Upcoming Foundation Events

Join us and EXIM on Tuesday, September 16 at 8:30 a.m. for the Texas Roadshow: Austin Symposium, a free in-person event designed to help businesses like yours break into international markets. 

Host:

• Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)

Partners

• U.S. Commercial Service
• Small Business Administration (SBA)

Whether you're new to exporting or ready to scale your global reach, you'll gain actionable insights, practical resources, and real-world strategies from trade experts and fellow business owners who’ve successfully expanded overseas.. If you're ready to unlock new revenue opportunities and grow your business globally, this is the event for you. Reserve your sport today.

Join us on September 30 at 3:30–6 p.m. for an afternoon of insight and connection as we host a live recording of a Power of Better Business Roundtable, our thought leadership partnership with the Austin Business Journal, as well as a high-energy Better Business Mixer afterwards to connect, collaborate, and innovate. This edition will explore how women leaders turn disruption into opportunity—leading with clarity, resilience, and strength through times of crisis and change. Our panelists will share real-world strategies for navigating uncertainty, empowering teams, and building more adaptable businesses and communities. 

Moderator:

• Kathleen Lucente, CEO of Red Fan Communications

Panelists: 

• Wendy Rogers, CEO of LPA Design Studios
• Ingrid Taylor, CEO of United Way for Greater Austin 
• and more

The conversation will be video recorded, photographed, and covered by the Austin Business Journal, with highlights featured in a post-event article. After the recording, stick around for a high-energy networking mixer where you'll connect with fellow founders, leaders, and community advocates over light bites, drinks, and conversation.

Space is limited—RSVP today to reserve your seat.

Join us on October 8 from 3:30–6 p.m. for an afternoon of insight and connection as we host a live recording of a Power of Better Business Roundtable, our thought leadership partnership with the Austin Business Journal, as well as a high-energy Better Business Mixer afterwards to connect, collaborate, and innovate. This edition will dive into artificial intelligence and how entrepreneurs and small business leaders can use it to scale smarter, faster, and stronger. Whether you're looking to streamline operations, strengthen marketing, or boost security, this conversation will deliver real-world, accessible AI strategies you can put to work, no tech team required.

Speakers: 

• Moderator: Skip Balch, Growth Acceleration Partners

Panelists: 

• Joel Boehm, Vintage IT
• Valeska Pederson Hintz, Perkins Coie
• Tom Hamilton, Nuvospec

The conversation will be video recorded, photographed, and covered by the Austin Business Journal, with takeaways featured in a post-event article.After the recording, stick around for a high-energy networking mixer where you'll connect with fellow founders, leaders, and community advocates over light bites, drinks, and conversation.

Space is limited—RSVP today to reserve your seat.

Participants joined us on Tuesday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. for a session that goes beyond the basics to help subcontractors understand how to leverage certifications as powerful tools to win public and private contracts.

Agency insiders and business owners who’ve used certifications discussed how you can move from overlooked to in-demand. We covered:

• Which certifications are most valuable and how to qualify
• Common mistakes and missed opportunities
• How to market your certification to primes and procurement officers
• Real talk: how certifications help—and when they don’t

We met on Tuesday, August 19 at 3 p.m. for Digital Domination: Marketing Strategies that Work, an Ignite Essentials session designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners harness the power of digital tools to drive real results.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, small businesses need more than just a presence—they need a strategy. From social media to email marketing, paid ads to organic growth, knowing how to choose and execute the right marketing tactics can be the difference between blending in and standing out.

Attendees walked away with practical tips and actionable insights on:

• Digital marketing essentials (SEO, social media, email)
• Choosing the right marketing tools & technology
• Smart spending: optimizing marketing ROI

We held Defining Your Brand & Unique Value Proposition, on Thursday, August 14 at 3 p.m,. an engaging Ignite Essentials session designed to help small business owners develop a strong foundation for marketing, messaging, and growth.

Through expert guidance, interactive activities, and real-world examples, attendees learned how to:

• Craft a compelling unique value proposition
• Identify target markets & customer personas
• Develop a strong brand identity and GTM Strategy

We held a panel on Tuesday, July 29 at 11:30 a.m. for a dynamic session where we brought together experts from government, insurance, and industry to break down what’s really required—and how to get it done. From trade licensing to surety bonding to liability coverage, we covered:

• What’s required to qualify for public and private contracts
• Common mistakes that keep businesses from being contract-ready
• Where to go for support, resources, and access to capital
• How to reduce risk and stay compliant as you scale

Attendees walked away with actionable steps, trusted resources, and connections that helped them confidently pursue larger opportunities.

We held a Better Business mixer on Monday, July 21 at 3 p.m. that featured a live recording of the Power of Better Business Roundtable, followed by a Better Business Mixer designed to build meaningful relationships and celebrate women in business.

This special session marked the kickoff of She Means Business, the Foundation for Better Business’s new initiative focused on elevating, equipping, and empowering women entrepreneurs in Central Texas and beyond. Attendees heard:

• How women leaders navigate uncertainty, take calculated risks, and drive impactful business outcomes
• Stories from powerhouse women who are turning challenges into catalysts and reshaping what success looks like across industries

We held a networking event on June 26 at 4 p.m. that taught attendees about local available resources for thwir business and how to successfully access the support offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Business development support provided by:

• Foundation for Better Business: Our mission is to cultivate economic growth and prosperity by empowering small businesses with tailored educational initiatives, disseminating up-to-date research and data, and fostering impactful connections across Texas.
• SCORE Austin: SCORE can help you start, grow or successfully exit a business. Services include mentors, workshops, local resources, and a blog with articles, and guides to webinars and tools you need to succeed.
• Small Business Division, EDD, Austin City: The Small Business Division provides business training, educational events, and coaching to empower entrepreneurs. 
• SBA: The US Federal agency for small business support, funding, procurement, education, resources, and much more!

We held an interactive training session at the Ignite Center designed to equip entrepreneurs and small business owners with practical strategies for staying financially healthy and sustainable.

Through clear explanations, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises, attendees learned how to:

• Interpret and use cash flow statements to make informed decisions
• Manage accounts payable and receivable for consistent cash movement
• Recognize and avoid common cash flow pitfalls that impact business stability

This course will helped attendees keep their business in the green—today and into the future.

On June 17 2025, we hosted a panel discussion that explore show subcontractors can build smart, strategic relationships that open doors to public sector projects and large-scale opportunities.

Attendees heard from seasoned business leaders and public sector insiders on:

• How to position yourself as a reliable partner to primes
• Building joint ventures and teaming agreements that work
• Where to show up—and how—to get on public sector radar
• Navigating relationship-building with public agencies the right way

This conversation focused on what it really takes to form partnerships that grow your business and unlock the contracts you’ve been eyeing.

We held a workshop designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs transform negative customer interactions into powerful moments of loyalty and growth.

Through real-world examples, hands-on activities, and expert insights, participants learned  how to:

• Reframe complaints as valuable feedback
• Apply proven strategies to de-escalate and resolve issues effectively
• Build trust and enhance brand reputation through service recovery
• Create systems that turn one-time buyers into lifelong advocates

Whether they're managing a storefront, service-based business, or e-commerce platform, this session equipped attendees  with tools to turn customer frustration into lasting satisfaction.

On April 29, 2025, leaders from across sectors came together for the inaugural Economic Resilience Luncheon—and thanks to the support from our speakers, panelists, and attendees, it was an unforgettable success.

Together, we explored one of Texas’s most pressing economic challenges: the skilled trades deficit. We discussed the critical role that trade-related small businesses play in powering infrastructure, mobility, and long-term growth. From bold keynotes to a dynamic panel discussion, this event sparked fresh ideas, new partnerships, and powerful momentum for what’s ahead.

Click below to see highlights from the event.