BBVA Compass sets dates for Momentum informational sessions

The road show features ten sessions that span the country, from Gainesville, Fla. to Santa Monica, Calif. The hour and a half long events are programmed as a lunch or happy hour.

As part of the program, social entrepreneurs interested in applying to BBVA Momentum 2019 will get more information on the program from its U.S.-based leaders, as well as enjoy a special guest speaker and have an opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded entrepreneurs and bankers.

Ocañas: [These events give] us an opportunity to meet the entrepreneurs, get a better sense of their business and give them a look at how BBVA Momentum can help them create more opportunities...

“These events are a great opportunity to get a firsthand look at BBVA Momentum, and an intimate understanding from the program owners of how it runs and what they can expect,” said BBVA Compass Director of Communications and Responsible Business Reymundo Ocañas. “It also gives us an opportunity to meet the entrepreneurs, get a better sense of their business and give them a look at how BBVA Momentum can help them create more opportunities for their business and their community as a result of taking part in it.”

BBVA Momentum is an accelerator program designed to help social entrepreneurs achieve scale, enhance operations and multiply the social and economic impact of their business. Now in its third year in the U.S., BBVA Momentum last year expanded the accelerator program to include social entrepreneurs from across its seven-state Sunbelt footprint, with 16 applicants selected to participate.This year, the five-month training program will accept up to 35 participants whose businesses offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social and environmental problems, with an opportunity to obtain a total of $175,000 in funding for the top three final pitches.

Interested social entrepreneurs can go to www.momentum.bbva.com/en to view rules and apply. The application period is open through April 22.

Informational Session Date and Times

Gainesville, FL - UF Innovate | The Hub
March 12th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Click here to register.

Phoenix - CO+HOOTS
March 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Dallas Fort Worth - Dallas Creation Center
March 20th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Denver - Women's Bean Project
March 25th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Click here to register.

Los Angeles - Cross Campus DTLA
March 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Los Angeles - Cross Campus Santa Monica
March 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Albuquerque - Free Range
March 28th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Austin - ImpactHub - The Loft
April 1st from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Birmingham - Social Venture | Rev Birmingham
April 2nd from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Click here to register.

Houston - Station Houston
April 4th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Click here to register.

Additional Program Details

Companies selected to participate in the five-month program will have access to both online and in-person training, as well as strategic mentorship and support, networking opportunities and visibility over the course of the program.

The online training includes flexible hours and subject matter such as the Role of Technology and Innovation, Business Models for Social Enterprises, Scaling, Finance for social enterprises and Measuring the Integrated Impact on Management. It is provided by Corporate Learning Alliance, a partnership between IE Business School and the Financial Times.

The program’s live training includes at least three in-person, two-day sessions where participants will learn social leadership and team management, communication and shareholder management, technological tools, decision making and communication skills. The face-to-face training is conducted by the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.

In addition to the online and in-person training, each participant will also be given a BBVA Compass mentor that will provide one-on-one support for the entirety of the program.

At the end of the program, BBVA Compass will award a total of $175,000 divided between three participant enterprises considered most sustainable and with the highest social impact. In addition, participants may be eligible to receive further investment opportunities, including capital to implement the growth plans developed during the program.

Applications to participate in the 2019 edition of BBVA Momentum opened in late February and closes on April 22 with final selection announced in May. Social entrepreneurs based in BBVA Compass’ seven-state footprint - Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Texas - with an interest in participating should go to www.momentum.bbva.com/en to apply.

Bank for Entrepreneurs

BBVA Compass has recently announced a slate of programs intended to support entrepreneurs across the spectrum and demonstrate the bank’s ongoing support for the small businesses that are the lifeblood of the communities where it operates.

BBVA Compass Executive Director of the Business Banking Segment Elizabeth Dobers said the programs signal the bank’s intention to become the bank for entrepreneurs.

Dobers: With BBVA Momentum, we’ve seen firsthand the power that small businesses have in our local communities to create change…

“With BBVA Momentum, we’ve seen firsthand the power that small businesses have in our local communities to create change and we believe there is no better way to live our purpose of creating opportunities than to support them,” Dobers said. “When a small business wins, we all win, from the city where they are growing their business, to the people living in and around the community. It's why we launched BBVA Momentum in the U.S. two years ago and have expanded our efforts this year with the Entrepreneurial Opportunity of the Year contest.”

BBVA Compass is teaming up with The Business Journals to present the inaugural Entrepreneurial Opportunity of the Year contest, which provides businesses an opportunity to demonstrate how they are innovating to create opportunities for their clients and market for a chance to win up to $60,000. More information on the contest, including the markets where it’s being held, can be found here.

BBVA Compass has also teamed up with the Houston Rockets for the third year in a row to roll out a small business contest in the Houston market focused on area start-up businesses that need a financial boost to become digitally innovative.The top business wins a grand prize of $10,000 and consultations with Rockets and BBVA Compass executives. For more on Launchpad, click here.

For more information about BBVA Momentum, click here.