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THRIVE SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT & MATCHMAKER

Thursday, January 30, 2025 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) (CST)

Description

THRIVE SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT & MATCHMAKER
January 30, 2025 | 8AM – 5PM
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas - Houston Branch
1801 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019

Are you ready for your small business to THRIVE? Are you eager to unlock new opportunities, expand your network, and elevate your business game? Join the Chamber for the THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker.

The inaugural event in 2024 was a resounding success, shining a spotlight on the vital role small businesses play as the backbone of our local economy. It provided an impactful platform to support LGBTQ+-owned, minority-owned, and other small businesses, driving economic growth and fostering innovation. Make plans to join us for this one-day event on January 30, 2025.

The THRIVE Small Business Summit is a catalyst event of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, designed to empower, educate, and inspire small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders to grow and thrive.

This dynamic and transformative day brings together a diverse audience, offering unparalleled opportunities to connect, learn, and share strategies for small business success in today’s competitive marketplace—all while celebrating the vibrant, inclusive spirit of the region's business community.

THRIVE is designed to provide the resources, tools, and inspiration to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and connect with Chamber Impact Partners and other members through the B2C, B2B and B2E Matchmaker.

Join us for this one-day Summit on January 30th and keep an eye out for announcements about the event.

SPONSOR THE SUMMIT!

Can you help the Chamber make a difference for small businesses? You can! Sponsoring the THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker is more than an opportunity to promote your brand—it’s a way to demonstrate your commitment to small business success, economic inclusion, and LGBTQ+ empowerment.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this powerful event in 2025. Join us as a sponsor and let’s collaborate to help businesses not just survive—but truly thrive!

By partnering with the Chamber on this event, you’ll gain:

Targeted Visibility: Reach a focused audience of LGBTQ+ and Allied small business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Brand Alignment: Showcase your organization as a champion for inclusion and economic growth.
Networking Opportunities: Build meaningful connections with attendees and other sponsors.
Community Impact: Directly support the Chamber’s mission to foster economic inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community, including entrepreneurs

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Thank you to our generous THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker Sponsors. We appreciate their support!

Visionary Sponsor

Innovative Sponsor

Matchmaker Sponsor

Host Sponsor

EXHIBITORS & RESOURCE PARTNER SHOWCASE

Are you interested in being an Exhibitor for the THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker? Check back soon for details!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Small businesses are invited to participate in the Summit to hear from experts and panelists sharing their knowledge to help small businesses grow.

All certification-eligible or certified businesses such as LGBTBE® Certified/LGBTQ+ owned, minority, women-owned, minority-owned, disabled-owned and/or Veteran-owned are invited to participate in the Matchmaker. All businesses with diverse business certifications are welcome to participate in this connection opportunity.

THRIVE MATCHMAKER

The Matchmaker is one of the most anticipated features of the Summit! This program facilitates one-on-one, pre-scheduled meetings between small business owners and "buyers" including LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and supplier diversity partners. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to create meaningful connections. Check back for more details soon!

THE THREE MATCHMAKER FORMATS

	Brings together certified suppliers with local Chamber Impact Partners for procurement opportunities.	Impact Partner Registration
	Brings together certified suppliers with other suppliers to learn about opportunities to work and partner together, perhaps on tiered contract opportunities or other types of partnerships.	Small Business Registration
	Connects small business members with Chamber Impact Partner LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) leaders. This is an opportunity for LGBTQ+-owned businesses to share their products or services that support ERG Pride Month activities (and throughout the year!).	ERG/BRG Registration

Certified members are invited to participate in either B-2-C or B-2-ERG
Certified and non-certified members can participate in the B-2-ERG

Businesses wishing to participate in the Matchmaker must complete the Supplier Form.
Upon registration, the form link will be emailed to you.

MATCHMAKER BENEFITS

Community Connections
Connect with fellow community members, industry leaders,employee resource groups, and potential partners who are all invested in seeing your business succeed.

New Market Knowledge
Discover untapped markets and gain insights into emerging opportunities. This event is your gateway to expanding your reach and connecting with prospects.

Business Growth
Explore potential partnerships potentially boosting your business’ bottom line.

Efficiency
Opportunity to meet multiple prospects in one location, saving you time and resources.

Brand Elevation
Showcase your products or services to a captive audience and solidify your brand.

Long-lasting Relationships
The connections you make at this event will extend beyond the day. Build long-term partnerships and collaborations that will continue to benefit your business.

Participating in Matchmaker is an investment in your business’ success. We can't wait to see you there forging connections that support YOUR biz!

By registering and/or attending a Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce program or event, you agree to the Chamber's Terms of Use & Policies available online at https://www.houstonlgbtchamber.com/terms-of-use-policies/.

Pricing

Member Ticket:
$50 early bird (through January 10)
$75 regular (January 11 - 23)

Non Member Ticket:
$95 early bird (through January 10)
$135 regular (January 11 - 23)

To participate in the matchmaker portion of the program, registration must be completed by Friday, January 17.

Federal Reserve Bank
1801 Allen Parkway
Houston, TX 77019

Thursday, January 30, 2025 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) (CST)

Become a Chamber Sponsor

The Chamber has regular networking events that include sponsorship and hosting opportunities. If you want to get your brand noticed, consider sponsoring or hosting one of our upcoming monthly events!

Learn More