About UBI
About the Urban Business Initiative
What is the Urban Business Initiative?
The Urban Business Initiative (UBI) is an inner city business development organization dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and individual responsibility in Houston's Enhanced Enterprise Communities.
We are a voluntary, non-profit association of analysts, associates and commercial professionals, who add value by helping revitalize inner city economies. UBI builds long-term partnerships with existing and start-up businesses.
Four factors differentiate UBI from similar efforts:
- Our members are all currently working as full-time professionals and therefore are in tune with the most recent financial trends and technology;
- UBI forms a team of three to five volunteers to work with clients to build long-term relationships to develop the business;
- UBI volunteers are available to meet with clients after hours - in the evening and on weekends when entrepreneurs often are available;
- UBI volunteers have strong expertise in assisting clients in locating financing, particularly equity funding if needed.
History of UBI
The Urban Business Initiative was founded in July, 1996, as the HOPE Initiative. It was incorporated with the State of Texas in April, 1998, under the Texas Non-Profit Cooperation Act. The HOPE Initiative changed its name to UBI in June, 1999.Currently, UBI is working with a growing number of clients.
How is UBI organized?
We have a core board of directors who set the strategic direction of UBI, and manage external and internal relationships.Each business is assigned a team of three to five UBI volunteers. The vast bulk of activity takes place at the team level. Deal teams are largely autonomous and self-directing. Team members receive tremendous responsibility immediately. The team gets help from the organization as a whole and the team leader is the point of contact for the entrepreneur.
UBI collaborates with non-profits and for profit organizations. We are also developing partnerships with other community-oriented banks, corporations, and organizations.