Liftoff Houston: Meet the Winners

Startup Entrepreneurs Fund Dreams with LiftOff Houston

By: Niyonsaba Magnifique

On November 7, 2020, three Houston start-up entrepreneurs won $10,000 each to start their businesses. In addition to the cash prizes, they gained business literacy by attending workshops from July to November, all online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses included starting a business, business marketing, business financials, personal and business credit, pitching the business and access to capital.

Contestants also interacted with mentors who guided them to ensure that they were equipped to start their businesses. After attending classes, they wrote and submitted their business plans. Through a rigorous process, nine finalists were selected to pitch their businesses to judges via Microsoft Teams, and three winners emerged from the competition in the following categories: service, product and innovation.

Sponsored by Capital One Bank and administered by the Office of Business Opportunity and the Houston Public Library, the competition uplifts and support small business owners by providing essential tools for them to be successful.

"Winning LiftOff Houston has provided the proper knowledge and financial foundation for GOAT+BEAR to be successful. With our foundation solid for years to come, we are able to focus on creating impactful relationships and products," said Wendell Matthews, winner of this year's product category.

Inspired by his grandfather and motivated by success and the ability to create a legacy, Wendell Matthews became LiftOff Houston’s 2020 product winner with GOAT+BEAR Grooming Company. His plant-derived beard products assist in eliminating bacteria and fungi, while providing calming aromatherapy for modern men to have nourished and captivating facial hair. Through his business, this Carbondale, Illinois native plans to use his electrical engineering degree from Tuskegee University to continue his mission to leverage technology to deliver products quickly, conveniently and with the customer in mind.

Jerome Vielman won the services category with Kairos Chemical and Distribution, Inc., a company he started to provide fire resistant hydraulic fluids to midstream pipeline companies. Born in the Philippines and a 20-year Houstonian, Jerome grew up helping his parents with their catering services company. There, he witnessed the trials and triumphs of running a small business, and as a result, was motivated to start his own one day. After losing his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vielman met the challenge head on and turned his idea into a reality. Encouraged by his parents and inspired by curiosity, courage and creativity, Jerome read a multitude of business books and came up with a framework to start his business. He attributes his winning framework to making a commitment, finding an opportunity, doing the math, building a team and executing the plan.

Kimberly Jones wowed the judges with her company, Cosmetic Concierge Nurses, to win the innovation category. As a registered nurse and nurse educator, Kimberly used her medical surgical unit, operating room, outpatient clinic and school nursing experience to provide direct nursing care, care coordination, and health education to cosmetic and plastic reconstructive post-surgery clients. She travels to their homes or recovery locations to make it easier for her clients to receive the care they need during their recovery period. Kimberly saw the business as an opportunity to continue to do what she loves the most, which is save lives while gaining financial freedom. She holds a Bachelor of Science of Nursing from Prairie View A&M University and a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington.

LiftOff Houston has impacted these winners by not only giving them funds they need to start their businesses, but also the foundation to run their businesses effectively. They learned how to create a business roadmap and develop a clear vision on how their businesses will thrive in the present and future.

FUNDING DREAMS: Since the inception of LiftOff Houston eight years ago, Capital One Bank has given more than $240,000 to startup entrepreneurs in Houston.