Business Enterprise

Academy™

Program Information

The Business Enterprise Academy™ (BEA) is a TBA small business incubator program for MWBEs, seeking to strengthen their business infrastructure, pursue contracts and access capital. This TBA flagship program is a 4-month MWBE development program that will qualify minority suppliers for industry-specific private and public sector opportunities in the U.S. and abroad, and help create a pipeline of suppliers for corporate and governmental entities. Participants also are more likely to succeed as 87 percent of graduates stay in business.

Curriculum topics include:

infrastructure management, contract training, capacity building, effective marketing, financial management, information technology, legal solutions, insurance, investments/retirement, sales, accessing capital, effective networking, certification, mentoring by industry professionals, safety and presentation skills. 

The program selects participants via a set of criteria [years in business, industry of TBA focus (construction, energy, manufacturing/wholesale/distribution, transportation, technology, engineering, medical, professional services and food service), strength of business plan, and desire to succeed]. There is a fee to participate in the program for non-TBA members and TBA members receive a significant discount per participant. BEA program graduates will be awarded during a BEA graduate luncheon ceremony. 

BEA program achievement measurements include: minority usage increase, minority spend, RFP/RFQ bids submitted, RFP/RFQ bids accepted, revenue increases of companies from start/end of program, contracts performed as a result of BEA experience, prime and subcontractor opportunities awarded as result of BEA experience, capital awarded as result of BEA. Class days are from 9 am - noon on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month.

Application Process:

Applications may be secured online at www.texasbusinessalliance.org, by emailing info@texabusinessalliance.org or by calling 713.738.7578.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants will be judged on (1) desire of the candidate to strengthen their business infrastructure (2) length of time in business, (3) commitment to program schedule and (4) content and completeness of application.

Selection Process:

Winners will be selected by the Texas Business Alliance BEA Selection Committee. Top candidates will be selected on the basis of written applications and will be interviewed by the selection committee prior to final selection.

Selection Criteria and Guidelines

Participants must complete the application and fulfill all requirements. 
Students must be willing to be interviewed by the selection committee.
Selected students must be committed to the BEA program and not miss more than six (6) hours of total program time to graduate. If six hours or more of total program time is missed, the participant will be dropped from the program. 
If selected, participant must attend the mandatory BEA orientation 

Submit Completed Application by fax, email or USPS:

281.971.3562, info@texasbusinessalliance.org
or
Texas Business Alliance
P. O. Box 300512, Houston, TX 77230