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Fulshear Fast Track reports early participation, plans 2025 mentorship and investor events

2109123 · January 13, 2025

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Summary

Staff reported metrics and planned programming for the Fulshear Fast Track small‑business accelerator, including a 10‑week marketing mentorship cohort, weekend business boot camps, a revised website/app and efforts to build an investor network.

City economic development staff presented a progress update on Jan. 13 for Fulshear Fast Track, the city’s small‑business accelerator launched in April 2024. Staff said the program has met several early metrics in its initial contract and is adapting the reporting categories based on board feedback.

Anelle (economic development staff) said the next report will break down mentorship topics (marketing, HR, finance, web development) after the B Board requested clarity on which topics mentors addressed. Staff also said they will combine overlapping metrics ("new business starts" and "new/expanded spaces") and pause counting longer‑term "business survivability" until the program matures.

Planned 2025 programming includes a 10‑week, cohort‑based one‑on‑one marketing mentorship, two cycles of a weekend business boot camp (30 seats each), a revamped digital portal and an app for participants, and a spring home‑business accelerator event. Staff said early participants will provide short testimony to city council at an upcoming presentation. The team also plans to cultivate a local investor network so residents can invest in neighborhood startups.

Board members requested more granular data on the four new businesses started (type of business and services) and urged keeping new starts and expansions tracked separately. No formal action was taken at the meeting on the Fast Track program; staff asked for any board suggestions before their upcoming council presentation.