Small Biz Insider

Koda Health co-founder and CEO Dr. Tatiana Fofanova talks about the health tech startup's AI-powered platform to guide conversations around advanced care and end-of-life care planning.

The first class of startups participating in Rice Alliance's Clean Energy Accelerator just finished the program with a live demo day.  We talk with Interim Director Kerri Smith and Associate Director Matt Peña.  

Energy Ogre co-founder and CEO Jesson Bradshaw talks about guiding Houstonians through a deregulated market to find the best rates, lessons learned from February's winter storm and the company's place on Inc. 5000 with 206% 3-year growth. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

Alex Condon, COO of Galen Data,  joins us to talk about how the startup software company ensures compliant medical device connectivity, helping founders stay one step ahead in one of Houston's largest sectors. Condon is also Chief Strategy Officer of Tietronix Software, which has been a NASA software contractor for 22 years. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

On this episode of the Small Biz Insider podcast, we talk with Lori Burgess, COO for the Houston Outlaws and Beasley Esports about what she calls "the hottest segment of the sports entertainment market" and the role Houston plays in its global growth. 

On this episode of the Small Biz Insider podcast, we talk with SnapStream Founder and CEO Rakesh Agrawal about how 'The Daily Show' was an inflection point for the organization and how an internal focus on the business has driven growth and success.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

SecurityGate.io co-founder and CEO Ted Gutierrez and CISO Bill Lawrence talk about what lessons Houston companies can learn from recent cyberattacks that made international headlines and what businesses can do today to better protect their assets. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

Diane Yoo, Founding Partner at Parliament Ventures, talks about empowering the next generation of diverse and women founders and the benefits Houston offers to entrepreneurs as they grow their business. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Alessio Lorusso, founder and CEO of global 3D printing company Roboze, talks about the capabilities of additive manufacturing and how it's being integrated into the global marketplace.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Trevor Best, co-founder and CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics,  talks about why the startup wants to make chemical manufacturing cleaner, how Houston can solidify its position as the energy transition capital of the world and fundraising advice for founders. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Tasos Katsaounis talks about transforming his passion for breadmaking from a hobby to a successful small business. Now in its third year, Bread Man Baking Company is moving into a massive new facility this summer, another boon for a business whose products can be found  in nearly 50 Whole Food Market stores across 4 states, as well as restaurants and hotels.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Steve Altemus, president and CEO of Intuitive Machines, talks about his company's upcoming lunar missions, the future of space exploration through public-private partnerships and Houston's strengths in aerospace innovation. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Juan Alanis, co-founder of Big Oak Tree Media,  talks about  keys to successfully reaching Houston's Latino population and why businesses should steer away from "Latinizing" their messages and products.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Emily Cisek, co-founder and CEO of The Postage, talks about navigating a challenging topic with investors and clients and advice for entrepreneurs in unique spaces and industries.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Hotelier Deidre Mathis opened Wanderstay Houston Hostel in 2018. Now, she has her sights set on the East End, where she's opening a boutique hotel late 2021/early 2022.Deidre talks about planning for the future during an uncertain time, scaling her brand in Houston and advice for small business owners in the hospitality industry to thrive. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

DivInc is an accelerator focused on making the startup ecosystem more diverse, equitable and inclusive of people of color, women, and all underrepresented entrepreneurs.The Austin-based program is expanding to Houston with plans to set up its headquarters at The Ion.We talk with Managing Director Ashley DeWalt.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

After Bryan Kelley was given a life sentence for murder in 1992, he said he was tired of being a part of the problem and wanted to be a part of the solution. That was the beginning of Kelley’s journey with the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, which connects the nation’s top executives, entrepreneurs, and MBA students with convicted felons. Over 26-hundred men have graduated from the PEP since it launched in 2004. Kelley is one of them, and three years ago, he became the CEO. Small Biz Insider host Maggie Martin talks with Kelley about his journey and how PEP arms participants with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed when they return to society. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

McCord Development, the company behind Generation Park, a 42-hundred acre master-planned commercial development in the Lake Houston community, is expanding. The family-owned real estate development and management company is opening a new office in Boston. It also recently launched a new restaurant and hospitality group called Gastropub Productions. We talk with Ryan McCord, president of McCord Development. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

A Houston-based oil and gas consulting firm was ranked among the top 10 best small workplaces in the country. EAG Services came in No. 9 on Fortune’s list. The small business also made it on this year's Inc. 5000 list with 116% revenue growth over three years.On this episode, we talk with EAG Services Founder and CEO Elizabeth Gerbel. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Finn Hall Feeds the Frontlines launched earlier this year to support Houston's health care workers and small business owners at the same time. We talk with Finn Hall’s Culinary Director, David Buehrer, and Hunain Dada, Director of Real Estate Portfolio Management for Lionstone Investments.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Dallas Garrison is president and CEO of Garrison Construction Group. Founded in 2013, the small business was recently named on the Inc. 500 list. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Abbey Donnell is founder and CEO of Work and Mother, which provides private, dedicated spaces in office buildings for new moms who are breastfeeding. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

How did two Houston entrepreneurs quickly change from making cold brew coffee to hand sanitizer? Houston entrepreneurs Constantine Zotos and Mitchell Webber talk about launching Modern Chemical, which produces EPA-registered hand sanitizer and disinfectant products with B2B clients across the country. Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

We talk with Chris Williams, chef-owner of Lucille's, a locally-owned restaurant in Houston's Museum District co-founded in 2012 by Chris and his brother, Ben. The restaurant's name and cuisine is in honor of their great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith. Key topics:Switching from a profitability to sustainability model How COVID-19 prompted Lucille’s to launch its non-profit, Lucille’s 1913How Houston chefs are banding together through Lucille’s pop-up program to support for Houston's bar community during the pandemicWhat success looks like for Lucille’s in 2020Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners are well-known for innovating, taking risks and bouncing back from crisis again and again. 2020, though, has been exceptional. Nearly every facet of the economy has been incredibly impacted in some way.On this episode, we talk with Sara Brook, founder and CEO of Dessert Gallery Bakery & Cafe. The small business is a Houston staple that's been around for 25 years. Key topics:How small businesses are integral to Houston's broader economyThe significant milestones to reach as a small business owner in the hospitality industryAdvice on retaining employeesWays customers can give constructive feedback to small businesses and how it’s usedSmall Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

We've been exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Houston's small business community and the resources these business owners should leverage. And while the community at large has been impacted, a report from McKinsey & Company said the pandemic could disproportionately affect minority-owned small businesses.On this episode of Small Biz Insider, we take a look at the challenges and resources for Houston's minority-owned small businesses. Our guests on this episode are:Justin Moore, founder of Holly Hall Supply Company, a local skincare business. Justin was also a member of the City of Houston Women and Minority-Owned Business Task ForceMaya Durnovo, Chief Entrepreneurial Initiatives Officer, Houston Community College's Office of Entrepreneurial InitiativesJennifer Kellough Holmes, Director of HCC's Corporate CollegeSmall Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

Houston-area colleges and universities graduate more than 100,000 students each year. With a a dual economic challenge stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the oil downturn, 2020 is an especially challenging year for Houston's newest entrepreneurs. Our guests on this episode are:Dr. Yolanda Norman, Assistant Director of the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering Career Center and founder and CEO of FirstGenCollege Consulting.Dr. Hesam Panahi, Interim Executive Director of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He's also a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Jones Graduate School of Business.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

The City of Houston recently launched a program providing free legal advice to small businesses affected by COVID-19. The Houston Small Business Legal Consultations Program is led by the city's Office of Business Opportunity as well Vinson & Elkins, an international law firm headquartered here in Houston. Our guests on this episode of Small Biz Insider are Ellyn Josef, Pro Bono Counsel for Vinson and Elkins, and attorney Anton Krayniy, also with V&E.Small Biz Insider is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

June first marks the official start of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, one that federal scientists predict to include frequent and powerful storms. It also poses a dual challenge for small businesses - preparing for an above-normal hurricane season while navigating a global pandemic. Our guest on this episode of Small Biz Insider is Mark Winchester, Deputy District Director with the Houston SBA office.

This is a special episode of Small Biz Insider, a podcast from the Greater Houston Partnership. While many Houston restaurants have been operating with just takeout and delivery for nearly two months, not all are reopening for dine-in customers at the same time. We spoke with two restaurant owners about their different plans.On this episode, Alli Jarrett, owner of Harold's, a restaurant in the Heights, talks about her decision to reopen May 1.

This is a special episode of Small Biz Insider, a podcast from the Greater Houston Partnership. While many Houston restaurants have been operating with just takeout and delivery for nearly two months, not all are reopening for dine-in customers at the same time. We spoke with two restaurant owners about their different plans.On this episode, Tracy Vaught, president of H-Town Restaurant Group, which oversees restaurants such as Hugo's, Xochi and Backstreet Cafe, explains her team's decision to reopen mid-May.

This is a special episode of Small Biz Insider, a podcast from the Greater Houston Partnership. We're talking about making smart decisions with the financial assets you have on hand to guide your small business through COVID-19. Our guest is Maurice Champion, who runs the business banking group in Houston for Cadence Bank.

This is a special episode of Small Biz Insider, a podcast from the Greater Houston Partnership. The COVID-19 crisis has forced small businesses to quickly adapt. Today, we're helping you take your small business strategy from a reactive position to a proactive plan.Small Biz Insider host Maggie Martin talks with Aimee Woodall, president and founder of The Black Sheep Agency, a marketing, brand strategy and design agency.

This is a special episode of Small Biz Insider, a podcast from the Greater Houston Partnership. The COVID-19 crisis poses mounting challenges for small businesses here and across the country. On today's episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin talks with Yusef Muhammad, chapter chair and president of SCORE Houston. It's a network of volunteers offering small business entrepreneurs practical business advice.

What does it mean to reinvent yourself into your career? What does that transition or shift look like? On today's episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sat down with Johanna Chryssikos, president and CEO of Artemis Partners, to talk about how to reinvent yourself in your career. We'll get into how professionals can use their experience to launch themselves in a new direction and what they offer as small business employees.

Welcome back to a brand new season of our Small Biz Insider podcast, part of our digital series highlighting entrepreneurs in the greater Houston region who are making a big impact in the small business community. On today's episode of the Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sat down with Anna McKay, founder of Parents Pivot. This small business offers career coaching for stay-at-home parents who want to return to paid work.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this edition of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sat down with Mila Golovine. She is the founder, CEO and President of MasterWord Services. It provides translation, spoken and language interpreting, and other services to enable language access and ensure the success of international organizations.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this edition of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Carey Kirkpatrick. She is CEO & Founder of CKP, a Houston-based agency serving clients in Houston and Austin through integrated strategic marketing and public relations solutions.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this edition of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Kevin Doffing, Chief Operating Officer of Combined Arms, a nonprofit that connects transitioning veterans with services, community and purpose. Kevin was previously with the Lone Star Veteran's Association, which merged with Combined Arms in 2019. 

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this edition of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Lauren Bauml, Campus Director for Flatiron School Houston and Austin, a coding bootcamp with tech's most effective software engineering and data science courses – online and on-campus in Houston and other major U.S. cities.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this edition of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with David Tolson. He is Managing Partner at Arete Advisors, a full-service wealth management firm.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Sharon Birkman, Chairman and CEO of Birkman, home of The Birkman Method and an industry-leading behavioral and occupational assessment company headquartered in Houston.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community.  On this episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Taylor O'Neil, CEO of Richard's Rainwater, the country’s first company to bottle clean rainwater into sparkling and still varieties.

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community. On this episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Jeff Miller, CEO of Potentia. It’s a technology-focused recruitment firm that connects top employers with tech leadership candidates, and also has a passion for autism employment when working on more junior tech roles.