About this programme
LiftOff Houston! is a business plan competition run by the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity (OBO). It awards $30,000 total, split into three category prizes of $10,000 each: Product (retail, resale, merchandise), Service (food, labor, consulting), and Innovation (software, hardware, inventions, new market businesses).
The program runs as a structured pathway rather than a one-off pitch. It includes mandatory orientation, workshops delivered virtually over Microsoft Teams, and a program calendar and registration details sent by email after a participant applies.
How it works
The competition runs two tracks: a Start-Up Competition track for businesses at idea stage or with less than one year of operation and under $10,000 in revenue, and an Educational Pathway track that OBO's page states has no specific eligibility requirements, open to all participants.
All participants must attend orientation. Workshops are offered in multiple sessions per topic, and participants attend one session per topic, all delivered virtually over Microsoft Teams.
Who can apply
For the Start-Up Competition track: the business must be in the startup phase, meaning idea stage or less than one year of operation, with revenue under $10,000, and the participant's residence and/or business location must be within Houston city limits (verifiable through the city's 'who is my council member' lookup tool).
For the Educational Pathway track, the official page states no specific eligibility requirements, open to all participants.
How to apply
- Watch for the application to open; as of this guide's writing the official page states 'Application info coming soon' with no fixed launch date announced.
- After applying, participants receive the program calendar and registration details by email.
- Attend the mandatory orientation session.
- Attend one workshop session per topic, delivered virtually over Microsoft Teams.
Frequently asked
How much prize money is available, and how is it split?
$30,000 total, split into three $10,000 prizes across the Product, Service, and Innovation categories.
Do I need to already have a business up and running?
For the Start-Up Competition track, no. It covers businesses at idea stage or with less than one year of operation and under $10,000 in revenue.
Do I have to live or operate in Houston?
For the Start-Up Competition track, yes, your residence and/or business location must be within Houston city limits, which you can check with the city's council-member lookup tool.
Is the program in person or online?
Workshops and orientation are delivered virtually over Microsoft Teams.
Is the competition currently accepting applications?
As of this guide's writing, the official page says application information is 'coming soon' with no launch date yet announced. Check the official page or contact OBO directly for the current status.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.