Departments > Economic Development > Office of Small Business > Business Plan Competition

Fort Worth Business Plan Competition

The Business Plan Competition is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Fort Worth so unique. The city was originally settled by wildcatters, pioneers and titans of industry – mavericks whose vision, innovation, and grit echoed through the generations to build and shape what is now the sixth-fastest growing city in the country.

Though years have passed since Fort Worth was truly "Where the West Begins", today's entrepreneurs and small business owners still embody the same spirit – a spirit that is called to forge new frontiers, blaze new trails, and chase dreams as boundless as the Texas horizon.

Fort Worth's vibrant community of entrepreneurs is vital to making the area a hub for creative businesses, and the Business Plan Competition exists to set those entrepreneurs up for success. By the end of the competition, participants will have the tools, the strategy, and the mindset to grow their seed of an idea into a flourishing business. It also anchors their roots in a passionate, supportive community of like-minded individuals, mentors, and movers-and-shakers, all well-versed in the area’s business ecosystem and all committed to helping these small businesses grow to their fullest potential.

About the competition

After undergoing a competitive selection process, participants will attend six weeks of one-on-one business counseling, professional development workshops, and coaching from industry experts through the Office of Small Business and its many partners, as well as consultation from student coaches at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington.

The goal: Learn as much as possible to create a comprehensive business plan that impresses the judges, in order to win cash prizes and business services that will help entrepreneurs take their companies to the next level.

The Fort Worth Business Plan Competition encourages small business owners to manage and operate their business according to a written business plan, which has a positive impact on their bottom line and strengthens their ability to generate revenue and create jobs - both of which make a positive impact on the community.

Competition dates

May 20-June 17, 2019: Call for entries
June 25, 2019: The 25 applicants accepted into the competition will be announced
End of September: Top 10 finalists announced
Oct. 10, 2019: Pitch Night, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Mid-October: Top three finalists announced
Oct. 24, 2019: Business Plan Competition Finale, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

2019 Prize Packages

First Place Business Package - Total Value: $70,542

$10,000 cash from Frost Bank.
One seat in weekly Foundations/Sales Mastery class for one year.
Courtesy of Sandler Training of Fort Worth, Sales & Management Results, Inc.
Membership for one year on a board of directors made up of other business owners or peers, for the company (runs Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020); Tri-Metrix DNA professional assessments of the owner and two key people with an hour and a half feedback session; three copies of TRACTION by Gino Wickman and introduction to the Entrepreneurial Operating System, EOS.
Courtesy of The Alternative Board of Fort Worth (TABFW).
Private furnished office for three months including workspace, building access, and free conference rooms. Access to storytelling platform, accountability coaching, deep dive / KPI white board sessions, and software discounts. Also includes three months of access to IDEA Works program, free workshop tickets for three months, access to a data researcher, and access to the foundation's mentor/coaching network.
Courtesy of Accelerate DFW.
Six months' full-time open Coworking, plus one hour of business coaching per month, per team member (maximum of two members).
Courtesy of Ensemble Coworking.
Four hours of professional advisory services support. (Must be scheduled before Dec. 31, 2019.)
Courtesy of Solomon Bruce Consulting, LLC.
Quarter page (4.875 in. x 5.63 in.) display ad.
Courtesy of Fort Worth Business Press.
Six months of free advertising: Business name and logo added to JAO Business Directory, two featured email blasts, two social media mentions per month, bi-weekly advertisement on newsletter, rotating ad shown on JAO, ten 30-second audio commercials aired on "Jim Austin Radio" and your upcoming events posted on website calendar.
Courtesy of Jim Austin Online.
Special article on the business and owner.
Courtesy of The Metro Report.
A complimentary full year of membership with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, and an invitation to breakfast at the Fort Worth Club for an information session and Q&A with Jarred Howard, SVP Small Business & Entrepreneurial Support, on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's four-year strategy, Fortify, as it pertains to entrepreneurism.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
A complimentary full year of membership and "meet and greet" with Chamber staff.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
A complimentary full year of small business membership.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.
Automatic entrance into the next available Rising Tide Initiative cohort. This six-month program was created by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, and includes office space, free mentoring, connections, resources and education.
Courtesy of the Rising Tide Initiative.

Second Place Business Package - Total Value: $31,837

$5,000 cash from Frost Bank
One seat in weekly Foundations/Sales Mastery class for six months
Courtesy of Sandler Training of Fort Worth, Sales & Management Results, Inc.
Tri-Metrix DNA professional assessments of the owner and two key people with an hour and a half feedback session; three copies of TRACTION by Gino Wickman and introduction to the Entrepreneurial Operating System, EOS.
Courtesy of The Alternative Board of Fort Worth (TABFW).
Quarter page (4.875 in. x 5.63 in.) display ad
Courtesy of Fort Worth Business Press.
Four months of open Coworking, plus one hour of business coaching per month, per team member (maximum of two members).
Courtesy of Ensemble Coworking.
Building access for three months, including workspace, free conference rooms, access to storytelling platform, accountability coaching, deep dive / KPI white board sessions, and software discounts. Also includes three months of access to IDEA Works program, free workshop tickets for three months, access to a data researcher, and access to the foundation's mentor/coaching network.
Courtesy of Accelerate DFW.
Two hours of professional advisory services support. (Must be scheduled before Dec. 31, 2019.)
Courtesy of Solomon Bruce Consulting, LLC.
Two complimentary tickets to a BeConnected or Women in Leadership luncheon, and a "meet and greet" with Chamber staff.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
An invitation to breakfast at the Fort Worth Club for an information session and Q&A with Jarred Howard, SVP Small Business & Entrepreneurial Support, on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's four-year strategy, Fortify, as it pertains to entrepreneurism.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
Automatic entrance into the next available Rising Tide Initiative cohort. This six-month program was created by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, and includes office space, free mentoring, connections, resources and education.
Courtesy of the Rising Tide Initiative.

Third Place Business Package - Total Value: $25,497

$3,000 cash from Frost Bank
One seat in weekly Foundations/Sales Mastery class for three months
Courtesy of Sandler Training of Fort Worth, Sales & Management Results, Inc.
Tri-Metrix DNA professional assessments of the owner and two key people with an hour and a half feedback session; three copies of TRACTION by Gino Wickman and introduction of the Entrepreneurial Operating System, EOS
Courtesy of the Alternative Board of Fort Worth.
Quarter page (4.875 in. x 5.63 in.) display ad
Courtesy of Fort Worth Business Press.
Two months of Coworking, plus one hour of business coaching per month, per team member (maximum of two members).
Courtesy of Ensemble Coworking.
Building access for three months, including workspace, free conference rooms, and access to storytelling platform. Also includes free workshop tickets for three months.
Courtesy of Accelerate DFW.
1.2 hours of professional advisory services support. (Must be scheduled before Dec. 31, 2019.)
Courtesy of Solomon Bruce Consulting, LLC.
Two complimentary tickets to a BeConnected or Women in Leadership luncheon, and a "meet and greet" with Chamber staff.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
An invitation to breakfast at the Fort Worth Club for an information session and Q&A with Jarred Howard, SVP Small Business & Entrepreneurial Support, on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's four-year strategy, Fortify, as it pertains to entrepreneurism.
Courtesy of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.