Grow your business
Enhance your capacity
Advance in concepts and techniques
Find contract opportunities with government agencies
The Readiness Training Program for HUBs/Small Businesses is an innovative training program that enhances the competitiveness and capacity of minority and women- owned small businesses to bid on public sector contracts in the Austin region. The RTP for HUBs has a two-funnel (phase) design that addresses the needs of participating companies at various stages of their growth, as well as governments that rely extensively on minority/women owned small businesses to provide necessary services and products.
Funnel One is designed for minority- and women-owned small businesses that are either new or still small (startups or companies with under $500K in revenues.) The emphasis of Funnel One is on government contracting, and presents the necessary steps for a small business to register or become certified, learn about contracting opportunities, and bid on and execute contracts with governments. Session presenters also share advice and best practices in accessing capital, identifying customers, and presenting business capabilities to potential prime contractors and government agencies. Applications are not being accepted at this time for Funnel One.
Funnel Two is designed for more mature companies (revenues above $500K, several years of operations, and multiple employees) that are seeking to increase their capacity to win and execute successful contracts with local, state, and federal agencies in the Austin region. All sessions in Funnel Two offer more advanced business concepts, techniques and information that have proven effective in growing a business. This training will be offered in late spring through mid-summer 2026. Applications are now being accepted. See below.
Scroll down to see the tentative agenda for the main sessions and workshops. Please read the FAQs for additional details.
Funnel Two Application Form is here: RTP UT Application 2026
Questions? Contact James E. Jarrett, Program Lead, at jj@ic2.utexas.edu
All Sessions are Online.
Sessions are on Tuesdays from 4:15 to 5:45
Workshops are on Thursdays from 4:15 to 5:45
May 19th
Welcoming Remarks | Dr. John Sibley Butler, Principal Investigator of the RTP for HUBs, Professor Emeritus of Management, Former Director of the IC² Institute; Recognition of Sponsors and Special Presentation | Jeffrey Travillion, Travis County Commissioner; Company Self-Introductions
Session 2: June 2nd
Marketing for Growth | Cheryl A. Brown, Executive Director, North San Diego Small Business Development Center; Jessica Scanlon, CEO, Hot Dog Marketing
Session 3: June 16th
| Human Resources | Deirdre Pattillo, University of Texas at San Antonio SBDC Center for Government Contracting |
Session 4: June 25th
Small Business Finance for Owner-Operated Businesses | Jim Nolen, McCombs School of Business, UT-Austin
Session 5: July 21st
Topic to be Determined; Graduation
Workshop 1: June 4th
Local HUB/DBE/SBE Program Overviews, Bid Opportunities, and Upcoming Initiatives | Kaleo Lopez, Community Liaison, Travis County HUB Program, Travis County Purchasing Office; Carlos Balderas, Manager, Small Business Programs and Compliance, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Catherine Sak, Program Manager II, Small and Minority Business Resources Department, City of Austin; Dinita Caldwell, Executive Director, Economic Opportunity Office, Austin Independent School District
Workshop 2: July 9th
State HUB/DBE/SBE/VetHUB Program Overviews, Bid Opportunities, and Upcoming Initiatives
Workshop 3: July 16th
Topic to be determined
The following link provides all previous session information, participant information, presenters and video training:
