Episode 30: How to Start a Business: Expert Advice on Planning, Funding & Sales

How Do You Fund a Deep Tech Startup Without Venture Capital? Ep 34

SCORE Houston Podcast: Subscribe/ Follow FREE:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjVZOGVsdXpLVDZ5UnU1cklWNFJsRWtuUkktQXxBQ3Jtc0tuMlBIQVdHMkxMSWtFUkE3UWVzMTdNa2RhbkFNa05RaHBnRFVybmJzLTRUQnpZLVdlX1FVeHo1ZWVSeWhLREZESTlZVUNsTFFtMkx6Q0s5Mms5dnZfUWxXQTZMZTA3aHRVTm5LMHI2bWZ5ekNRMEtEUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast..&v=AZqnknERd_s]. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlN.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTVRcXEwR3dVN3BxTG4zLWFTSk5IX2VVSTFEUXxBQ3Jtc0trckZRWjZDeHlIdmJFb1dGNDFGc1BoMVlzVFJadXRzMF9Wb2NESVVtYU5BMWhxRERUalhWQWoxOFZUOVRyRW1RUEY1SWRMLVhDeVBFd0lELU11LVkwOFhmYkwwWUMyY1MxUWdVNnNVSUlmYzhDWkNsWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F3DTCZlN..&v=AZqnknERd_s]. Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4a. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblI1cExON3ppczliNGp3U2dhaWNsbzVNWkZYZ3xBQ3Jtc0trcFhUZjdUSWRHZ2RNdGdURGR3ZXU2ZTJIRmFlbVRseTA0S0RiU2FyQm1qQVpSVE9PZEVDNTNLWk9rTVRwTEJJd1NkdFlqLXhpVndvQ1lQelJCc1RnUWJ1VTJ5T01WWHU1aUhVY2Q0WEJLZ2pNa0dGRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.amazon.com%2Fpodcasts%2Fb4a..&v=AZqnknERd_s] In this episode of the Go Houston Podcast, host PV Bala of SCORE Houston sits down with Dr. Bryton Praslicka, Founder & CEO of Fluxworks LLC — a Conroe, Texas deep tech startup manufacturing revolutionary magnetic gears that transmit power using magnets instead of metal teeth, with no lubrication, less noise, and far less maintenance. 🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode: * How Dr. Praslicka turned his Texas A&M PhD research into a NASA-funded startup * How Fluxworks LLC won a $1.69 million Army SBIR contract while still in graduate school * Why magnetic gears are critical to NASA's Artemis moon mission and the International Space Station * How to fund a deep tech startup without venture capital using SBIR grants, SBA loans, and pitch competitions * What it takes to land contracts with NASA, the US Army, and the Department of Defense * Lessons learned from the Rice University Business Plan Competition * Why Dr. Praslicka turned down a $2 million investment offer * How Fluxworks LLC became profitable in 2023 and relocated to Houston, Texas 🏆 Guest Highlights: ✅ Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree ✅ 2026 SBA Houston District Innovation Award recipient ✅ Rice Business Plan Competition winner ✅ Supplier to NASA, US Army & Department of Defense ✅ Technology aboard the International Space Station Subscribe for more inspiring Houston small business success stories every week! 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Ep 33: SpaceX Business Lessons: What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Elon Musk's First Principles Thinking.

SCORE Houston Podcast: Subscribe/ Follow FREE:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjVZOGVsdXpLVDZ5UnU1cklWNFJsRWtuUkktQXxBQ3Jtc0tuMlBIQVdHMkxMSWtFUkE3UWVzMTdNa2RhbkFNa05RaHBnRFVybmJzLTRUQnpZLVdlX1FVeHo1ZWVSeWhLREZESTlZVUNsTFFtMkx6Q0s5Mms5dnZfUWxXQTZMZTA3aHRVTm5LMHI2bWZ5ekNRMEtEUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast..&v=AZqnknERd_s]. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DTCZlN.. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTVRcXEwR3dVN3BxTG4zLWFTSk5IX2VVSTFEUXxBQ3Jtc0trckZRWjZDeHlIdmJFb1dGNDFGc1BoMVlzVFJadXRzMF9Wb2NESVVtYU5BMWhxRERUalhWQWoxOFZUOVRyRW1RUEY1SWRMLVhDeVBFd0lELU11LVkwOFhmYkwwWUMyY1MxUWdVNnNVSUlmYzhDWkNsWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F3DTCZlN..&v=AZqnknERd_s]. Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b4a. [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblI1cExON3ppczliNGp3U2dhaWNsbzVNWkZYZ3xBQ3Jtc0trcFhUZjdUSWRHZ2RNdGdURGR3ZXU2ZTJIRmFlbVRseTA0S0RiU2FyQm1qQVpSVE9PZEVDNTNLWk9rTVRwTEJJd1NkdFlqLXhpVndvQ1lQelJCc1RnUWJ1VTJ5T01WWHU1aUhVY2Q0WEJLZ2pNa0dGRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.amazon.com%2Fpodcasts%2Fb4a..&v=AZqnknERd_s] What if the same engineering principles that took SpaceX to the top of the global launch industry could help your Houston salon, bakery, contracting firm, or retail shop run leaner and more profitably? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, we translate Elon Musk's exact operational frameworks — step by step — into actionable strategies for Main Street business owners. This isn't about getting to Mars. It's about the physics of building a business that actually works. 🔩 THE 10 SPACEX PRINCIPLES FOR SMALL BUSINESS: 1. First Principles Thinking — Strip everything down to its core atoms before accepting industry assumptions 2. The Idiot Index — Measure the markup between raw materials and finished cost; high ratios mean you're subsidizing someone else's inefficiency 3. Ruthless Simplification — The best part is no part; the best process is no process 4. The 10% Add-Back Rule — If you weren't forced to add back at least 10% of what you cut, you didn't cut deep enough 5. Vertical Integration — When suppliers overcharge, build the capability in-house 6. Standardization — Build a Model T, not a custom car; make the customer adapt to your efficient process 7. Build, Test, Learn — Failures are data points, not disasters; crash the rocket and gather the data 8. Urgency — If a timeline is long, it's wrong; launch the simplest version fast 9. Missionaries, Not Mercenaries — Hire people who care about the mission, not just the paycheck 10. Lead from the Front — Spend 50% of your time in the operation, not behind a desk; all bad news should be given loudly and often 🔄 THE FLYWHEEL: First Principles finds the waste → Vertical Integration eliminates it → Standardization makes it profitable → Repeat. 💡 Closing question to sit with: "How fast are your feedback loops?" Are you waiting months to see if a new idea works, or are you finding a way to crash the rocket, gather the data, and get back to reality today? 🤝 You don't have to build this alone. SCORE Houston offers free mentoring from experienced business professionals. Visit score.org and connect with the Houston chapter. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro & SCORE Houston Overview 0:15 – Why SpaceX & Elon Musk? 1:15 – First Principles Thinking 2:00 – The Idiot Index 3:49 – Ruthless Simplification 4:23 – The 10% Add-Back Rule 5:09 – Vertical Integration 5:31 – Real Cost Savings Examples 6:11 – The McDocker Story 6:33 – Local Business Applications 7:12 – Standardization Strategy 8:31 – Build, Test, Learn 9:46 – The Urgency Principle 10:45 – Balancing Speed & Customer Trust 11:07 – Hiring Missionaries, Not Mercenaries 11:45 – Lead from the Front 12:46 – Money as Fuel 13:08 – The SpaceX Flywheel 13:48 – How Fast Are Your Feedback Loops? 14:24 – Free Mentoring at score.org Houston Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 32: How to Start & Grow a Small Business | Free Mentoring, Social Media & Community Networking

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492] tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ctXBuEuaw4XsSc7PnHvR1?si=XbYjKwyuT1y-1N39g_WpZA] — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music:  Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb/score-houston's-podcast]— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] — Subscribe and hit the bell! How do you turn a family BBQ restaurant into an award-winning small business?  In this episode of Small Business Success Stories, SCORE Houston mentor Dr Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Marie and Justin Bock — owners of Ryan's Smokehouse in Webster, Texas. Justin and Marie left South Dakota, uprooted their family, and took over a 24-year family restaurant from Marie's aunt. With zero prior business ownership experience, they grew sales 15–20% annually, expanded from 1 to 7 employees, and were named the 2026 SBA Houston District Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.  In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to buy an existing business and grow it fast ✅ How free mentoring from SCORE & SBDC helped them succeed ✅ How to use social media to grow a small business ✅ How to find and keep good employees ✅ How to build community presence without a big marketing budget ✅ Whether to buy a business or start from scratch  ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:41 Meet Marie & Justin — Ryan's Smokehouse 01:56 Moving from South Dakota to Texas 03:44 Buying a family business vs starting cold 05:04 Getting mentorship from SCORE & SBDC 06:44 Forming an LLC — what you need to know 07:50 Secret sauce: social media & community networking 10:30 Finding the right employees 14:13 Overcoming the employee-to-owner mindset shift 16:36 Buying vs. starting a business cold 20:43 What's next — expanding to a second location 21:31 Closing thoughts & how to reach SCORE Houston #SmallBusiness, #BusinessMentoring, #HowToStartABusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth, #Entrepreneur, #SCORE, #SBA, #BBQRestaurant, #BusinessOwner, #SuccessStory, #SocialMediaMarketing, #HoustonBusiness, #FamilyBusiness, #StartupAdvice Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Ep 31: Small Business Lessons: How One Woman Built a Houston Breakfast Empire

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492] tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ctXBuEuaw4XsSc7PnHvR1?si=XbYjKwyuT1y-1N39g_WpZA] — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music:  Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb/score-houston's-podcast]— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] — Subscribe and hit the bell! In this episode of Small Business Success Stories at SCORE Houston, host and SCORE Mentor PV Bala sits down with Sarah Lieberman, founder of Dandelion Cafe — Houston's beloved breakfast and brunch destination with three locations across the city. Sarah shares how she left a career in oil and gas to follow her passion for hospitality, launched her first cafe with just $40,000, no collateral, and a lot of grit, and grew it into a thriving small business that survived two hurricanes and a global pandemic. You'll hear the real story behind securing startup funding with no bank loan, the pivot that took her from coffee shop to restaurant, how SCORE mentorship shaped her business plan, and what it takes to reach break even, scale to multiple locations, and land a spot on Good Morning America. Sarah is the 2026 SBA Houston District Small Business Person of the Year — and her story is proof that drive, flexibility, and community are the real ingredients for success. 🎙️ Host: PV Bala, SCORE Mentor, SCORE Houston 🍳 Guest: Sarah Lieberman, Founder, Dandelion Cafe Houston Topics covered: how to start a restaurant, small business funding, SBA loans, micro-lenders, restaurant startup costs, coffee shop vs. restaurant profit, scaling a small business, small business mentorship, SCORE Houston, Houston entrepreneurs, breakfast restaurant business, women in business, small business success stories. Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 30: How to Start a Business: Expert Advice on Planning, Funding & Sales

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492] tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ctXBuEuaw4XsSc7PnHvR1?si=XbYjKwyuT1y-1N39g_WpZA] — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music:  Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb/score-houston's-podcast]— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] — Subscribe and hit the bell! In this episode, Dr. Jeff Rickon sits down with Martin Estill — serial entrepreneur, former Chief Revenue Officer, and SCORE Houston volunteer mentor — for an in-depth conversation about how to start, grow, fund, and scale a small business. With 30+ years of real-world experience across oil & gas, software, retail, and B2B marketing, Martin breaks down the exact mistakes most entrepreneurs make — and what to do instead. In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to write a business plan (and why most people skip it — and fail) ✅ Where to get funding for your startup — from your own pocket to angel investors & venture capital ✅ How to get your first customers using referential sales (without paying for ads) ✅ The #1 mistake new entrepreneurs make going from idea to execution ✅ How to build a sales & marketing strategy that actually works ✅ When and how to scale your business and delegate effectively ✅ How to find a business partner and structure equity deals ✅ How to sell or exit a business for maximum value ✅ Why SCORE mentoring is the best-kept secret for small business owners 🕐 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction  03:00 – Martin's background in oil & gas entrepreneurship  07:00 – The 3 biggest mistakes small business owners make  12:00 – How to write a business plan  18:00 – How to fund your business (funding hierarchy explained)  25:00 – How to get your first customers (the bullseye model)  32:00 – How to scale, delegate & sell your business  38:00 – How SCORE mentoring works & how to get free help Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.