About Bayou City Hangouts

What started as friends hosting gatherings became a Houston nonprofit organization dedicated to lowering the barriers for emerging business owners.

What we stand for

Community

Growing together, not alone.

Empowerment

Tools and confidence to grow.

Equity

Fewer barriers for underrepresented owners.

Access

Affordable, inclusive opportunities.

Our Mission

The purpose of the corporation is to strengthen community connection and well-being. We serve underserved small business owners and startups by providing community-centered markets and events that expand access to customers, resources, and economic opportunities. Through these programs, we help reduce financial and visibility barriers that new entrepreneurs commonly face. Our mission is to strengthen local economic development and support equitable access for small business owners.

Why We Exist

Bayou City Hangouts exists to increase visibility, access, and opportunities for small business owners and early‐stage entrepreneurs who often lack financial resources, exposure, or professional networks needed to grow their businesses.

Who We Serve

  • new and emerging small businesses

  • local product-based and service-based entrepreneurs

  • business owners who need exposure, access to markets, and resources

  • underserved entrepreneurs who lack capital, support, or community

  • new and emerging talent and artists

This includes:

  • minority-owned businesses

  • women-owned businesses

  • individuals launching their first business

  • home-based businesses entering public markets.

Meet The Team

  • A smiling woman with glasses and earrings, wearing a striped shirt, indoors with a blurred background.

    MaKayla Hoover

    President & Director of Events

  • Close-up of a man with glasses, dark curly hair, a beard, and wearing a black sweater, sitting indoors with a blurred plant in the background.

    Amanda DeVaul

    Vice President & Director of Operations

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a dark blue top, standing among green plants in a greenhouse.

    Kimberly Love

    Chief Financial Officer

  • A woman with dark skin, curly black hair styled in an updo, smiling, wearing a purple lipstick, pearl earrings, a cream-colored ruffled blouse, and a blue jacket, against a cloudy sky background.

    Dr. Kina White

    Grants & Impact Chair

Our Programs

The Small Business Access & Empowerment Program is our flagship initiative dedicated to removing the barriers that prevent emerging entrepreneurs from growing their businesses. Through affordable vendor opportunities at community pop-up markets, large-scale events, and ongoing programming throughout the year, we connect Houston's small business owners with real customers, real exposure, and real economic opportunity. This program is designed for minority-owned, women-owned, and first-time business owners who are ready to grow but need a supportive, accessible, and affordable platform to do it.

Small Business Access & Empowerment Program

BCH Activate is our peer-to-peer networking and community-building platform for Houston small business owners and founders. Through virtual happy hours, in-person meetups, and intimate group sessions, BCH Activate creates a space where entrepreneurs can share wins, ask for help, and build real relationships with other business owners who understand the journey. No pitch decks, no pressure — just honest conversation and genuine community. BCH Activate is free and open to Houston-area entrepreneurs at any stage of their business.

BCH Activate

GIG Growth & Innovation Grant

The GIG Growth & Innovation Grant is a $500 award presented by Bayou City Hangouts to emerging small business owners and vendors who are actively growing their presence in the Houston marketplace. Designed to reduce financial barriers for early-stage entrepreneurs, the GIG grant provides direct funding that recipients can use toward inventory, equipment, marketing materials, supplies, or other costs directly related to their business operations. The GIG is awarded to vendors who have demonstrated commitment to the BCH community and are ready to take their next step. Applications are reviewed by the BCH Grant Review Committee on a cycle basis.

It's Just Business Baby is the educational hub of Bayou City Hangouts, built to give Houston entrepreneurs access to the business knowledge they need to grow — without the price tag. Through free courses, articles, small business advisor resources, and practical guides, we cover the topics that matter most to early-stage business owners: marketing, operations, finances, branding, and more. It's Just Business Baby exists because we believe that access to quality business education should never be determined by how much money you have. Every resource we offer is designed to be practical, approachable, and built for the real world of entrepreneurship.

It's Just Business Baby