Judges want to see a product-market fit and how the entrepreneur plans to expand and grow their startup. Participation can help entrepreneurs focus on how they want to run and grow their business, and it can provide much needed capital if they win. 

PITCH PARTIES.

An industry vertical is set or defined when calling for pitch applicants. The application period can be open anywhere from 3 - 6 months. Once applicants are selected (5 - 7), applicants will be paired with Pro-Active Coaches to refine their pitch deck and pitch. 

HACKATHONS.

A hackathon is a design sprint-like event in which computer programmers and others involved in software development, including graphic designers, product managers, project managers, domain experts and others collaborate intensely on software projects. Hackathons are typically weekend-long events.

REVERSE PITCHES.

A reverse pitch is any process or event in which a mature organization pitches specific pain points to innovators or startups, providing funding, pilots, or other non-financial incentives to promising solutions. The reverse pitch process can take many forms. They often solicit entrepreneurs and startups, but can be posed to intrapreneurs and internal teams. Reverse pitches often rely on localized search and solicitation methods, but can be virtualized and globalized.